Escanaba senior Nolan Bink runs away from defenders for a touchdown against Gladstone on Oct. 24, 2025 at Escanaba Athletic Field. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

ESCANABA — It was a gig night on the gridiron for the Escanaba Eskymos as they defeated the Gladstone Braves 38-12 in the Battle of the Bay in Escanaba.

The Eskymos rushed the ball for 290 yards on the ground with five rushing touchdowns. Junior Jacob Prey and sophomore Bryce Bichler each had over 80 rushing yards in the contest.

“We had some players banged up and we told Bryce and Jacob that we were going to lean on them in this game,” Eskymos coach Bailey Lamb said. “We have four or five backs that we can count on to run the ball effectively and that will be key as we go into the playoffs.”

The Eskimos got on the board first on the second play of the game as senior Nolan Bink took it 72 yards to the house to put the Eskymos up 7-0.

With 8:40 to go in the first quarter junior Brody Ison took it in from 12 yards out to extend the Eskymos lead to 14-0. The Eskymos added to the lead with 1:53 to go in the first quarter on a 2-yard touchdown run by Bichler to put the Eskymos up 21-0.

“I was just running with a purpose,” Bichler said. “The offensive line did a great job of opening up lanes to run through and great to finish the season off with a win.”

The Eskymos came out of the halftime break and drove down the field and capped off the drive with a five-yard TD run by Prey to extend the lead to 28-0.

“We have such a talented team that I didn’t think I would get my shot,” Prey said. “Coach Lamb has done a good job coaching me up and said all week that he is confident in my ability to run the ball and this game was big for us as a team.”

The Braves got on the board with 8:04 to go in the third quarter as Mason Sierpien hauled in a 63-yard TD catch, the two=point conversion failed and the Eskymos lead was cut to 28-6.

With 10:13 to go in the fourth quarter, Bichler ran in his second TD of the night from four yards out to extend the lead to 35-6.

The Braves found their way back in the endzone with 1:18 to go in the game as senior Owen Gereau ran it in from two yards out , the two=point conversion was good to make the score 38-12.

The Braves were led on the ground by senior Trevor Thorbahn as he carried the ball 14 times for 108 yards.

The Eskymos will host Freeland in the first round of the playoffs date and time to be determined.