×

No place like Ford Field

By CRAIG REMSBURG

Senior Sports Writer

ISHPEMING – If it wasn’t official before, it is now – Ford Field in Detroit has become the Ishpeming High School football players’ second home.

For the fourth straight season and fifth time in six years, the Hematites have qualified for the Division 7 state championship game at the Detroit Lions’ home field. They’ve won twice and lost twice there.

IHS qualified this time around with a 22-14 semifinal victory over the New Lothrop Hornets Saturday at the Superior Dome in Marquette.

“This is the fourth year in a row for me to play at Ford Field,” senior tight end-linebacker Thomas Finegan said. “It’s just great – unbelievable.”

Added IHS head coach Jeff Olson: “It feels great. That’s a special place to be. People don’t understand how hard it is to get there.

“But our kids do. They put in the time and the work to get there. All you want to ask for is a chance.”

The Hematites rode senior quarterback Ozzy Corp’s running and several key defensive plays to the title game set for 10 a.m. Saturday against Pewamo-Westphalia.

Their upcoming opponent blasted Detroit Loyola – Ishpeming’s opposition the last three seasons in the title game – by a 30-0 count Saturday.

Corp ran for two touchdowns and passed for another as the Hematites improved to 12-0 this season. He gained 106 tough yards in 41 carries against the Hornets and added an interception to his day’s work.

“I’m pretty beat up, but the adrenalin is starting to kick in,” he said afterward. “Everyone is excited about going down to Ford Field.”

Senior wide receiver-defensive back Nick Comment recovered a fumble and intercepted a pass for the Hematites.

“I’m exhausted. It was a tough game,” he said. “But our defense was really good, especially against the run.

“There’s no other feeling in the world like going to Ford Field.”

A Comment fumble recovery on a New Lothrop punt return led to Finegan catching a 4-yard TD pass from Corp at the beginning of the second quarter. A two-point run by junior running back-defensive end Isaac Olson – the coach’s son – gave IHS an 8-0 lead.

“It was a tight-end delay and I just slipped out into the open,” Finegan said of the score. “I reached out (with the ball) and made the play (for a TD).”

A shanked Hornets’ punt then gave Ishpeming the ball on New Lothrop’s 37. Seven plays later, helped by a 23-yard pass from Corp to Finegan, the Ishpeming QB bulled over from the 3 for a 14-0 lead.

New Lothrop cut the lead to 14-6 at the half with an Erik Birchmeier 1-yard quarterback sneak with 11 seconds left in the half. A pair of 19-yard pass completions from Birchmeier to Steven Garza and Caleb Symons spurred the scoring drive.

The Hornets managed just 85 yards in the first half, only 28 on the ground.

“Their offense was a little confusing at first, but then coach told us what to do and we got our (defensive) assignments down,” Finegan said.

A fumble recovery by IHS senior running back-linebacker Halen Carello led to the Hematites’ third touchdown, a 2-yard run by Corp with 6:44 left in the third quarter. Isaac Olson ran for two points and a 22-6 Ishpeming lead.

A Corp interception enabled the Hematites to then run 9 1/2 minutes off the clock with a long drive aided by a 2-yard run for a first down by Corp on 4th-and-1 at the Ishpeming 38.

Former Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan University head football coach Bernie Anderson gave positive input on the play. He’s also an Ishpeming High School graduate.

“Bernie Anderson agreed with that call on the (sidelines),” coach Olson said. “He said you have to be aggressive and play to win.”

A key tackle by Isaac Olson on a New Lothrop fourth down with about five minutes left in the game helped the Hematites run some more time off the clock.

“Coach called a blitz – which he usually doesn’t do – and (Birchmeier) rolled out,” Isaac Olson said. “I just stuck my arm out and got him (for no gain).”

New Lothrop wasn’t done, however. Despite a sack by IHS junior offensive and defensive lineman Ashok Ravindran, the Hornets marched 83 yards in 12 plays in getting a 2-yard TD run by Quentin Taylor, who added a two-point run with 1:31 left.

A pass interference call against the Hematites and a 20-yard completion from Birchmeier to Caleb Symons helped fuel the drive.

A New Lothrop onside kick was recovered by the Hematites’ Matt Malone, however, and IHS ran out the clock by Corp taking a knee for three straight plays.

“We let them pass at the end, but our defense played well,” Finegan commented.

Said coach Olson: “The kids answered the challenge. I’m proud of the offensive line. We wanted to control the football and we did.

“We also took their running game away. (The Hornets) spread you out, but our kids responded.

“I knew it wasn’t going to come easy,” he added, “that we’d have to earn it. We had to do everything right and the kids answered the challenge.”

Craig Remsburg can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 251. His email address is cremsburg@miningjournal.net.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today