***Tune back in to Fox Sports Marquette 105.1-99.9 and 103 FXD at 11 am Saturday, September 21st for the second half of this game***
Escanaba, MI – September 20, 2019 – The Marquette Redmen football team were at Escanaba against the Eskymos tonight on Marquette County’s Fox Sports Marquette 105.1-99.9 and 103 FXD. Play was suspended due to an issue with the power, but the first half was a fun one.
It was, or is, homecoming for the Escanaba Eskymos. The number one team in the UPSSA poll prepared for a tough match-up in theirs and Marquette’s GNC opener. The Marquette Redmen were coming off of their first win of the 2019 season. After a tough couple of games early in their slate, the Redmen defeated the Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils in a shutout game last week. It looked like the momentum from that victory was in their favor early in the first quarter.
The Redmen took control and set the tone on their first possession of the game. Drew Wyble zipped into the end zone from 63 yards on 3rd and 10 for an early lead of 7-0 over the Eskymos.
Eskymo QB Ethan Silverstone missed his receiver on their first possession and threw it right to Drew Wyble. Marquette looked to capitalize on the early misstep, taking over at the Escanaba 40 yard line.
The Redmen made some progress down the field, but ultimately Wyble set up for a field goal attempt from 22 yards out. A pre-snap penalty set the Redmen back five yards to the 27. No problem for Wyble as the kick was good for a 10-0 Marquette lead.
Marquette began the second quarter with a little setback and found themselves at 3rd and 15. An interception by Escanaba’s Tyler Lawson put the Eskymos at their own 31 for a glimmer of hope at evening the score in the first half.
Marquette’s defense caused some issues for Escanaba to protect their lead early in the second quarter. Ethan Hayes took down Silverstone for a loss of seven on the play for Escanaba. The Eskymos ended up kicking it away and the Redmen took over with about eight minutes to go in the half.
Austin Ridl threw an interception, again straight to Lawson, to give Escanaba another chance at leveling the playing field before halftime. It was Escanaba’s 5th possession of the game with only one first down on their scorecard. Lawson changed that with a gain of 27 yards and their first foray into enemy territory.
Escanaba found themselves within the Marquette 10, and Joshua Bruntjens found the end zone with ease for an Esky touchdown. A successful kick tightened the gap to 10-7, the Redmen still in the lead.
Darkness threatened to suspend play as the lights at Escanaba’s field refused to illuminate the situation during the halftime show. A suspension in play was confirmed just after 8:30 pm.
The Redmen will be back for the second half against Escanaba tomorrow, Saturday, September 21st at 11am. Tune in to Fox Sports Marquette 105.1-99.9 and 103 FXD for all the action!
Listen to a recording of the live broadcast of the first half.