MARQUETTE — The Marquette Senior High School football team made it two wins in a row and finished its Great Northern Conference schedule at 2-2 after winning 21-6 at Menominee on Friday night.

The Redmen, who improved to 3-4, turned its tenuous 7-6 lead it had for more than half the game into a more comfortable margin with two fourth-quarter touchdowns, according to an account by Tanya Wilt on the website for Fox Sports 105.1 FM-99.9 FM, the radio stations that cover MSHS athletics.

Several turnovers forced by the Marquette defense also helped as the teams were nearly even in offense, with Marquette finishing with a slight 204-198 advantage in yards.

The Redmen had about two-thirds of their yardage on the ground — 137 yards — as Tucker Welch gained 59 yards in 13 carries and Curtis Houghton added 51 yards in nine rushes.

Quarterback Jaxon Jurmu completed 6 of 16 passes for 67 yards, two TDs and an interception as Peter Closner caught three passes for 43 yards. Teammate Nate Benninger, who carried the ball five times for 25 yards, also caught two passes for 15 yards.

Menominee (4-3, 1-2 GNC) had similar numbers with 111 yards rushing and 87 passing.

MSHS took its opening possession and marched downfield with Peter Closner scoring on a TD reception.

Menominee answered later in the quarter as Kaeden Calcari scored. But after Marquette kicked its extra point and the Maroons missed on their point-after try, the Redmen had a one-point lead.

Benninger made several big plays on defense in the second quarter to keep Menominee from nearing the end zone, though penalties also held the Redmen offense back during the middle two quarters.

Still only leading 7-6 entering the fourth quarter, MSHS broke through with two more TDs down the stretch. Closner ran 12 yards for a first down, helping set up Benninger for his score, then Benninger himself recovered a Menominee fumble before Jurmu scored on another 8-yard play.

Marquette hosts Midland at 7 p.m. Friday, with the JV game being played just before that at William R. Hart Stadium at 4 p.m.

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Ishpeming 16, Tomahawk, Wis., 10

On Friday in Tomahawk, Wis., Hunter Smith accounted for both TDs and one of the 2-point conversions as the teams traded the lead in each of the final three quarters.

“I’m very proud of how our kids competed until the last play,” Hematites head coach Cody Kugler said. “We overcame some adversity after a couple of early plays, and when we needed it most, we had the determination and the drive to move downfield for the final score.”

After a scoreless first quarter, the Hatchets broke loose in a big way early in the second when Tyler Jablonski scored on a 97-yard run, and with the extra-point kick led 7-0.

Tomahawk had been left deep in their own end after an Ishpeming possession ended on downs at the 1-yard line.

Then with time running down in the first half, Smith scored on a 12-yard run, and with Ethan Corp’s 2-point run, led 8-7. Smith also made a crucial 15-yard gain around the outside on a 3rd-and-16 play that set up a short 4th-and-1 that was converted to keep the drive going, according to Kugler.

Without a whole lot of offense to start the second half, Tomahawk managed to make a 36-yard field goal late in the third period to retake a 10-8 advantage.

Needing another TD to retake the lead, the Ishpeming defense forced a punt with about 4 1/2 to five minutes left, according to Kugler, and the offense took over.

The Hematites managed to overcome several penalties with key third- and fourth-down conversions to set up Smith with another TD run, this one from 8 yards out, and with Smith’s 2-pointer, took a 16-10 lead with about two minutes left.

After Tomahawk took the ensuing kickoff, Ishpeming’s Alex Sundberg made an interception to all but insure the victory.

With the Hematites getting all 311 of their yards on the ground, Smith and fellow back Preston Gauthier led that attack as Gauthier gained 121 yards in 23 carries and Smith had 108 on 18 tries.

While Corp added 58 yards rushing, he was only 0 of 4 passing with an interception.

The Hatchets gained 167 yards, 147 of its rushing, as Ishpeming also held a 14-5 advantage in first downs.

The Hematites host Iron Mountain at 7 p.m. Friday in its homecoming game.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.