An Eskymo Sweep: Freshmen Roll Past Gladstone

ESCANABA---The ninth graders finished what their older classmates started.

The Escanaba High School freshman football team rolled past the Gladstone Braves, 42-7, Saturday afternoon at the Escanaba Athletic Field. The win comes after the Eskymo junior varsity and varsity teams also posted lopsided wins over their arch-rivals.

Escanaba's Josh Simmons with the catch.

C.J. Barron and Tyler Willette each had two touchdowns and two interceptions, and Justin Popelka scored twice in the second half to lead the freshmen Eskymos.

In the first quarter, Gladstone quarterback Ben Schwalbach found Owen Carlson for a 21-yard pass on 4th and 10, setting the Braves up at the Eskymo 12.

But the drive ended on an interception by Barron. Then moments later, Barron hooked up with Willette on a 51-yard touchdown pass. Barron's two-point run made it 8-0.

When Gladstone got the ball back, the Braves got one first down before Willette intercepted Schwalbach. Escanaba drove to the Gladstone 14, but on 4th-and-1, Barron was stuffed by Bryce Douglas on a running play.

CJ Barron to Tyler Willette TD Eskymos

In the second quarter, numerous bad snaps hurt the Gladstone offense. And on 3rd-and-20, Willette intercepted Schwalbach for a second time.

Escanaba was then facing a 3rd-and-20 of its own, but unlike the Braves, the Eskymos got a big play as Barron found Willette for a 25-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-0.

Gladstone's Owen Carlson (21) tackles Escanaba's Justin Popelka (3).

After another bad snap forced Gladstone into a punting situation, the Eskymos hit the scoreboard again as Justin Popelka ran one in from eight yards out with 5:56 to go in the second quarter. A pop-pass to Josh Simmons scored two more and it was 22-0.

Gladstone came back on the next series, as Schwalbach hooked up with Carlson for a 34-yard pass into Escanaba territory. And moments later, Schwalbach found Carlson again...this time for a 21-yard touchdown pass. It was 22-7.

That was the score at halftime.

And in the third quarter, the Eskymos put the game away on a one-yard touchdown pass from Barron to Josh Simmons. The extra point was no good, but it was 28-7. Later in the game, Popelka scored on a one-yard run and he threw for a five-yard touchdown pass to Nick Dufour.

Long pass Schwalbach to Carlson for Gladstone

That made it 42-7, and set the clock in motion on the mercy rule. But they never did actually finish the game.

With the Braves driving into Escanaba territory, officials spotted lightning as thunderstorms approached. With 4:17 left in the game, it was called a complete game and the kids shook hands. It poured moments later.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos taken by Laurie Botroff, and to hear radio replays from this game.

Gladstone quarterback Ben Schwalbach (2) throws against the Eskymos on Saturday afternoon.

Date	Time	Opponent	Score	Record

8/29	7:00 PM	at Gwinn Model Towners	6 - 18 (L)	0-1

9/7	6:00 PM	at Roscommon Bucks	12 - 36 (L)	0-2

9/13	7:00 PM	Negaunee Miners	0 - 38 (L)	0-3

9/20	7:30 PM	Menominee Maroons	6 - 56 (L)	0-4

9/27	7:30 PM	at Marquette Redmen	32 - 63 (L)	0-5

10/4	7:00 PM	Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils	22 - 45 (L)	0-6

10/11	7:00 PM	at Escanaba Eskymos	16 - 41 (L)	0-7

10/18	7:30 PM	Kingsford Flivvers	20 - 55 (L)	0-8

10/25	7:00 PM	at Calumet Copper Kings	32 - 36 (L)	0-9