Lake Linden-Hubbell’s Sam Roberts (3) tries to avoid Crystal Falls Forest Park’s Vic Guiliani (2) during a game Saturday at Ron Warner Athletic Field in Lake Linden. Also in on the play was the Lakes’ Nate St. Onge (10). (Eddie O’Neill/Daily Mining Gazette)
LAKE LINDEN — After putting an end to a 41-game-football winning streak by North Central a week ago, one would think that momentum would be on the Lake Linden-Hubbell Lakes’ side seven days later. However, that wasn’t the case as they lost 36-28 to the Crystal Falls Forest Park Trojans on Saturday.
“We were flat against a very good Crystal Falls football team,” said Lakes coach Brett Gervais. “We just didn’t have the energy we normally have. Perhaps some of that is us coming off the high of the North Central win and slacking off in practice this past week.”
The Trojans scored first after the Lakes (3-3) went three and out. They capitalized on a 38-yard drive as Felix Quevedo punched in a four-yard run. The Trojans’ two-point conversion was good, and it was 8-0.
The Lakes countered with a 70-yard drive that ended in a 29-yard run by Danny Marcotte. He also ran in the extra two points and the game was tied at eight.
As quarterback, Marcotte was 15-of-25 passing. He threw for 192 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also rushed for a team-best 114 yards which include three touchdowns.
The Trojans (5-1) did not waste time to take the lead back four plays later with another six topped off with an extra two to make it 16-8.
A blocked punt to start the second by the Lakes earned them another six, but the Trojan offense seemed to be unstoppable as they scored again midway through the second. With an additional two points, it was a 24-14 Trojan lead at halftime.
“They (Trojans) controlled the line of scrimmage,” stated Gervais. “They came off the ball well and had us play their game.”
He added that the talk at halftime was about making adjustments that hopefully would have given the Lakes better control of the ball in the third and fourth periods.
However, that was not how things went. The Trojans continued to punch through the Lakes’ defensive holes, adding another six to start the third, making it a 30-14 game in their favor.
The Lakes scored again after Matthew Jokela brought down an interception at their 21-yard line. But, for every Lakes’ touchdown, the Trojans were right there with six points of their own, much to the satisfaction of their coaching staff.
“We played our brand of football,” said Trojans coach Brian Fabbri. “We took our shots when we had them, and it worked. We played good fundamental football. We battled, and that was the best part.”
UP NEXT
The Lakes welcome Ironwood to Ron Warner Athletic Field on Saturday for homecoming. Kickoff is slated for 1:30 p.m.
