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Broncos post win against Ishpeming

HARRIS — It’s hard to contain Bark River-Harris’s Vincent Martin for four quarters.

Ishpeming tried, but the senior running back broke loose on a 47-yard dash around left end with two minutes, 22 seconds left to play, helping the Broncos earn a 28-20 football triumph here Thursday night.

The victory enabled BR-H to retain the WestPAC Conference Iron Division title and improve to 7-2 heading into next weekend’s Division 8 district playoffs. The Hematites are 4-5.

“Every team has keyed on Vincent all season,” said BR-H junior quarterback Ethan Ives, who hit 4-of-9 passes for 97 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. “I was blocking for him. I trust him to cut right off me and the other blockers.”

Ishpeming didn’t just go away as sophomore Caden Luoma returned the ensuing kickoff to the Broncos’ 49-yard line.

The Broncos’ defense, however, forced the Hematites to turn the ball over on downs at the 41, allowing them to line up in victory formation.

“He (Martin) is a fabulous player,” said Ishpeming coach Cody Kugler. “We noticed in a scouting report that he was a very physical runner. I’m very pleased with the discipline of our interior line. He was definitely a key to their running game. They’re a very fundamental sound team. We have a lot of respect for their coaches and program.”

After the teams exchanged interceptions, Martin plowed through the middle on a three-yard run, giving the Broncos a 22-14 lead with 8:23 left in the third quarter.

The Hematites immediately responded as senior Preston Gauthier returned the ensuing kickoff 85 yards for a score, shaving their deficit to 22-20.

“It was a good game,” said BR-H coach Al Stenberg. “Ishpeming has heck of a football program. I think these two evenly matched teams. They have a great defense and were shutting down our interior running game. They were playing us real tight up front which I think opened our passing game a little. Vincent deserves all the attention. It’s not a matter of if, but a matter of when he’s going to come up with a big play. They got a little tired and Vincent popped a big one.”

BR-H took an 8-0 lead on Ives’ 33-yard pass through the middle to junior Ben Shiverski with 3:47 remaining in the opening frame.

Ishpeming tied the score on Luoma’s six-yard run around left end with 7 1/2 minutes left in the second.

The Broncos extended their lead to 16-8 on Ives’ 10-yard aerial to Shiverski, who was wide along the left sideline before scampering into the end zone with 3:19 remaining in the second.

“That was a great play call both teams,” said Ives. “I’m not sure how Ben got open, but I think he just found the gaps.”

Ishpeming threatened shortly before halftime as junior Hunter Smith heaved a 61-yard aerial to Gauthier, enabling it to move deep into Broncos’ territory.

That drive, however, stalled on the BR-H one-yard line 19 seconds before the half.

“That was a great stop before halftime,” said Ives. “That may have been the most important stop of the game. That gave us a lot of momentum. Although, they were playing us tough and we knew it’d be more of the same in the second half.”

The Hematites closed within 16-14 on sophomore Ethan Corp’s 14-yard pass to senior Logan Hurkmans with 32 seconds left in the third, setting the stage for a nail-biting fourth quarter.

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