For the Gazette/Paul Peterson Hancock's Matthew Halonen is congratulated by teammates after scoring a third quarter touchdown versus Gogebic Friday night. The Bulldogs were easy winners.

HANCOCK — Shaking off a two-hour weather delay, the Hancock Bulldogs took care of business Friday night against the Gogebic Miners.

The unbeaten Bulldogs struggled a bit in the first half with just three offensive possessions and a 13-0 lead.

“We were a little sluggish in the first half with the delayed start,” Hancock coach Ted Holmstrom said after the long night. “But that will happen on nights like this.”

With lightning holding up the WestPAC interdivisional game at McFee Field until 9 p.m., Hancock eventually unleashed its offensive power in a 38-6 win.

Junior quarterback Colton Salani had another big night passing for over 250 yards and four scores. 

Two of those touchdowns went to younger brother, Austin.

“I thought Colton (Salani) had a nice night throwing the football,” Holmstrom said. “He was putting it right in there.”

The Miners played decent defense as coach Mike Mazzon’s team put defensive pressure on Salani.

But the Crimson and Gold had the answer over the second half.

The running of Matthew Halonen took the pressure off, however.

Halonen’s 26-yard run in the first period put the Bulldogs in position for Salani to find David Storm with a 38-yard strike.

The Bulldogs tallied once in the second quarter on a short pass from Salani to Halonen to make it 13-0 at intermission.

The eventual winners added four more scores in the second half.

Gogebic got on the board in the third quarter on a 31-yard scamper by tailback Jamie Jett.

Halonen chipped in a six-yard scoring run in the third quarter, while the Salani brothers had their two scoring connections.

Reserve QB Connor LeClaire added 10-yard touchdown in the waning minutes.

Now 2-0, the Bulldogs travel to Negaunee next Friday.

“That will be a big test for us,” Holmstrom said.

Scoring

Gogebic    0    0   6    0 – 6

Hancock    7   6   13 12 – 38

First quarter

HA – David Storm 38 pass from Colton Salani (LeClaire kick)

Second quarter

HA – Matt Halonen 6 pass from Salani (kick failed)

Third quarter

HA – Austin Salani 13 pass from C. Salani (kick failed)

HA – A. Salani 46 pass from C. Salani (LeClaire kick)

GO – Jamie Jett 31 run (run failed)

Fourth quarter

HA – Connor LeClaire 10 run (kick failed)

Game stats

First downs: GO 12; HA 11; Rushing: GO 34-99; HA 32-143; Passing: NA; Receiving: GO; Jett 3-36; HA: A, Salani 3-89.