COVID-19 threatened to delay the football season this year, but just a few short weeks ago the delay was lifted and the first games of the 2020 season got the go ahead. The Redmen did not disappoint as their stellar offense proved difficult to stop for the Menominee Maroons.
Marquette started the game with possession but quickly gave it away to the Maroons. Truman Langlois took down a Menominee player though to cause a loss of three yards on the first down to give way to a strong defensive stand from the Redmen to regain possession.
Marquette nearly lit up the scoreboard with a 44-yard completion, but the touchdown was no good and Menominee took over after an excitable first drive from the Redmen.
Dustin Lohfink denied the Maroons a first down on their next possession with a spectacular tackle to turn it over to the Redmen. Austin Ridl wasted no time with their next drive as he charged down the field for a 58-yard touchdown. With the kick the Redmen took the lead at 7-0 with less than four minutes to go in the first quarter.
Menominee could not stop Marquette’s offense.Menominee slipped in a touchdown with just a minute to go in the quarter. Joseph Romero-Haire found Aidan Bellisle with a 39-yard pass to make it 7-6, Marquette still in the lead after an incomplete two-point conversion attempt.
Marquette started the second quarter with a strong campaign down the field. It looked like the Redmen might not quite squeak into the end zone, but Brady Wright had something to say about that. Wright took it in from 6 yards out for a 14-6 lead with the kick.
The Redmen only gained momentum as the first half chugged along. Justin Jurmu came in with a clutch catch for a gain of 36 yards down to the Menominee 20 yard line on Marquette’s next possession. Karmeron Karp followed that up with a gain of 19 yards to set up Owen Beauchamp for another Redmen touchdown. Marquette extended their lead to 21-6 with the kick.
Ethan Richards came up with a big stop against Menominee’s Bellisle at the 49 to try to stave off an answer from the Maroons. Menominee slogged down the field in a fierce campaign against the clock to cut their deficit before the half.
Truman Langlois came up with an interception against the Maroons in the end zone to give Marquette possession just before the end of the second quarter. Though the ensuing minutes were a bit shaky, the Redmen were able to protect their 21-6 lead going into the half.
Marquette defeated the Menominee Maroons tonight in their season opener!Karp opened the third quarter with a huge 49-yard touchdown to bring the score to 28-6 over the Maroons. Menominee struggled to make any headway on their deficit early in the third quarter.
With less than five minutes to go, the Maroons finally came up with an answer to the punishing Marquette offense. Menominee slashed their deficit nearly in half, Marquette still leading 28-12 in the second half.
Marquette responded in kind, however, with Austin Ridl punching into the end zone from 12 yards out and less than one minute to go in the quarter. The Redmen took their a 34-12 lead into the final quarter of play.
Romero-Haire and the Maroons started the fourth quarter with possession, Menominee in desperate need of an early touchdown to have any chance of gaining on the Marquette lead.
Desmond Mullen squashed any Menominee dreams of catching up to the Redmen, however. Mullen took off on a 65-yard touchdown run off of a kick return to make it 41-12 with nine minutes to go in the fourth quarter.
Menominee found the end zone once more before time ran out, this one courtesy of Chad Kenney. In spite of that last-ditch effort, Marquette was able to protect their massive lead to ensure a 41-18 victory over the Menominee Maroons.
Tune in to Fox Sports Marquette 105.1-99.9 and 103 WFXD next Friday when the Marquette Redmen take on the Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils. Pregame is at 5:30pm, kickoff is at 6:00pm.
Listen to a recording of the live broadcast.
