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GWINN — The Gwinn High School football team moved its record back above .500 in their first home game of the season on Friday night, dropping L’Anse 27-6 at McCormick Field.

The Modeltowners (2-1) controlled play from start to finish with a relentless defense that forced multiple turnovers and an offense that took advantage of its opportunities.

“One of the biggest things we express as a team as a whole is to win the turnover battle,” Gwinn head coach Derek Nyquist said. “And in the past, we haven’t been great about creating turnovers. And even this year, we haven’t created more than, I think, two or three total turnovers to see.

L’Anse’s Connor Kemppainen runs while looking for daylight in the third quarter of a high school football game played against Gwinn at McCormick Field in Gwinn on Friday. (Journal photo by Caden Sierra)

“So to turn that around … in this game is really huge. Winning the turnover battle is always a great thing, and the statistics show that more often than not, you’re going to win the game if you win the turnover battle.”

L’Anse head coach Eric DeMink expressed disappointment but remained optimistic.

“I don’t know if people realize we don’t have that many seniors,” he said. “We have a lot of juniors and sophomores…. We’re going to continue to grow, and we put the tape on, we teach every Monday.

“I think my (quarterback), really, really rebounded this week after last week; I think he had a phenomenal game, had a few dropped balls here and there, things happen, stuff happens.

“Our line plays have to have better executions, and we got to get better on offense.”

Gwinn’s Carter Stansky, left, shouts to celebrate as he heads to the sideline following a big defensive stop to gain momentum in the first quarter of a high school football game played against L’Anse at McCormick Field in Gwinn on Friday. (Journal photo by Caden Sierra)

Each team seemed to come out early looking to set the tone, but it was the Modeltowners defense that would make the first big play.

After receiving the opening kickoff, L’Anse soon coughed up the football deep in their own territory.

Gwinn wasted no time capitalizing, with Dane Wixtrom finding the end zone on a short run to give the Modeltowners a 7-0 lead just minutes in.

The first quarter continued to be a defensive battle, with Gwinn shutting down L’Anse’s offense as it struggled to move the ball.

Despite a few moments of hope for the Purple Hornets, most notably a long run by Keegan Davidson that brought them into Gwinn territory, L’Anse was unable to sustain the drive.

Early in the second quarter, Gwinn’s defense struck again, forcing another fumble that set it up for success. This time, Andrew Hill scooped up the ball and took it all the way to the end zone, extending Gwinn’s lead to 15-0 after a successful two-point conversion.

Led by quarterback Daniel Conner, L’Anse tried to respond, but the Modeltowners’ defense was suffocating, constantly applying pressure and forcing mistakes.

The Hornets’ best chance of the first half came after a Gwinn facemask penalty advanced them into Modeltowner territory, but once again, the GHS defense held strong. As the first half ended, L’Anse remained scoreless, down 15-0.

Gwinn picked up right where it left off to open the second half. Following a lengthy injury delay, Modeltowners quarterback Carter Stansky led his offense downfield, leading to a touchdown pass to Nate Carter as he slipped past the L’Anse defense. Though the Modeltowners missed the 2-point attempt, they were now firmly in control, ahead 21-0.

The Hornets, however, refused to go down without a fight. Conner led his team on a sustained drive late in the third, eventually scoring on a quarterback run to put the Purple Hornets on the scoreboard. Now trailing 21-6, L’Anse hoped to shift the momentum.

But those hopes were quickly dashed by Gwinn’s relentless defense. Early in the fourth, L’Anse fumbled the ball away again, leading to a highlight-reel touchdown catch in the corner of the end zone by Wixtrom that all but sealed the victory at 27-6.

Despite a few late pushes by L’Anse, the Modeltowners’ defense held strong, snuffing out the Hornets’ final drive with just over six minutes remaining. From there, Gwinn ran out the clock.

Both teams are back in action on their home fields at 7 p.m. Friday. Gwinn takes on Bark River Harris, while L’Anse looks for its first win this season as it entertains Manistique.

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