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MUNISING -- It was a tough night on the gridiron here Saturday for the Superior Central Cougars as they fell to the Munising Mustangs 54-8.
The victory enabled the Mustangs to improve to 2-5 on Cancer Awareness Night. The Cougars, who had just 12 available players, dropped to 2-5.
Munising took a 6-0 lead on a three-yard run around right end by Brody Johns less than five minutes into the contest.
The Mustangs then executed an onside kick which Keelan Hase recovered on the 50-yard line.
Midway through the opening frame Jacob Coppock broke off right tackle for a 42-yard touchdown dash and a 12-0 lead.
Munising did another onside kick which Levi Hauler recovered at midfield.
Hauler then scored on a five-yard run only four seconds into the second stanza, extending Munising's cushion to 20-0.
"I thought we played well in all phases of the game," Mustangs' coach Matt Mattson said. "Superior Central has some nice athletes. Credit to them for playing hard to the end. Number 11 (Aiden Korpi) was all over the field tonight."
Coppock tossed another TD pass of 28 yards through the middle to Blake Tyner for a 26-0 advantage midway through the second.
Hauler added a 12-yard TD run through the left side and Johns ran around left end and followed his blockers on a 13-yard run to put the Mustangs up by 40 points just 27.6 seconds before halftime.
Johns then scored on a five-yard run in the third quarter and Hase added a TD on a 79-yard dash to make it 54-0 halfway through the fourth.
Korpi got the Cougars on the board on a 65-yard kickoff return with 4:04 left in the game.
"The guys played hard all night," Cougars' coach Todd Spranger said. "They did everything we expected. At halftime, we just told the guys to stay together and play as a team. I've had great support from the assistant coaches and athletic director. Some of the guys were playing in their first game. We weren't able to keep up with them. We also weren't as well prepared for this game as we needed to be, which is on me. I'm responsible for getting the team ready."
Cougars' senior quarterback Will Spranger was forced out of the contest due to a possible concussion during a collision in the first quarter.
"They were in a tough spot," Mattson said. "They were missing a lot of guys. Will is a great athlete. I feel bad for him. Hopefully, they can get healthy for Week 9."
Eli Phillipson took over the signal-calling duties and hit 3-of-14 aerials for 61 yards, all of those to Korpi.
"My playbook went out the window," coach Spranger said. "Eli did an awesome job with running six plays and I'm proud of how Keegan (Fulton) played at center, coming in for Isaac Latvala, who's on crutches."
Hauler led the Mustangs in rushing with 185 yards on 14 carries and Coppock finished 5-of-11 passing for 97 yards and two TDs. Three of his aerials went to Tyner for 70.
Several people, including Munising varsity player Jackson Lasek who had been battling leukemia, were honored during a halftime ceremony.
"It has been a long couple years for Jackson and his family," Mattson said. "It was great for him to ring the bell. I'm proud of him."
The Mustangs host Ontonagon Friday. The Cougars are idle until Oct. 23 when they visit Rapid River for their season finale.