Manistique senior Jayce Goudreau runs the ball against West Iron County on Oct. 3, 2025 at Nelson Field. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

STAMBAUGH — A huge day on the ground by senior Saul Kobussen led West Iron County to a 33-22 win on Homecoming over Manistique here Saturday. Kobussen had 29 carries for 314 yards and five touchdowns.

“It felt amazing to get this one,” Kobussen said. “I hate losing and it feels really good to get a win.”

The Wykons got on the board first as Kobussen scored on a 30-yard TD run with 8:36 to go in the first quarter to put the Wykons up 7-0.

With 8:05 to go in the first quarter, Emeralds quarterback Mack Pugh was intercepted by senior Gatlin Gillaspie who was injured on the play and left in an ambulance and did not return. Gillaspie was named homecoming king during halftime festivities.

The Wykons added to their lead with 7:37 to go in the second quarter on a 57-yard TD run by Kobussen to make the score 14-0. Kobussen found his way back in the end zone with 6:52 to go in the first half on a 39-yard TD run to extend the Wykons lead to 21-0.

“We had a pretty good breakout today,” Wykons coach Mike Berutti said. “We haven’t played in two weeks because of a bye week and because of the threat so it’s been a while and then having this heat but our kids put in a lot of work and were rewarded with the results today.”

With 4:33 to go in the first half, the Emeralds got on the board as Pugh connected with senior Jayce Goudreau on a 47-yard TD pass, the two-point conversion was good and Manistique cut the deficit to 21-8.

With 1:08 to go in the first half Kobussen found his way into the end zone on his fourth TD of the game, this one from 60 yards out and the Wykons led 27-8.

Manistique quickly drove down the field, with Goudreau catching a 19-yard TD pass from Pugh with just :09 left in the half to cut the Wykons lead to 27-16 at halftime.

“This was a tough game for us,” Emeralds coach Steve Pugh said. “They came out and punched us in the mouth a little and we didn’t really respond until it was too late.”

In the fourth quarter, the Emeralds made it a one-possession game on a 10-yard TD pass from Pugh to senior Jason Thayer to cut the deficit to 27-22.

The Wykons put the game away with a five-yard TD run by Kobussen with 1:25 to go in the game to put the Wykons up 33-22.

Manistique was scheduled to play Gwinn Friday, with Gwinn having no team next week remains in doubt of if the Emeralds can get a game scheduled.