Dominating finish: Ishpeming Hematites break 50-point barrier for 3rd straight game after earlier in season losing back-to-back games
ISHPEMING — The Ishpeming High School football team wrapped up its regular season with a commanding 58-6 victory over Auburn Hills Oakland Christian on Saturday afternoon on the Hematites field at the Ishpeming Playgrounds.
Ishpeming quarterback Caden Luoma led a relentless offensive attack, scoring multiple touchdowns, while the Hematite defense held Oakland Christian to a single score late in the fourth quarter that should all but guarantee a spot in the MHSAA eight-player Division 1 playoffs this weekend.
“It’s good to have this energy going into the playoffs,” IHS head coach Mike Lyman said before the playoff pairings were scheduled to be announced late Sunday afternoon. “We don’t know who we’re going to play, but the mindset’s still the same, take care of business, and move on to the next week.”
Luoma accounted for five of Ishpeming’s touchdowns, including four on the ground and one through the air.
This win solidifies the Hematites’ season. After losing back-to-back games in September, Ishpeming has now won three in row, scoring more than 50 points in each of those recent victories to finish the regular season, its first in the eight-player game, and end at 6-2.
“Yeah, it’s hard to not like what we did,” Lyman said. “We got a little lazy in the first half at times, which is always frustrating, but they know they rallied looking at this game and this final stretch of games.”
Ishpeming’s defense took control from the opening snap, setting up a short field and allowing Luoma to capitalize with a 31-yard touchdown run. Luoma then powered in for the 2-point conversion, giving the Hematites an early 8-0 lead.
The Hematites’ defense continued to dominate, forcing a turnover on downs, while Luoma found the end zone again with a 44-yard sprint, extending the lead to 16-0 midway through the first quarter.
As the period wound down, the Hematites successfully recovered an onside kick, and Christopher Steele caught a 37-yard TD pass from Luoma on the first play that followed. Another 2-point conversion pushed the lead to 32-0 by the end of the quarter.
The second quarter saw Oakland Christian struggle to gain momentum. The Lancers managed to push a drive to the Ishpeming 10-yard line, but costly penalties and the Hematites’ tight defense forced another turnover on downs. Luoma took advantage of every opportunity, and with 58 seconds remaining in the opening half, Ishpeming struck again. This time, Grady Gauthier broke through for an 18-yard rushing TD, bringing the score to 38-0.
A final 48-yard scoring run by Luoma in the closing seconds brought the halftime score to 44-0.
Ishpeming’s offense wasted no time adding more points to begin the second half. Luoma broke free for a 47-yard TD run, and with another 2-point conversion it was 52-0.
With a running clock and a comfortable lead, Ishpeming’s defense held strong, continuing to make key stops.
In the closing minutes of the third, Derek Meyer finished off a drive with a 24-yard rushing TD, stretching the lead to 58-0.
Although Oakland Christian made a last attempt to get on the scoreboard, Ishpeming’s Davis Hyatt recovered a fumble, solidifying its defensive hold.
The Lancers finally scored in the fourth quarter with an 85-yard punt return by Colin Kolb, bringing the final score to 58-6.
Caden Sierra can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 551. His email address is csierra@nmu.edu.