LAKE LINDEN – The numbers do not tell the whole story. While the Lake Linden-Hubbell Lakes lost on a cold and windy Ron Warner Field on Saturday to the Gladstone Braves, 42-22, the game was hardly a blow out.

“Their points came at the end,” said Lakes coach Andy Crouch. “Our kids fought hard against a big school and that’s the spirit the kids have given game in and game out.

The Gladstone loss put the Lakes at 2-7 on the year.

“In all of those losses, we were winning the game at some point,” said Crouch.

That was the case in the first quarter as Lake Linden countered a touchdown run by Brody Sanville with a touchdown scamper of their own from Kellen Klein and a two-point conversion run by Carter Crouch.

The lead was short-lived. Fifteen seconds later Sanville returned the kickoff for a 80-yard sprint down the sideline for a touchdown.

It was a big game for Sanville who broke the 1000-yard rushing mark for the school in his final game. It is a mark that has not been hit in more than a decade. He had 230 rushing yards on the day.

“I am very proud of Brody,” said Braves coach Jeff Hansen. “It is quite an accomplishment.”

Not only was Gladstone tough on the ground, they were also tough in the air. In the third quarter, Gladstone quarterback Jared Crow completed a 28-yard touchdown pass to Vince Hughes and a 36-yard touchdown reception to Cooper Cavadeas. Gladstone had 345 total yards compared to 322 for Lake Linden.

Klein led the Lakes with 106 rushing yards. His big highlight of the game was a 67-yard catch and run touchdown in the third quarter.

Hansen noted that the Saturday’s victory at Lake Linden was well worth the 160-mile bus ride north. Their season ended at 4-5.

“It was a good season,” he said. “Three of our games were lost by just one touchdown. I’m proud of of guys as they hung in there and battled to the end.”

Editor’s note: This game was covered by the Houghton Daily Mining Gazette but did not make it available to the Daily Press until this morning.