Marquette vs. Negaunee Football Preview

August 27th, 2025, Marquette, MI – Tomorrow, under the Thursday night lights at Miner’s Stadium, the stage is set as the long-awaited rivalry between Marquette and Negaunee ignites for the first time in eight years. This isn’t just a game, it’s a battle for the Diamond Jubilee Trophy, bragging rights, and will set the tone for the rest of the season. The tradition dates back to 1969, when the Diamond Jubilee Trophy was established for the 75th anniversary game.

In their most recent battle in 2017, Marquette emerged victorious thanks to a standout performance by Andrew Gale, who scored two touchdowns. According to USA Today High School Sports, these teams have faced off 141 times, with the Miners leading the overall series 70 wins to the Sentinels’ 60, while eleven games have ended in a tie.

You won’t want to miss the action as there will be many talented athletes on display. For Marquette, it will be the son of Northern Michigan Football head coach, Ford Richardson, controlling the offense at quarterback. He is returning for his senior season following their 6-3 season that fell just short of the playoffs. Pavel McCutcheon, who recently committed to play on the offensive line at Grand Valley State University. Lastly, you can find Michigan Tech commit, Bjorn Anderson, playing on both sides of the line.

The Miners will be led by new head coach Jeff Niemi following the retirement of Paul Jacobson. The Miners will have to replace quarterback Ty Jacobson, who led the team the previous two seasons. Owen Cardinal and Kyle Waterman have been battling to replace Jacobson. No official starter has been named yet. The Miners will be led by the senior leadership of Broc Bonovetz and Ethan Gauthier. The Miners also finished last season with a 6-3 record.

The kickoff of the 2025 high school football season is for 7:00 pm. If you can’t make it in person, you can listen on Sunny 101.9 and Fox Sports Marquette 105.1 and 99.9.