Marquette, MI – September 2nd, 2025 – After a long summer, high school football has returned to the Upper Peninsula (U.P.) as the season kicked off this past week. Marquette and Negaunee faced each other for the first time in eight years for the Diamond Jubilee Trophy. Ishpeming hosted Ontonagon as they begin their second year of competition in eight-man football.
On Thursday, Marquette traveled to Negaunee to defend their Diamond Jubilee trophy. They have held it since their last meeting in 2017. Negaunee struck first when Kyle Waterman completed a deep pass to Evan DellAngelo, putting the Miners ahead early. They extended their lead as Waterman pitched the option to Mason Swenor, making the score 14-0 in favor of the Miners. Marquette responded with a powerful run from Landon Fasecio, cutting into the deficit. Both teams combined for a total of 44 points in the first half.
In the second half, Marquette scored from a long rush by James Goodwin, narrowing the score to 22-14 in favor of the Miners. However, DellAngelo responded by returning the kickoff for a touchdown, sealing a 30-22 victory for the Miners and allowing them to reclaim the Diamond Jubilee Trophy. Click here to listen to the Negaunee broadcast. Click here to listen to the Marquette broadcast.
Ishpeming kicked off its season under the Friday night lights. After the Gladiators made a stop on fourth down, their first play from scrimmage saw Brody Bobula launch a fifty-five-yard pass to Jack Nelson, who carried it into the end zone, putting them ahead 6-0. Late in the second quarter, Grady Gauthier led his team down the field, reaching the end zone after skillfully tight roping the sideline, which put the Hematites up 8-6. With only 15 seconds left in the half, Gladiators’ Jack Nelson made an incredible catch and took it to the house, giving the Gladiators a 14-8 lead. In the fourth quarter, Bobula ran in the next touchdown himself, sealing the victory. The Hematites fell to the Gladiators with a final score of 21-14 in their season opener. Click here to listen to the Hematites Broadcast.
