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Homecoming blitz: Negaunee Miners football team secures 48-20 win over Hancock

Negaunee's Ian Engstrom, right, corrals this catch while defended by Hancock's Charlie Bastion before Engstrom runs it in for a touchdown during their high school football game played at Miner Stadium in Negaunee on Friday. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

Up next: Negaunee at Westwood, 7 p.m. Friday as the only high school football game to be played between two Marquette County schools this fall

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NEGAUNEE — The Negaunee football team capped off homecoming for Miners fans by rolling to a 48-20 victory over Hancock at Miner Stadium on Friday night.

The Miners (4-1) bounced back in a big way after a tough 29-27 loss to Kingsford the previous Friday, on this night dominating the Bulldogs (1-4) on both sides of the ball.

Hancock struggled to find answers for Negaunee’s potent offense and relentless defense as the home team raced to a 41-6 lead at halftime.

Negaunee’s Broc Bonovetz slips past a Hancock defender to score a third-quarter touchdown in their high school football game played at Miner Stadium in Negaunee on Friday. (Journal photo by Caden Sierra)

“I like the way we came out today,” NHS head coach Paul Jacobson said. “I think we really learned a lot about ourselves last week at the Kingsford game.

“We wanted to come out and start the way we finished last week and I’m just happy how we played.”

He was quick to point out the importance of the play on his team’s lines.

“It starts up front, we simplify some things up front for our line and I think we played really well up front,” Jacobson said.

Speaking about a preference to run the ball, he acknowledges what the passing game can do.

Negaunee’s Weston Yesney celebrates after rushing for the game’s first touchdown in the first quarter of a high school football game played against Hancock at Miner Stadium in Negaunee on Friday. (Journal photo by Caden Sierra)

“Our backs ran hard and it always helps when you have the ability to throw the ball,” Jacobson said, “and (quarterback) Ty (Jacobson)

‘s been throwing the ball really well and we got some good weapons on the edge, so it’s a real balance right now and at this level, it’s tough to defend.”

Negaunee wasted no time taking control. The Miners’ defense struck early when Baron Heslip intercepted a pass by Hancock quarterback Ben Keranen on the Bulldogs’ opening drive, setting Negaunee up deep in enemy territory.

Just a few plays later, Weston Yesney found the end zone with a 15-yard run, giving the Miners a 7-0 lead with only two minutes elapsed.

Trying to mount a response, the Bulldogs showed flashes of promise behind the efforts of standout running back Ned Larson, whose 20-yard burst brought Hancock into Negaunee territory. But the Miners’ defense stood tall, forcing a turnover on downs.

Negaunee quickly capitalized again, this time with Broc Bonovetz bulldozing his way into the end zone from 23 yards out, pushing the lead to 14-0 midway through the opening quarter.

From there, the Miners kept their foot on the gas. After a strong punt return by Ian Engstrom, the Miners found themselves in striking distance once more. Yesney punched in his second TD of the night, and with the extra point, the Miners extended their lead to 21-0.

Negaunee’s offensive rhythm was complemented by its suffocating defense, forcing Hancock into repeated punts and turnovers. NHS quarterback Ty Jacobson capped the first-quarter scoring with a 40-yard passing bomb to Engstrom, sending Negaunee into the second quarter with a commanding 27-0 advantage.

The Bulldogs finally got on the scoreboard in the second quarter when Keranen connected with Larson on a 35-yard touchdown pass. The extra point was no good, keeping the score at 34-6, but it was clear the Bulldogs were struggling to keep pace with Negaunee’s pace.

Jacobson and the Miners wasted no time responding, as a key run from Bonovetz set up a brilliant TD catch by Heslip, pushing the score to 41-6 by intermission.

Owen Cardinal took over at quarterback for the Miners in the second half. Negaunee stuck to its ground-and-pound approach, and Bonovetz ripped off a 40-yard scoring run early in the third quarter to extend the lead to 48-6.

Despite the score, Hancock continued to battle, adding two more scores, but it was too little, too late as Negaunee chewed up the clock to claim the victory.

The Miners hope to continue on their hot streak this week with the only high school football game to be played between two Marquette County schools at 7 p.m. Friday when Negaunee travels to Westwood.

Caden Sierra can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 551. His email address is csierra@nmu.edu.

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