ISHPEMING – On a chilly Friday night, the Westwood Patriots’ running game burned up the gridiron.

The Patriots pounded the ball for 286 yards with running back Brandon Benda and quarterback Luke Gray both breaking the 100-yard mark in a 20-12 victory over L’Anse.

A hoarse Scott Syrjala was proud of his team’s effort, especially his offensive line.

“We got a win and I thought they might’ve turned the corner tonight,” the Westwood head coach said. “I was a little bit worried with how tired we were getting in the second half.

“Last week, L’Anse ended up winning that late and I thought it was because they were in better shape, but I thought we controlled the line of scrimmage. We sustained our blocks and opened up some holes for our runners.”

For L’Anse, it was a game of missed opportunities. The Purple Hornets came back late in the game to pull within eight points of the Patriots, but were stopped on fourth down twice in the final quarter.

“We had some great opportunities, but we missed some guys that were open and we dropped some passes,” L’Anse head coach Mark Leaf said. “Westwood shut down our running game, so we had to throw the ball. We’re going to try to fix that this week, but I think we’ll be in good shape.”

Westwood got on the board first after taking advantage of an interception. Gray scrambled around left end for a seven-yard touchdown and the Patriots went up 6-0.

In the second quarter, the Patriots had a chance to go up two scores, but Gray’s pass was intercepted in the end zone. However, L’Anse couldn’t take advantage of the turnover as a long completion from quarterback Brandon Koski to Brett Mattson was called back on a holding penalty. In the meantime, Westwood’s Brandon Benda made tackles well into the L’Anse backfield on back-to-back plays to force a punt.

On the ensuing possession, Westwood was able to punch the ball in for a touchdown. After Gray completed his only pass of the day, a 37-yard strike to Nicholas Briones, the senior quarterback ran the ball up the middle for an 18-yard score. The two-point conversion put the Patriots up 14-0.

Down by two scores, L’Anse needed a big play and got it from running back Michael Anderson. The senior broke free down the right sideline for a 44-yard touchdown and the Purple Hornets went into the locker room down only 14-6.

“Michael’s a playmaker for us and he has been for the last two seasons,” Leaf said. “We try to get the ball in his hands in different ways and he’s a threat to take it to the house every time.”

On Westwood’s first drive of the second half, Benda took over. The senior picked up three first downs, including a 16-yard gain to bring the ball deep into L’Anse territory. With 6:29 left in the third, the Patriots called for a quarterback sneak and Gray plunged in the end zone from a yard out. But his two-point conversion pass fell incomplete and Westwood led 20-6.

The Purple Hornets answered quickly, with Koski hitting Anderson with a 50-yard pass. Two plays later, the senior found Anderson again, this time for a 9-yard TD. But the two-point conversion was no good and L’Anse was down 20-12.

L’Anse had a great chance to possibly tie the game early in the fourth quarter, but Koski’s pass to Anderson, who had a clear path to the end zone, was knocked away by Gray, and on fourth down, Westwood sophomore Ethan Burke forced another incompletion.

“Ethan did a great job,” Syrjala said. “He’s a tough kid. He’s small, but he’s tough. He’s only a sophomore and he didn’t bat an eye coming up from the JV to the varsity. He’s really learning to be a better defender.”

After stopping WHS on fourth down, L’Anse had one last chance to tie the game, but Ryan Beauprey was stopped by Burke a yard short of a first down, allowing the Patriots to run out the clock.

“I liked the fight in our kids and it was a good ballgame,” Leaf said. “I’m pleased where we’re at, 2-1, and we’ll just try to regroup next week.”

Syrjala feels that his team took a step forward and that the Patriots are making progress.

“I’m happy for these kids,” he said. “They work hard for us and they work hard for their school. We’re trying to start something new. We’re trying to take it to the next level.

“I don’t know what that next level is or if it’s necessarily wins and losses. I think it’s becoming a competitive football team year in and year out. This team doesn’t give up. I’m proud of them for that.”

Ryan Stieg can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 246. His email address is rstieg@miningjournal.net.