Marquette Overcomes Mistakes; Outlasts Gladstone

GLADSTONE---The Gladstone Braves had high hopes coming into their Homecoming match against the Marquette Redmen Friday night at the Marble Athletic Field.

But the Redmen rolled up more than 400 yards of total offense and overcame a slew of penalties to post a 21-13 Great Northern Conference victory over the Braves.

Gladstone played hard all night long and had to play most of the way without one of their top players. Jake Peterson is the team's top wide receiver and one of its key defensive players.

He was injured during the first quarter....an apparent broken ankle, according to GHS Activities Director Matt Houle.

Peterson...also known as "Rizzo"...was treated at the hospital and returned to the sidelines in the fourth quarter on crutches.

Before Rizzo got hurt, the Braves got off to a good start as Justin Jurek returned the opening kickoff 59 yards deep into Marquette territory. Gladstone methodically used nine plays to drive 38 yards, with Tyler Wells scoring from one yard out.

Tyler Wells touchdown run

Gladstone's 7-0 lead (after Kyle Pouliot's kick) didn't last long. The Redmen drove 62 yards in just five plays, with veteran quarterback Brett Place finding senior receiver Connor Brazeau for a 14-yard touchdown. Max Bednarek's kick tied the game at 7-7.

After Wells was intercepted two plays later, Marquette appeared to take the lead on a 50-yard touchdown pass from Place to veteran receiver Brett Beauchamp. But it was called back on a holding penalty, and the Marquette drive stalled from there.

Not much happened on the next few possessions, but Marquette took the lead with 2:17 left in the second quarter as Place got loose and sprinted for a 23-yard touchdown run.

Just before halftime, Marquette completed a 69-yard touchdown pass from Place to Pat Burmeister. But that score was also called back on a penalty, the second TD to be wiped off the board in the half.

Marquette then missed a field goal just before the break.

Marquette outgained Gladstone, 234-88, in the first half. But it was only 14-7.

The Redmen got the ball first to start the second half, and they got a pass completion from Place to Beauchamp. But Gladstone's Matt Chenier put on a big hit, forcing a fumble that was recovered by senior Cole Tardiff.

The Braves were in business. Gladstone took over at its own 35, and converted a fourth-and-three play at the Marquette 41. On the next play, Wells got loose for a 38-yard touchdown, and the huge Gladstone crowd was cheering.

Tyler Wells TD #2

The extra point kick was no good, however.

Marquette still led, 14-13,and they drove from their own 30 to the Gladstone 9. But on fourth-and-one, Jurek and Jack Cronick stuffed Place short of the first down.

Gladstone, with momentum, got a couple of first downs and moved the ball to midfield.

The Braves executed a nice reverse with Chenier that would have been a first down at the Marquette 30.

But a holding penalty moved the ball back into Gladstone territory and a few plays later, the Braves ended up punting the ball back to the Redmen.

Marquette took over at its own 28 yard-line and Place, with all day to throw the ball, quickly moved his team into Gladstone's red zone.

On third and nine from the Braves' ten yard-line, Place threw for Beauchamp in the end zone. Beauchamp dove and made a one-handed catch for the touchdown.

The extra point kick by Bednarek made it a 21-13 game for Marquette.

There was still 7:23 left in the game, so the Braves had a chance. On third-and-nine, Wells found Lucian Burge open along the sidelines for a 34-yard pass to the Marquette 45 yard-line. Then Wells pounded his way for a first down run to the Redmen 35.

Marquette's Brett Beauchamp one-handed TD catch

But on third and five from the Marquette 30, there was confusion as to who would get the snap between Jurek and Wells. Jurek got the ball, fumbled, and had to fall on it. Then on 4th-and-10, Wells threw incomplete out of bounds, with 2:51 left in the game.

Marquette got two first downs on the ground and ran out the clock.

The Redmen were led by Place, who completed 20-of-29 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran 14 times for 73 yards and another score.

Gladstone got 117 yards on 22 carries from Wells, who scored both touchdowns.

Wells also completed four of 12 passes for 62 yards and an interception.

Jurek ran 15 times for 60 yards. Marquette outgained Gladstone in offense, 427-242.

Marquette improved to 4-1 (2-0 GNC) while Gladstone fell to 3-2 (0-2 GNC).

The Braves travel to Sault Ste. Marie for a non-conference game next Friday night. The kickoff is set for 7:00, and it will be broadcast live on WGKL-FM (105.5), WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.

Click the above headline to see photos taken by Ron Jurek, videos taken by Nate Bellville, and to hear radio replays and interviews.

Gladstone's Owen Carlson (14) knocks the ball away from the Marquette receiver Friday. (Ron Jurek photo)

Date	Time	Opponent	Score	Record

8/28	7:00 PM	Gwinn Model Towners	34 - 8 (W)	1-0

9/6	6:00 PM	Roscommon Bucks	41 - 12 (W)	2-0

9/12	7:00 PM	at Negaunee Miners	24 - 19 (W)	3-0

9/19	8:00 PM	at Menominee Maroons	6 - 49 (L)	3-1

9/26	7:00 PM	Marquette Redmen	13 - 21 (L)	3-2

10/3	7:00 PM	at Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils	22 - 28 (L)	3-3

10/10	7:00 PM	Escanaba Eskymos	14 - 41 (L)	3-4

10/17	7:30 PM	at Kingsford Flivvers	20 - 41 (L)	3-5

10/24	7:00 PM	Calumet Copper Kings	38 - 47 (L)	3-6