Indian Lake Indian River Bulldogs upend Ishpeming Hematites 30-22 on homecoming Saturday
ISHPEMING — The Ishpeming High School football team battled to the end but came up just short in the Hematites homecoming game, a 30-22 loss to visiting Indian River Inland Lakes at the Ishpeming Playgrounds on Saturday afternoon.
While Ishpeming slipped to 3-2 in its inaugural eight-player season, Inland Lakes improved to a perfect 5-0. This was easily the Bulldogs’ closest game yet, their next closest a 60-26 blowout of Bridgman a week earlier.
The Hematites were coming off a 65-14 loss to their only Upper Peninsula opponent this season, Pickford, which like Inland Lakes is a top-three team in the Associated Press eight-player Division 1 state rankings.
In fact, Ishpeming continued to also be state ranked at No. 8 going into the weekend.
Afterward, Ishpeming head coach Mike Lyman praised his team’s effort, especially considering the heat.
“It was hot all (Saturday), and they pushed through it,” the coach said. “We were pretty close to winning this one, and we’re just going to get better.”
He emphasized his team’s fighting spirit.
“That’s what we expect here,” Lyman said. “There’s a lot of tradition at this school, and that’s the standard.
“Our mentality is just to get better every week.”
The game began with the Hematites kicking off. The Bulldogs managed to convert on a 4th-and-1 play to gain momentum. Inland Lakes quarterback Aidan Fenstermaker then connected with Andre Bradford to drive into the red zone, and after a series of penalties and clutch plays, the Bulldogs punched in the game’s first score when Bradford shook off Hematite defenders for a 7-yard touchdown. With a successful 2-point conversion, they led 8-0 just past the midpoint of the first quarter.
Ishpeming responded with a series of short runs by quarterback Caden Luoma, and all looked well until he fumbled after a hit near the Inland Lakes 11-yard line, killing the drive.
Fortunately for the Hematites, their defense stepped up as Ethan Corp intercepted a Fenstermaker pass, returning it almost for pick-six and down to the 1-yard line.
The Hematites soon capitalized with Luoma running it in the end zone. The 2-point conversion attempt fell short, leaving them down 8-6 when the first quarter ended.
Ishpeming’s defense then held strong, forcing a punt to give their offense another chance. A massive run by Luoma brought the Hematites almost to midfield. Despite several penalties, the Hematites continued to drive as Luoma broke free for a 44-yard TD run, and with a successful 2-point conversion to Corp, Ishpeming had built a 14-8 lead with 2 1/2 minutes left in the first half.
But the Bulldogs weren’t finished as a brilliant return brought Inland Lakes deep into Hematite territory. Mitchell Crawford then ran it in for a touchdown, and with Cameron Kettel adding the 2-point conversion, Inland Lakes retook a 16-14 lead at halftime.
In this back-and-forth encounter, the Hematites started the second half with possession looking to reclaim the lead. A long drive brought them to the Bulldogs’ 1-yard line, but the Inland Lakes defense held strong, stopping Ishpeming on 4th-and-goal. The Bulldogs then delivered a crushing blow on the next drive, as Fenstermaker broke loose for an 85-yard TD run, that extended their lead to 22-14.
Ishpeming, however, refused to give in. As the third quarter ended, the Hematites spearheaded another drive, with Luoma finding Corp for a key fourth-down conversion. That momentum carried over into the final quarter when the Hematites tied the game at 22-22 with a touchdown pass to Corp, followed by a successful 2-point run by Luoma with 11:46 remaining.
Inland Lakes responded again, driving deep into Hematite territory. A touchdown run by Bradford and a 2-point conversion by Fenstermaker put the Bulldogs ahead 30-22 with 7:41 left. The Hematites had one last chance, but a goal-line interception by the Bulldogs’ Tyler Kolly with 2:02 left killed the last hopes for an Ishpeming comeback.
Ishpeming travels downstate for another Saturday afternoon game this week, playing at Merrill in Saginaw County at 1 p.m. Like the Hematites, the Vandals are 3-2 and defeated Munising in the MHSAA Division 1 semifinals in 2022.
Caden Sierra can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 551. His email address is csierra@nmu.edu.