CALUMET — The Gladstone football team gutted out an overtime win in the driving rain to start its season off on a positive note. The Braves held on against Calumet at Calumet, 26-20 in overtime.

“I really think that we gutted out a really tough win,” said Braves coach Jeff Hansen. “Calumet is a really tough place to play. They’ve got a great program.

“It’s not always easy to get off the bus after a three-hour ride and compete. I thought the kids showed a lot of grit and resilience and character and just never gave up. They competed their tails off to win the football game.”

Hansen noted the performances of Cam Kelly and Cole Potier on the ground as difference makers.

Through the air, it was sophomore Nathan Young catching the final touchdown to clinch the win in OT for Gladstone.

“Cam Kelly rushed the ball for 100-plus yards and so did Cole Potier,” he said. “Cameron rushed for a touchdown, Cole rushed for two touchdowns, and Nathan Young — one of our 10th graders — caught a touchdown pass that was the game-winner in overtime from Cam(eron) on a nice looking bubble screen.”

On the other side of the ball, Hansen said Brett Boudreau was a key player. Making a stop in the game’s most vital moment.

“Brett Boudreau made the stop on fourth down,” he said. “(He) made the tackle on the one-yard line to stop Calumet and end the football game and just did a really good job shedding his tackle and taking down the running back in the backfield.”

Overall, Hansen was excited about the things he saw from the Braves.

“There was just a lot of really good football out there, and I’m so happy for the kids to be able to show the character to win like that,” he said. “I’m (also) happy about the momentum heading into Kingsford next week.”

The Braves will head over to Kingsford next Friday to take on the Flivvers.