From left, Negaunee’s Marco Gravedoni tries to block Marquette’s Bryce Brazeau as the Redmen’s Tanner Judd looks for daylight on Friday evening at the Miners Field. (Journal photo by Corey Kelly)

By RYAN SPITZA

Journal Sports Writer

NEGAUNEE — In a must-win game to keep its playoff hopes alive, Marquette got 214 all-purpose yards from Ethan Martysz as Marquette defeated Negaunee 35-19 at Miners Stadium on Friday night.

Martysz’s 75-yard punt return in the second quarter gave the Redmen a lead they wouldn’t relinquish as they took back The Mining Journal’s Diamond Jubilee trophy.

Both teams now sit at 4-4 with must-win situations next week to have any hope of reaching the MHSAA playoffs.

Marquette head coach Dave L’Huillier said the win was as special as it was important.

“It was an exciting win for us, a big win for our program and a couple of good wins in a row now,” he said. “We didn’t have a very good start to the game tonight, but our kids responded very well to the adversity and did a great job coming back and making plays all the way through.”

Martysz said his big performance wasn’t possible without his teammates around him.

“There’s guys out there making plays and making opportunities for me,” he said. “On the punt return (for a score) there were big holes everywhere so (I) just hit one of them and that was it. It was a great performance all around by all of us.”

Martysz added that bringing the Diamond Jubilee Trophy back to Marquette is special as well.

“It means the world to all of us. It’s a big-time win,” he said.

Negaunee head coach Paul Jacobson said the game came down to who could make plays at the right time.

“Marquette is a good football team. They made plays when they needed to,” Jacobson said. “We had a chance to make plays and we didn’t. Bottom line.

“We made mistakes tonight that you can’t make against a good team and expect to win…. We have to correct those mistakes, move on and get better as a team.”

Negaunee fumbled away the opening kickoff, which was recovered by the Redmen at the Miners’ 25-yard line. But the Redmen couldn’t capitalize as Negaunee got the ball back after Drew DuShane intercepted a pass in the end zone made by Marquette quarterback Brendan Kaski.

The Miners converted that turnover into points. On 1st-and-10 from his own 36, Negaunee QB Jason Waterman took off with the ball and gained 46 yards to the Marquette 18.

DuShane went 17 yards from there to set up Waterman for a 1-yard TD on a quarterback sneak. Erik Salminen’s extra-point kick made it 7-0.

MSHS tied the game early in the second quarter when Kaski found Martysz for a 23-yard scoring pass and Martsyz kicked the extra point.

On Negaunee’s punt on the ensuing possession, Martysz caught it and took it 75 yards to the house for a 14-7 halftime lead.

Negaunee was far from done. Marquette opened the second half with a three-and-out, then on the punt, Martysz couldn’t get the ball away and was tackled, giving the Miners great field position.

They capitalized quickly with a 19-yard TD run from Jake Hill, though the extra point was blocked to preserve a 14-13 MSHS lead.

That’s when Marquette started to pull away.

On the next possession, Martysz caught a 40-yard pass from Kaski, which set up Andrew Gale at the 2-yard line as he eventually punched it in on the third down.

Gale tacked on a 40-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter and the Redmen built a 28-13 lead.

The Miners did get a 9-yard TD run from Jason Waterman, but after the extra point missed, Marquette still held a two-score lead of 28-19.

With Negaunee driving down field late in the game, Waterman was picked off by the Redmen’s Greyson Anthos.

Gale ran on it on the next play 29 yards to the end zone to seal the deal for Marquette.

MSHS recorded 297 yards of total offense to Negaunee’s 286, while Negaunee turned the ball over three times to just once for Marquette.

Martysz finished with seven pass catches for 99 yards, while Gale had 181 yards rushing and Kaski was 7 for 13 through the air.

Waterman led the way for the Miners with 103 yards rushing and 79 yards through the air. Other leaders for the Miners included Hill with 64 yards rushing and DuShane 48 yards receiving.

Marquette welcomes Menominee (5-3) on Friday while Negaunee travels up the road for a contest with Westwood (7-1).

Email Ryan Spitza at sports@miningjournal.net.