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Eskymo Season Ends With Shutout Loss To G.R.C.C
 GRAND RAPIDS---The most successful football season for the Escanaba Eskymos in more than three decades came to an end on Saturday, with a 34-0 loss to Grand Rapids Catholic Central in the Division Four Regional Final in Grand Rapids. After making it to the third round of the state playoffs for the first time since 1979, the Eskymos ran into a buzzsaw on the artificial turf field in West Michigan. The Cougars (11-1) scored on their first possession...a 13-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jack Bowen to receiver Michael Brown. After the Eskymos went three-and-out, GRCC drove to the Eskymo three yard-line before defense stiffened and the Cougars missedon a short 20-yard field goal. But the Escanaba offense continued to sputter, making just one first down in the entire first half. The Eskymo defense hung tough, holding the Cougars to a pair of long Josh Steffes field goals...47 and 37 yards. It was 13-0 Cougars at halftime. The backbreaker came in the third quarter when Antonio Strong returned a punt 69 yards for a touchdown. That made it 20-0 with eight minutes left in the third quarter, and it was all downhill from there. Strong scored on another touchdown run (from seven yards out), and then GRCC capped its regional title on a long touchdown run by Eric Grabow. Escanaba finishes its season with a 9-3 record. Pictured above and below: the Eskymo seniors. (Patti LeMire and Gary Salo pictures)  |
