Kings, Gremlins, Lakes Earn Football Wins – Saturday Sports Wrap

High School

Two local teams geared up for the playoffs, as the regular high school football season concluded last night…
• Calumet opened a big early lead, and cruised past L’Anse 53-32. The Copper Kings share the WestPAC Copper Division title with Westwood, which defeated Negaunee 32-14 last night.
• Houghton ended its season with a 33-0 victory at Gwinn. The Gremlins first two scores came on safeties. The offense broke loose late in the first half, as Gaborik Carlson caught a 70-yard touchdown pass, and scored again on a three-yard run. Kaiden Zapolnik ran for two touchdowns in the second half.
• Hancock’s game against West Iron County was called off, after the Wykons discontinued their season early because of a lack of players.
• Lake Linden-Hubbell broke out to a big early lead, then held off Ontonagon 54-34. The Lakes scored on their first five possessions, and built a 38-6 lead late in the second quarter. Ben Tampas scored on a 55-yard run on the game’s first play from scrimmage. He added a five-yard run on the next possession. After Danny Marcotte hot Marcus Sutherland with a 27-yard touchdown pass, the Gladiators got on the board when quarterback Jaden Borseth ran 48 yards for a score. Tampas then added a three-yard run, and James Milkey ran 57 yards for a score. The Ontonagon offense found its footing late in the first half, with a touchdown pass and a four-yard TD run with three seconds remaining closing the halftime gap to 38-20. The Gladiators’ comeback continued when Steve Graff raced 57 yards to the end zone on the opening possession of the second half. The Lakes responded with Tampas’ fourth touchdown of the night – an 11-yard run. Ontonagon kept pace, with Borseth concluding a 78-yard drive with a two-yard plunge, narrowing the gap to 12. Lake Linden then fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and the Gladiators drove to the Lakes’ 13-yard line. Facing fourth-and-one, a Borseth pass fell incomplete. Lake Linden took over on downs, and, with backup quarterback Travis Ongie at the helm, and Tampas running hard, manufactured a time-consuming 87-yard drive that ended with a two-yard Tampas carry for his fifth touchdown of the evening.

See highlights from the Calumet and Houghton games here:

Official playoff pairings will be announced tomorrow night by the Michigan High School Athletic Association, but here’s what appears likely…
• Negaunee’s loss to Westwood, and Menominee’s 34-27 loss to Kingsford, don’t seem to have affected their status as the top two seeds in the local Division Six district. With Gladstone’s 15-14 loss to Sault Ste. Marie, Calumet is likely to move up to the third seed, and open the playoffs at Menominee next week.
• Lake Linden’s victory, combined with Pellston’s 20-12 loss to Hillman, seems to push the Lakes all the way up to the second seed in the local Eight Player Division Two region, and drop the Hornets all the way to fourth. The Lakes will likely host Forest Park in their playoff opener next Saturday. The Trojans lost to North Central 42-0 last night.
• Keweenaw Report Sports will cover both Calumet and Lake Linden-Hubbell as far as they go in the playoffs. If Calumet and Menominee play Friday night, both games will be broadcast on KBear 102.3. If Calumet plays on Saturday, the Copper Kings game will be on KBear 102.3, with the Lakes on 97.7 The Wolf.

In high school volleyball last night…
• Baraga swept Chassell 3-0 (25-11, 25-15, 25-16).

In volleyball today…
• Calumet plays at Marquette.

The U.P. Cross Country championships will be run today at Gentz’s Homestead Golf Course in Marquette.

College Football

The Michigan Tech football team entertains top-ranked Ferris State today at 1:00.

The Northern Michigan University football team hosts eighth-ranked Grand Valley State today.

The Finlandia University football team plays at Crown College today.

College Soccer

The Michigan Tech hockey team has the weekend off. The Huskies will host an intrasquad scrimmage today at 4:30 at Dee Stadium. There is no charge to attend, and you can skate with the Huskies afterward.

The Northern hockey team upended 19th-ranked Bemidji State 5-4 last evening. The Wildcats host the Beavers again tonight.

College Volleyball

The Tech volleyball team won its 11th-straight match last night, sweeping Wisconsin-Parkside 3-0 (25-14, 25-17, 25-18). The 20th-ranked Huskies will play at Purdue Northwest today.

The Finlandia volleyball squad was supposed to play at the Mount Mary Fall Classic this weekend, but the Lions have canceled all the remaining games in their season. No explanation has been offered.

College Soccer

The Tech soccer team lost 5-0 at top-ranked Grand Valley State yesterday afternoon. The Huskies continue a challenging weekend at ninth-ranked Ferris State tomorrow.

The Finlandia women’s soccer team hosts Viterbo University today at noon, and Wisconsin-Platteville tomorrow at 2:30. Coverage of Sunday’s game will begin at 2:10 on KBear 102.3.

NHL

The Detroit Red Wings visit the Montreal Canadiens tonight. Coverage begins at 6:45 on 99.3 The Lift.

NBA

The Detroit Pistons visit the Chicago Bulls tonight. 

MLB

The Houston Astros advanced to the World Series by defeating the Boston Red Sox 5-0 last night. Houston won the American League Championship Series 4-2.

The National League Championship Series resumes tonight in Atlanta. The Braves lead the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2.

NFL

Tomorrow…
• The Green Bay Packers host the Washington Football Team for a 1:00 game.
• The Detroit Lions visit Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams for a 4:05 contest. Hear the broadcast on 99.3 The Lift.

Email sports news and scores to mornings@up.net.