The Turnaround Season: Game Seven at Menominee
October 8, 2010
Before the season, optimistic fans might’ve predicted Marquette would sneak up to steal a few games that they had no business winning on paper (see Cheboygan/Escanaba). However, when it came to a week seven trip down to Menominee, no one called for victory. Even I had the Red & White losing by two touchdowns to the border-town team, a traditional powerhouse known for their well-worn, simplistic uniforms. As one of the top programs in the UP, the Maroons were coached by the legendary Ken Hofer and longtime defensive assistant Ron “Satch” Englund, who had won three state championships over a 40+ year tenure. Their 2010 squad seemed destined to make another deep playoff run to Ford Field (though they would fall short, losing to Grand Rapids West Catholic at the Superior Dome in the semi-finals). With athletes like Keefer Conery, Erik Hines, Tanner Maccoux, and Lucas Pederson, there was no doubt that the Maroons had the horses to run with any team in the state of Michigan. Unsurprisingly, they entered the Marquette game as the overwhelming favorite — the team’s only loss had been a 14–7 decision on the road at Kingsford in a game where the Maroons had multiple turnovers. Entering the contest, MSHS had not won at Menominee’s Walton Blesch Stadium since the Reagan Administration was in office in 1984.
As a heavy underdog, the beginning of the game was going to be crucial for a Marquette defense that was facing the tall task of keeping Menominee’s offensive firepower off of the scoreboard. The game opened as a slow tug-of-war, with neither team having much success on offense throughout an entire scoreless first quarter. Menominee quickly changed that on the first play of the second quarter when they scored to make it 7–0. On the ensuing drive, Nick Emmendorfer hit Garrett Pentecost behind the line with a screen pass that went for a 40-yard gain courtesy of great blocking from a Marquette offensive line featuring Tanner Delpier, Alex Urbiha, Zak Green, Joe Iwanicki and Ryan Frazier. Pentecost’s big play ability eventually led to a Kasaim Koonala touchdown from in close to tie the game and keep the hometown team’s homecoming crowd at bay. These sequences were really a microcosm of the game. Neither team would take control, it was only when one team made a play that the other would respond accordingly. At halftime, the score remained 7–7, and Marquette had one of the top teams in the state where they wanted them for the second straight week: on the brink of a huge upset.
The third quarter was another slobber knocker, with each team scoring a lone touchdown on matching 40 yard-runs by Koonala and Menominee’s Connery. Outside of the two isolated scoring bursts, each team’s defensive lines were not giving much separation. It was like running into a wall and the only way to break through would rely upon creative play calling in the final quarter, showing something that the other team hasn’t seen. In the fourth quarter, Coach L’Huillier shuffled the deck by putting Pentecost in at quarterback to run the read option with Koonala. This “wildcat” offense, with the running back lined up as a quarterback, relied upon the actions of the Menominee linebackers. Making a judgment call (the read), Pentecost would either hand the ball off to Koonala or keep it himself and rush forward for a few yards. This was an offense that was installed the week of the game to drain game clock while continuing to advance the ball down the field. In essence, it was Woody Hayes’ “three yards and a cloud of dust” philosophy brought to life. Chugging down the field, Marquette’s hybrid offense took over seven minutes off the fourth quarter clock and wore down the Menominee defensive line.
After driving into Maroon territory, the play of the game turned out to be another of the trick variety. Emmendofer, who checked back in at quarterback for the play, faked a handoff to Koonala before running a play-action pass play to left tackle Zak Green. Green, who had lined up at tight end as an eligible receiver, gained 20 yards on the play to get MSHS inside the Menominee 20-yard line. After three Marquette rushing plays couldn’t garner a first down, it was kicker Mitch Crothers who trotted onto the field and nailed a 30-yard field goal to put the visitors in front, 17–14. The contest’s final drive was dominated by the Marquette defense, namely Josh Johnson, Craig Cairati, Brian Meyers, Forrest Gilfoy and Koonala, slamming the door one last time to turn Menominee over on downs. After the offense was able to run out the clock, Marquette’s biggest upset in years was complete.
The end of the game brought euphoria for the visitors, as the mighty Menominee Maroons had fallen to a team that they had regularly beaten by 40+ points for the prior three decades. It was also shocking to see a rookie head coach outsmart one of the greatest coaches in UP history. With it being the first time that Marquette won at Walton Blesch since the mid-eighties, the MSHS season of firsts and broken streaks continued full steam ahead. By going 2–1 in their three-game homecoming tour (@Gladstone, @Kingsford, @Menominee), Marquette had set the stage to earn an automatic berth in the state playoffs with one more win.
Next week: playing at home for the first time in a month, it was Marquette’s turn to conduct their own homecoming festivities. With archrival Negaunee coming to town for a battle at William Hart Stadium, the script was set for one of the most epic games in Marquette football history.
