Paul Peterson photo Cole Gregiore of Lake linden-Hubbell scampers up the middle for a third-quarter touchdown, Saturday, against Manistique. The Lakes qualified for the state playoffs with a 53-12 win.

LAKE LINDEN — A few short weeks ago, the Lake Linden-Hubbell football team was all but done as far as the state playoffs were concerned.

Saturday, the resilient Lakes are preparing for a first-round playoff game at West Iron County — all thanks to winning four of their last five games to finish with a 4-4 record.

“A month ago we were 0-3 and left for dead,” LL-H coach Andy Crouch said after his team’s 53-12 romp over Manistique Saturday afternoon at Warner Field. “But we turned it around and beat Newberry, which was huge for us. To see the kids get better each week was good to see. In football, you have to earn your way into the playoffs, and we’re one of 32 teams who earned their way in. Hats off to our kids.”

The Lakes will meet WIC at 7 p.m. on Friday.

Saturday’s game was, in reality, over before it started.

The Lakes had a 16-0 lead before the Senior Day crowd had even settled in.

The visiting Emeralds were shellshocked after the Lakes received touchdown runs from senior tailbacks Aaron Hainault and James Tuovila in the first four minutes of the contest.

“Right off the bat our kids were ready,” Crouch noted. “We knew it was a must-win game; it was like a playoff game for us. We executed real well on offense and defense, got some points right away and made things go our way.”

The locals scored again before the first quarter ended on a 1-yard run by Hainault and 2-point conversion by Cole Gregorie for a 24-0 advantage.

Jesse Hill and quarterback Carter Crouch added 27-and 17-yard scoring runs to begin the second frame for a 40-0 score.

Manistique, which managed under 100 yards of total offense, received an 80-yard kickoff return from Logan Savage after the last LL-H score.

But Tuovila got that one back with a short scoring run before the half ended for a 46-6 halftime reading.

With a running clock for the entire second half, the Lakes were content to run plunges into the line — although Jake Marcotte tallied on a 4-yard run in the third frame.

The Emeralds tacked on a window dressing score in the final period on a 37-yard pass from Alex Oas to Savage.

The Lakes piled up 313 yards rushing, doing it by committee as no less than seven players carried the football.

Tuovila showed the way with 84 yards on just five carries. Hainault added 54 yards in five attempts, Kellen Klein had 48 more in five tries and Crouch added 40 yards in five attempts.

Crouch also had several fine punt and kickoff returns on the day.

West Iron, the West-PAC champion this season, will present a tough challenge, according to coach Crouch.

“They’re big and they have a real horse at fullback (245-pound Jayce Brockhagen),” he said. “But it’s the playoffs and anything can happen.”

– – –

Manistique 0 6 0 6 – 12

LL-Hubbell 24 22 7 0 – 53

First quarter

LL – Aaron Hainault 9 run (Carter Crouch run)

LL – James Tuovila 45 run (Kellen Klein run)

LL – Hainault 1 run (Cole Gregorie run)

Second quarter

LL – Jesse Hill 27 run (Jake Marcotte run)

LL – Crouch 17 run (D. Wagner pass from Crouch)

MA – Logan Savage 80-yard kickoff (run failed)

LL – Tuovila 4 run (Caleb Gregorie pass from Crouch)

Third quarter

LL – Marcotte 4 run (Peter Heikkinen kick)

Fourth quarter

MA – Savage 37 pass from Oas (run failed)

Game stats

First downs: MA 7, LL 20; Rushing/yards MA 13-41; LL 36-313; Passing: MA 3-5-0-53; LL 2-3-0-54;

Ind. stats: Rushing: MA Savage 14-28; LL Tuovila 5-83; Hainault 5-54; Klein 5-48; Crouch 5-40; Hill 6-34; Marcotte 6-31; Co. Gregorie 5-24; Receiving: MA Savage 4-41; LL Hainault 1-35, Ca. Gregorie 1-15