Escanaba senior Javon Stevenson runs a route before a Big North Conference football game on Oct. 4, 2024 at William R. Hart Stadium in Marquette. ("The Big Dog" Mitch Vosburg/Daily Press)

ESCANABA –An unfamiliar warm day sets the scene at Escanaba’s practice field on Tuesday afternoon.

The 4-4 Eskymos are preparing to go through one of their heavy workdays for their regular season finale against Gladstone. Bodies are flying, pads are bing smacked. Music is blaring from a nearby blue-tooth speaker.

The sounds of Korn, Slayer Metallica, Pantera, Godsmack and Mudvayne smack the ears. Ironically enough, every song played that day in practice is older than every player on Esky’s 2024 varsity roster.

Two of those players happen to be senior left tackle Cody Noel and senior wide receiver/linebacker Javon Stevenson. Both have played crucial roles in helping the Eskymos be one win away from their first winning season since 2019.

Daily Press sports editor “The Big Dog” Mitch Vosburg chatted with Noel and Stevenson to discuss the importance of Friday’s game, which kids off at 7 p.m. at Marble Athletic Field in Gladstone.

Big Dog: Well gentlemen, we made it to Week 9. It’s Gladstone week. How are we feeling?

Javon Stevenson: I’m excited. I’m ready to go, and we really want to walk out here with a win.

Cody Noel: Feel great. Been circling this one for a while, especially since last year, wanted to come back at them.

BD: Let’s say somebody goes to this game and is watching you guys play for the very first time. How would you guys describe Escanaba football this season?

JS: Different. I think we’re a different team than the past couple of years. I think this is a group of guys that want to go out there and play instead of just be on the team. I think this is group guys that want to go out there and win.

CN: I’d say we’re physically better than the past couple of teams. I mean, by practice, we’re working harder.

BD: You guys have lost three in a row to Gladstone. What are you guys willing to do to ensure the streak does grow to four?

JS: I know it’s week by week, but I’ve been thinking about this all season. This is one game that you really want to take home. This is one game you got to win.

CN: It’s a rivalry game, the game we’ve been wanting the whole season. It’ll be a great time going there and hopefully come home with a win.

BD: What’s the biggest challenge of playing at Marble Athletic Field?

JS: It’s right across the street, so everyone knows everyone. It’s a real different environment than playing at home because everything around you is looking for you to lose.

CN: It’s not that far away. You know everyone over there.

BD: Playoffs may be out of the picture, but you guys still have a chance to go 5-4 and have the program’s first winning season since 2019. How important is that to you guys going into Friday?

JS: Even without playoffs, it means a lot to the program to walk out of here with the winning season after the past couple years. I mean, iwe match our win total in one year over the past three (with a win). It’s an unbelievable feeling, if we really do it.

CN: It’s great. We haven’t been able to it for a while, and for our group of guys to be able to do this, it’s really special.

BD: This may be the last week you guys. Has that sunk in yet?

JS: Man… You know, I’ve been thinking about it for a long time, but it hasn’t really hit me yet.

CN: Yeah, me either. Ever since I was a little kid I always played football. This week, it’s been in my mind. I didn’t know that this would be the week.