Tripp's Five TD Leads Redmen Past Braves, 46-16

MARQUETTE---Quarterback Scott Tripp threw three touchdown passes and ran in two other scores to lead the Marquette Redmen to a 46-16 win over the Gladstone Braves in a Great Northern Conference game Friday in chilly, foggy Marquette.

The Redmen scored the first 27 points of the game, and then went on cruise control as a thick fog rolled into Hart Stadium on Marquette's Parent's Night. For the third straight week, the Braves gave up two many big plays and fell victim to the mercy rule.

Marquette took the opening possession 65 yards in eight plays, with Tripp finding Bermeister open for a 35-yard touchown pass barely three minutes into the game.

The Braves got one first down, but had to punt after quarterback Ben Schwalbach was sacked near midfield.

Schwalbach was sacked four times on the night.

Marquette TD Tripp to Bermeister

The Redmen got the ball at the 31-yard-line, and Gladstone's Trevor Tomac made a big defensive play as he sacked Tripp for a seven-yard loss.

But on the next play, Tripp hooked up again with Bermeister, this time for a 76-yard touchdown pass, and it was 13-0, after the extra point kick.

Gladstone was back in it when Owen Carlson returned the ensuing kickoff 72 yards to the Marquette nine yard line. But the Braves could not score from near the goal line, as Hunter Garling was held to two short runs, Schwalbach's pass to Jake Greenfield was caught out-of-bounds, and then Schwalbach was sacked again on fourth down.

That golden opportunity was wasted, and Marquette went on a 90-yard drive to basically put the game away. Tripp scored on a 15-yard run on the first play of the second quarter, putting the Redmen ahead, 20-0.

Gladstone then went three-and-out, with Schwalbach being sacked again.

And then the normally-solid kicker James Bruce shanked an eight-yard punt. Marquette set up at the GHS 25 yard-line, and Jack Kochevar scored virtually untouched on the first play. The extra point kick made it a 27-0 Redman lead.

Gladstone responded with its first successful drive of the game, going 69 yards in nine plays. One key play early was Schwalbach scrambling for 14 yards on 3rd-and-12. And the Braves cashed in on 3rd-and-4 with a 39-yard touchdown pass from Schwalbach to Garling. Bruce's extra point kick made it a 27-7 game with 4:38 left in the half.

Gladstone's Hunter Garling TD Catch

But Tripp led the Redmen on another long drive just before halftime, and he did it in just three minutes.

This time, it was a 75-yard drive that included a pair of personal foul penalties against the Braves, providing 30 of those yards. Tripp scored on a one-yard run, and after the extra point kick, Marquette led at halftime, 34-7.

The second half started with Gladstone in possession, but the Braves turned it over on the second play as Schwalbach fumbled the snap.

Marquette needed only three plays for Tripp to find Bermeister for a 21-yard touchdown pass.

The Redmen led, 40-7, and tried the two-point run to put the mercy rule in effect, but the run failed.

Gladstone put together a drive late in the third quarter, helped along by a 30-yard penalty on pass interference and an unsportsmanlike penalty on the Marquette coaching staff.

Bruce's 36-yard field goal was good, with plenty of room to spare.

The field goal cut the Braves deficit to 40-10, but Marquette's reserves scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter, and it was a running clock on the merc y rule.

Gladstone's James Bruce 36 yd field goal.

Gladstone senior Matt Chenier scored on a four-yard run late in the game to put the clock back on regular time. Marquette ran a couple of plays, and then the game ended with 38 seconds left when Gladstone senior Dallas Potvin suffered a dislocated elbow as he tried to stop Marquette's third string quarterback, Jared Prevost, on a run.

Statistically, Marquette outgained Gladstone on offense, 432-162, including 304-97 in the first half. Tripp completed 11 of 13 passes for 236 yards and three touchdowns. Beremeister caught five of those passes, including all three touchdowns, for 154 yards.

Alex Parrella also caught five passes, good for 70 yards. Kocheaver had 86 yards rushing on ten carries, and a t0uchdown.

Tripp scored on two short TD runs.

For the Braves, Schwalbach completed 7-of-13 passes for 87 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Garling had 36 yards rushing on 13 carries, and Chenier had five carries for 29 yards and a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Marquette (2-3 overall, 2-0 GNC) will host Kingsford (3-2, 0-1) next Friday for Redman Homecoming.

Gladstone (2-3 overall, 0-2 GNC) will also have Homecoming next Friday against Sault Ste. Marie (3-2). The Gladstone-Sault game will kick off at 7:00, and it will be broadcast live on WGKL-FM (105.5), WCHT-AM (600), and rrnsports.com.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos and videos taken by Nate Bellville, and to hear radio interviews.