ISHPEMING – Throughout this season, the Ishpeming High School football team had to grind out some close wins to remain undefeated.

Saturday’s game, on the other hand, was over by halftime.

The Hematites got a gift of an early turnover and they never looked back in a 40-2 rout of McBain in a Division 7 regional title game.

Ishpeming will play New Lothrop in the state semifinals next weekend. Date, time and location have yet to be determined.

Ishpeming (11-0) finished with more than 200 yards rushing Saturday and the Hematites’ defense had three interceptions as IHS moved one game closer to the state finals.

Hematites quarterback Ozzy Corp led Ishpeming with three touchdowns and was effective both with his feet and his arm.

Ishpeming head coach Jeff Olson was pleased with Corp’s performance and also gave credit to the the offensive line.

“We go as Ozzy goes,” he said. “Fortunately, we also have some good athletes around him and he doesn’t have to do everything.

“However, when we need a big play, he can get it either with his feet or with his arm.

“I also liked the way our offensive line blocked in the first half,” Olson added. “We were opening up some good holes and our running game was there in the first quarter where it hasn’t been all year. It was a total team effort.”

Corp is known for pounding his chest when he wants the ball and he loves getting it when the game is on the line.

“I love the challenge,” he said. “I love getting the ball in these types of games and I think it gets the team going, too.”

Things starting going Ishpeming’s way in the opening seconds of the game. On McBain’s first play from scrimmage, the Hematites’ defense both forced and recovered a fumble. This led to a 1-yard touchdown run by Corp and the 2-point conversion put Ishpeming up 8-0.

After stopping the Ramblers (8-4) on fourth down, Ishpeming put together a drive culminating in a 35-touchdown pass from Corp to Jaren Kipling, who hurdled two defenders on his way to the end zone.

Up 14-0 in the second quarter, Corp found Nick Comment with a pass for a first down and then picked up two long first downs with his legs. The drive ended with a 16-yard run by Donald Denofre, who also notched the 2-point conversion for the Hematites.

“We brought him up from the JV and he can be explosive,” Olson said of Denofre. “We’re getting him in the mix a bit more, as well as some guys on the defensive side.

If kids start to break down and get tired, we have other guys who can step up.”

The Hematites ended the first half with arguably the most exciting play of the game. With the Ramblers in Ishpeming territory, Hematites defensive back Daren Giuchin picked off a Jimmy Schneider pass in the end zone and took it all the way back for a 100-yard touchdown.

On McBain’s next drive, Ishpeming’s Thomas Finegan intercepted another pass.

“We knew their favorite routes and where they like to go, so we were extra aggressive early in the secondary,” Corp said.

In the second half, the Hematites padded their lead to 34-0 on a 28-yard run by Corp, who deked around two defenders and stiff-armed another to get into the end zone.

After Comment got Ishpeming its third interception on a diving catch, McBain got its only points of the game when a snap from center rolled into the back of the end zone for a safety.

Ishpeming put the finishing touch on its win with a long touchdown run with 28 seconds left in the game.

When asked if he had a secret to Ishpeming’s recent string of success, Olson simply laughed.

“If I had a secret, I’d make a million dollars with a book,” he said. “The secret really is just working hard and let the kids play.

“We give the kids a lot of ownership and we try to make it as fun as we can for them. Kids make plays. It’s not the coaches.

“We’ve had a run of great kids and I’ve said that all along,” he added. “That’s really why I enjoy coaching here.”

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