The Copper Kings (7-1) scored twice in the first quarter and took a 30-0 halftime lead over the Bulldogs. Nick Djerf and Dryden Nelson both had two rushing touchdowns in the win.

Dean Loukus made a one-handed 25-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Scott Loukus in the second quarter.

“It was an outstanding game in all three phases of the game — offensively, defensively, special teams,” Calumet head coach John Croze said. “Our kids are keyed up to perform on Homecoming. It’s always nice to play a local rival for Homecoming. Great overall game. Hats off and just an outstanding effort by the offensive and defensive lines controlling the line of scrimmage. We got some great backs and athletes there. It’s still about the line coming off the line and making their blocks and sustaining their blocks.”

Hancock (4-4) didn’t score until the fourth quarter and by that point, it was largely a moot point for Friday’s result. But with the Bulldogs preparing for their annual Copper Bowl bout against Houghton next week, it was a score that gave Hancock something positive going into the rivalry game.

Calumet and Hancock in high school football action on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, in Calumet, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

“The biggest thing was getting some of our guys back and to try to win as a team,” Hancock head coach Ramon Sague said. “I told them that winning the Copper Bowl isn’t just about winning the Copper Bowl. It starts Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday in practice. That’s where you win the Copper Bowl — in your preparation. We just had a goal for this season to have a winning season. That was the primary goal. I said everything else will take care of itself. We still have that goal in mind. Have a winning season and everything else will take care of itself. Whether or not it’s playoffs will remain to be seen.”

Hancock never found a way to stop Calumet at the line of scrimmage.

“We just played our brand of defense and flew to the ball,” Croze said. “We really take pride in being accountable for doing our job and that’s what our kids do. They do their job and trust their teammates to do their job. We play great team defense.”

Sague said he and the team focused on stopping Calumet’s option. But Calumet still found a way to make it work.

“We wanted to make sure we stopped the option,” he said. “We thought we had a good plan in place to take away the option, but they were good at taking our defensive line and get movement. Once they did that, they were able to create seams and they run the option extremely well. They didn’t get too much up the middle, but off-tackle they hurt us.”

Calumet's Nick Djerf (18) runs against Hancock on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, in Calumet, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

Although the offense looked good, Croze said the defense starred in Friday night’s win.

“We had a lot of three-and-outs defensively,” Croze said. “As good as our offense looked tonight, I think that’s more impressive is taking a team that talented and coached that well and be able to just cause that many fits for their offense.”

Game statistics were not available by press time.

Calumet hosts L’Anse next week.

Hancock hosts Houghton in the Copper Bowl.

A host of Hancock defenders make a tackle against Calumet on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, in Calumet, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

Hancock 0 0 0 6 — 6

Calumet 14 16 6 6 — 42

First Quarter

C — Djerf 4 run (2-point conversion), 7:42

C — Nelson 15 run (2-point failed), 1:14

Calumet's Nick Djerf (18) is tackled by Hancock's Colton Salani (8) on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, in Calumet, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

Second Quarter

C — D. Loukus 25 pass from S. Loukus (2-point conversion), 11:23

C — Djerf 4 run (2-point conversion), 6:21

Third Quarter

C — Nelson 47 run (2-point failed), 4:29

Hancock's Austin Salani (14) attempts to catch a pass against Calumet on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, in Calumet, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

Fourth Quarter

C — Torola 10 pass from S. Loukus (Torola kick), 9:10

H — Stuber 5 run (LeClaire kick failed), 3:35

Calumet's Dryden Nelson (36) runs as Hancock's Colton Salani (8) defends on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, in Calumet, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

A sunset is shown at Agassiz Field before a high school football game between Calumet High School and Hancock High School on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, in Calumet, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

Calumet's Trevor Torola (85) celebrates his touchdown catch against Hancock on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, in Calumet, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

Hancock's Connor LeClaire makes a catch against Calumet on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, in Calumet, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

Calumet's Nick Djerf (18) scores a touchdown as Hancock's Gabe Smith (80) tries to make a tackle on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, in Calumet, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

Calumet's Nick Djerf (18) rushes against Hancock on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, in Calumet, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

The Calumet High School JROTC presents the colors before a high school football game between Calumet High School and Hancock High School on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, in Calumet, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

A sunset is shown at Agassiz Field before a high school football game between Calumet High School and Hancock High School on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, in Calumet, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)