Marquette Football Finishes Regular Season With 17-14 Win Over Petoskey

Petoskey, MI – October 22, 2021 – The Marquette Redmen football team ended the regular season on a high note on Friday evening with a 17-14 win over the Petoskey Northmen.  The Redmen, who came into the game with a record of 6-2, secured their fourth win out of five in games against opponents from below the bridge.  Luke Ghiardi was in the booth to bring you all the action on 103.3 WFXD and online at WFXD.com.

The Redmen prepare to do battle in Petoskey

Petoskey received the opening kick, but sophomore quarterback Joe McCarthy failed to gain any yardage on three straight pass attempts and the Northmen were forced to punt.  Marquette was more successful, giving Dustin Lohfink the football and letting him power forward for a few short-yardage plays before Austin Ridl fired a long pass to David Eberhard to bring the Redmen all the way down to the Petoskey 17 yard line.  Ridl got down to the 1 yard line on a quarterback keeper, but a Marquette personal foul led to a Northmen defensive stand and a turnover on downs.  Petoskey again went three-and-out, and a bad punt gave Marquette the football on the Northmen 30 yard line.  After a Marquette penalty, Justin Jurmu made a fantastic one-handed catch for a 32 yard gain to set up a 2 yard touchdown carry by Desmond Mullen.  The PAT by Ryland Kohler was good, and Marquette led 7-0, a lead which they would carry into the break.

First Quarter: Marquette 7, Petoskey 0

Petoskey began the second quarter with the football deep in Redmen territory, and it took only a minute for the Northmen to hit paydirt on a short pass from McCarthy to Gavin Wargel.  Marek Beckering made the extra point, and Petoskey knotted the game 7-7.  Marquette put together a decent drive on their initial second quarter opportunity, but stalled at the Petoskey 15 yard line and Ryland Kohler kicked a 32 yard field goal to give the Redmen a 10-7 lead.  Marquette forced a Petoskey three-and-out with just under five minutes to go in the half, but despite their best effort, they were unable to sustain the drive.  Petoskey got the ball back near the end of the half, but were unable to score, and the Redmen led at halftime 10-7.

Halftime: Marquette 10, Petoskey 7

Austin Ridl ready for the snap

Marquette began the second half with the football, but ended up punting the football to Petoskey after their drive stalled.  The Northmen, in turn, failed to generate any offense, and gave the ball right back to Marquette.  Both defenses stepped up in the third frame, and not much was available in terms of open space for ball carriers.  Petoskey was able to find some success in the air, but Marquette’s Owen Beauchamp intercepted a McCarthy pass to stop the Northmen drive.  On the very next play, however, Austin Ridl threw a pick of his own, putting the ball directly into the hands of Kendall Pederson to end the third quarter.

Third Quarter: Marquette 10, Petoskey 7

Petoskey didn’t do anything with the chance that was gifted to them, but when the Redmen got the ball back, they were able to drive down into the red zone and chew some clock in the process.  After a sustained drive, Marquette finally got into the end zone on a quarterback keeper from Ridl.  Kohler knocked the PAT through, and the Redmen led 17-7.  Petoskey wasn’t done though, as Parker Shuman caught a McCarthy pass on their first play of the drive to bring the Northmen into Marquette territory.  This, though, would be the final flash in their offensive pan as four straight incomplete passes gave the ball to Marquette on downs.  The Redmen were able to get down the field and take some more time off the clock before turning the ball over on downs after an incomplete pass from Ridl.  Joe McCarthy again put the ball into the air and led his team downfield, culminating in a 13 yard touchdown pass to Shuman.  Beckering made the point after, and Petoskey pulled back within three points.  Marquette recovered the onside kick though, and held on for the 17-14 victory.

Final Score: Marquette 17, Petoskey 14

The Marquette Redmen will now await the announcement of their district semi-final opponent, who they will play either next Friday or Saturday.  Whenever it happens to be, you can catch all the action right here on 103.3 WFXD or online at WFXD.com.

Listen to the archived broadcast here.