Menominee senior Isaiah Odom (eight) lets out a scream of pleasure after a 35-32 time beyond regulation win over Traverse Metropolis St Francis in an MHSAA Division 7 district championship recreation Nov. 9, 2024, at Walton Blesch Stadium in Menominee.
MENOMINATE – At six yards.
That was the one factor standing in the way in which of a Menominee win over Traverse Metropolis St Francis, a district championship and preserving their revenge match alive on Saturday.
Trailing 32-29 in time beyond regulation, Menominee confronted Third-and-6. Junior Tanner Theuerkauf took the shotgun snap and rolled to proper. Nothing was there.
Theuerkauf redirected and rolled to the left. As he rolled left, he noticed junior Dawson Bardowski extensive open on a scramble route.
Theuerkauf threw a cross into the top zone. Bardowski slowed to catch the cross. St Francis junior Brandon Lesinski jumped in hopes of getting a hand, fingernail or any a part of his physique on the ball to deflect it, however fell inches brief.
Bardowski caught the ball in the long run zone. Landing Maroons.
Pandemonium ensued inside Walton Blesch Stadium. Menominee's quest to return to Ford Discipline remained alive and properly with an exhilarating 35-32 win over the Gladiators.
“I couldn't be happier for our guys and our crew,” Menominee coach Chad Brandt mentioned. “I'm so pleased with their resilience, love and keenness for one another to maintain competing when issues aren't going their greatest. It paid off. We obtained the ball final and only a few extra factors than they obtained.”
St Francis obtained the ball on the primary possession of time beyond regulation and checked out a Three-and-Three. However a flag flew on the play. False begin, the sixth dedicated by the Gladiators within the contest.
Junior quarterback Tyler Endres dropped again to cross, ultimately opting to scramble and decide up three yards.
St Francis opted to kick a area purpose. He managed to take the lead 32-29. All of the Gladiators wanted was to maintain Menominee out of the top zone for 4 performs.
Theuerkauf picked up 4 yards on first down. He tried to attach with senior Kaiden Bell at second however fell brief. He then discovered Bardowski for the game-winning rating.
“It feels nice. All of the credit score goes to my teammates” mentioned Theuerkauf. “The (offensive) line blocked amazingly. We actually overcame adversity at the moment.”
For a short while, nonetheless, the time beyond regulation appeared bleak. The Gladiators handed the ball to senior operating again Eli Biggar on 1st and 10 from the Maroons 17-yard line. He was stopped by Theuerkauf for a achieve of eight.
However Theuerkauf didn’t rise instantly. He left the match with an harm.
And immediately, any momentum or vitality the Maroons had at that time disappeared with 36 left within the third quarter.
The Gladiators capped a 9.42-yard drive with a five-yard rating from Braxton Lesinski. However the PAT was blocked and the Maroons stared at a 23-21 deficit and took possession with 16 seconds left within the third from their very own 20-yard line.
Theuerkauf was not accountable for the group. The quarterback duties, at this level within the recreation, have been on the shoulders of younger Dylan Beal.
The Maroons began taking place with a pivot third. They wanted one thing magical to occur.
In that second, Beal created the magic. He related with Bardowski for a 42-yard achieve, transferring Menominee to the Gladiators' 16-yard line.
“I'm grateful I obtained to go in” Beal mentioned. “I didn't like that (Theuerkauf) went down, however it occurs. I simply needed to step up and play my half.”
Two performs later, Theuerkauf obtained again into the sport, ultimately scoring from three yards out for a 29-23 lead with 6:22 left. All Menominee wanted was a cease on protection and a win was inside attain. With St. Francis beginning at their very own 32-yard line, there was an opportunity to maintain their downstate foes out of the top zone.
However 15 performs, 68 yards and 5:58 on the clock later, Endres scored from 1 yard out on a QB sneak. Sport tied at 29. All of the Gladiators wanted was a profitable PAT try and take the lead with lower than 30 seconds left.
However the hiccups hit once more.
PAT try sailed left. The sport was tied at 29 when the Menominee devoted erupted into chaos.
All of this occurred after the Gladiators opened the sport with a 14-Zero lead lower than eight minutes into the sport.
By the way, the Gladiators led 17-14 with 25 seconds left within the first half. Endres' cross try went wild, lacking the goal and hitting Menominee junior Landon Daigneau within the chest, who ran again for a landing.
As a substitute of trailing 17-14 on the half, Menominee led 21-17 with a lift of confidence and momentum going into halftime.
“We knew we have been battle-tested” St. Francis coach Josh Sellers mentioned. “Menominee is a superb crew. We didn't reap the benefits of our alternatives at the moment.”
Now, the Maroons advance to the regional championship recreation. His opponent is a well-known title to the Menominee devoted.
North Muskegon.
The Maroons and Northerners met within the state semifinals a yr in the past in Gaylord. Menominee gained 32-21.
This collision, nonetheless, will function the identical component that St. Francis faces: North Muskegon should make the almost seven-hour drive. A visit that may be quicker by Chicago and Wisconsin than crossing the Mackinac Bridge.
Both approach, Menominee's quest to return to Ford Discipline stays alive for an additional week.
“It Means The whole lot” Menominee senior Lucas Thoune mentioned with tears beginning to type in his eyes. “I don't know the place I’d be with out Menominee soccer.”