Braves Can't Overcome Early Deficit In Kingsford

KINGSFORD---The Kingsford Flivvers jumped to a 21-0 lead and cruised to a 49-28 win over the Gladstone Braves in a Great Northern Conference match-up Friday night.

The Braves lost their sixth straight game after a 2-0 start, while the Flivvers improved to 7-1 and clinched at least a share of the Great Northern Conference championship.

Riley Ballard grabbed during a hard run.

But what was encouraging for the young Gladstone team was the way the boys responded after falling behind in the first quarter.

Kingsford scored touchdowns on its first three posessions and led, 21-0. And at that point of the game, the Flivvers also led the Braves in total offense, 186 yards to 0.

Gladstone switched from the I-formation to the "Spread" offense, and the result was a pair of touchdown drives that closed the Kingsford advantage down to 21-14.

"We started off slow, but I'm extremely proud of the kids with how they played," Gladstone Coach Josh Mileski said. "Overall, I think it was a good effort for our kids. We stood up to a team in a game where I think a lot of people thought it wouldn't be any sort of a (competitive) game.

"The kids did a nice job of executing on our spread."

The Flivvers built their early lead with a slick offensive game plan that featured back Reed Larson, but also short passes to Aiden Wienke and an occassional run from Sean Ryan. Quarterback Caleb Harrington completed nine passes to Wienke in the first half, and Ryan got the ball just enough to prevent the Braves from totally keying on Larson.

Reed Larson (34) had 210 yards rushing.

In the first eight minutes of the game, Larson scored on a two-yard run, Wienke hauled in a 16-yard touchdown pass, and Ryan scored on a five-yard run.

But the 21-0 lead was threatened when the Braves drove 53 yards on seven plays, with Sam Pouliot finding Riley Ballard for a nine-yard touchdown pass...set up by a big Steve Strom block.

Then after a Flivver punt, Justin Jurek completed a 57-yard drive with a 24-yard touchdown run.

Luke LaCosse's extra point kick made it a 21-14 game.

"Our seniors played a very nice football game tonight," Mileski said. "It's been a tough stretch. But tonight, I told the team that I was proud of their efforts and it will pay off."

Kingsford responded with a 70-yard drive of its own, with Larson scoring from two yards out with 7:07 left in the half. The Braves appeared to be on a drive to counter, but after Blake Ballard caught a long Pouliot pass into Flivver territory, Ballard fumbled the ball as he was trying to switch the ball between his hands.

The Flivvers took advantage of the mistake, driving 64 yards, helped along by three Gladstone penalties. Larson scored on a two-yard plunge to make it 35-14.

Sam Pouliot (3) and Riley Ballard (5).

But Gladstone came right back. Pouliot found Jurek out of the backfield for a 32-yard pass into the Red Zone. Then, he passed to Blake Ballard for a five-yard tochdown on third down.

LaCosse's wobbly extra point was good enough, and it was 35-21.

The teams sat through an extra-long 23-minute halftime, and the entertainment was stunning for a high school halftime show. The stadium lights were dimmed, and the Kingsford students put on a well-synchronized show of lights and fireworks.

The Braves offense was hoping for fireworks of its own as the team got the second half kickoff.

And it started well as Pouliot hooked up with Blake Ballard for a 28-yard pass and catch. But the drive stalled, and the Flivvers took over and put it away with a 58-yard drive that ended on a Harrington-to-Larson pass of 21 yards.

Cole Peterson had a 32-yard touchdown run in "garbage time" for the Flivvers (7-1), and the Braves (2-6) countered with a late touchdown run of ten yards by Pouliot.

"It's been the same thing all year," Mileski said. "We've been able to move the ball and score some points, but defensively, we've struggled a number of times. But, again, I can't over-stress the amount of character these kids have shown. Very proud of them."

Pete Weyers holds for kicker Luke LaCosse

Kingsford had 496 yards of total offense. Larson had 210 of those yards on the ground, and Ryan added 50 rushing yards.

Harrington completed 11 of 13 yards for 138 yards in the air, with Wienke catching nine of those throws for 102 yards.

Gladstone had 352 yards of total offense. Pouliot completed 10 of 22 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown. He also carried seven times for 63 yards and another score.

Riley Ballard had 54 yards on nine carries, and Jurek carried 14 times for 57 yards.

Kingsford travels to Escanaba next Friday night. Gladstone, meanwhile, will close the regular season on Thursday with a home game against Calumet (5-3).

"Our goal is to send our seniors off with a victory," Mileski said. "I want to make this a positive experience for them, and finish this thing off right. I really do believe that in the last couple of weeks that we've made a lot of positive strides. We will do everything in our power to put together a game plan, and I know they will work their tails off."

That game from the Marble Athletic Field starts at 7:00 (the JV game is at 3:30). It will be broadcast live on WGKL-FM (105.5), WCHT-AM (600), and at www.rrnsports.com.

Click the thumbnails in the "ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS" box to see photos and videos from the game. Also, to hear interviews with Braves seniors Chuck Hughes and Joey Godfrey. Thanks to Ron Jurek for taking those shots!

Date	Time	Opponent	Score	Record

8/24	7:00 PM	Gwinn Model Towners	49 - 12 (W)	1-0

8/31	7:00 PM	at Bark River-Harris Broncos	34 - 6 (W)	2-0

9/7	7:30 PM	at Negaunee Miners	34 - 36 (L)	2-1

9/14	8:00 PM	at Menominee Maroons	6 - 47 (L)	2-2

9/21	7:00 PM	Marquette Redmen	14 - 35 (L)	2-3

9/28	7:00 PM	at Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils	19 - 49 (L)	2-4

10/5	7:00 PM	Escanaba Eskymos	25 - 37 (L)	2-5

10/12	7:30 PM	at Kingsford Flivvers	28 - 49 (L)	2-6

10/18	7:00 PM	Calumet Copper Kings	12 - 36 (L)	2-7