The first 24 minutes of the MHSAA Division 6 game was a defensive battle mostly fought between the 20-yard lines. The second half was an offensive knock-out punch by the Copper Kings, who posted 29 points on their way to a 38-16 victory.

With the win, the Copper Kings advance to the district semifinal round of the playoffs against Menominee on Saturday.

“Houghton did a great job playing defense and giving us fits for most of the game,” said Calumet head coach John Croze. “It was frustrating for us, but we talked a lot about we needed to do and got some momentum going in the third (quarter) and just broke through.”

The Copper Kings entered the locker room at halftime with a 9-0 lead. They picked up speed in the first few minutes of the third after an interception by Tom Erkkilla which put them on their own 28-yard line. A play later Calumet’s WestPAC All Conference honoree, Dryden Nelson, took it up the middle with a 65-yard run which put him in the red zone. A few plays later Nelson was in the end zone after a 5-yard dash and the Copper Kings led 17 -0.

Houghton’s during a MHSAA Division 6 playoff game on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, in Calumet, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

It was Nelson’s second touchdown of the game and put the game out of reach for the Gremlins.

“Dryden had a great game. He can open the field at any time,” Croze said.

The Gremlins entered into Saturday’s match up with just one practice in the past two weeks due to a COVID-19 exposure to one of their players.

The pause only increased Houghton’s enthusiasm to get back on the field and play their game.

Houghton head coach Micah Stipech said the key to a Gremlin victory was to stop big plays by the Copper Kings.

Calumet’s Dean Loukus (26) catches a pass in front of Houghton’s Blake Willey (14) during a MHSAA Division 6 playoff game on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, in Calumet, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

That hope was squelched in the first two minutes of the game. Calumet, in their first possession, scored on an 80-yard touchdown pass and run. At third-and-11, quarterback Paul Sturos stepped back, scampered left and desperately released one to Nelson who took it to the end zone.

“We knew we needed time to settle into the game and hang into the game and not get down,” Stipech said. “Fortunately, our kids did a good job of recovering from mistakes andcontinued to play hard. With a team like Calumet, we knew mistakes and big plays would be costly.”

As the game entered the second quarter, Houghton was able to muster some offense. Early on at fourth-and-4 at midfield, quarterback Camden Markham connected on an 18-yard pass to Reed Heathman. However, the Gremlins were stopped in their tracks on the next set of downs.

“We bent a little bit but never broke,” Croze said. “We play good defense, and that kept us in the game and allowed us to figure things out.”

With less than a minute to go in the half, the Copper Kings were able to move the ball into Houghton’s red zone. With just three seconds on the clock, Erkkilla kicked a 29-yard field goal through the uprights to make it 9-0 for the Copper Kings.

Houghton quarterback Camden Markham (9) passes against Calumet during a MHSAA Division 6 playoff game on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, in Calumet, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

“The first half was how we wanted it to go, but the second half got away from us,” said Stipech.

It began with the 65-yard run by the Copper Kings ‘ Nelson to open the third quarter. Houghton went four and out with their first possession in the third. What came next was an impressive 80-yard punt return run for six points by Dean Loukus. Loukus wasted no time after the catch as he bolted up the left sideline, broke a few tackles and slipped through a maze of Gremlins before crossing the goal line.

“That punt return knocked the wind out of our sails, but our kids did not pack it in,” Stipech said.

Sturos closed the third with a 26-yard pass to Dean Loukus in the end zone with just 23 seconds remaining to make the score 31-0.

“I think Paul was a little frustrated in the first,” Croze said. “He is just a junior and learning the position. But today he kept an even keel did not dwelling on the mistakes made in the first half.”

Houghton’s Nathan Erva (5) wards off Calumet defender Dean Loukus (26) during a MHSAA Division 6 playoff game on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, in Calumet, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

The fourth belonged to Houghton as they finally got on the scoreboard twice. On third-and-6 at the 11:44 mark , Nathan Erva took off on an 46-yard run and never looked back until he crossed the goal line.

After a successful two-point conversion, The Gremlins stayed on a scoring roll with a recovered onside kick which put them at Calumet’s 46. Three first downs later, Erva was in the end zone with a two-yard run.

“That was good to see,” said Stipech. “We were on a little roll there.”

The Copper Kings would close out the fourth with a 49-yard drive which ended in a one-yard touchdown dash by Erkkilla to make it 38-16.

“Calumet was the better team, and they deserved to win,” said Stipech. “We are now rooting for them. If this was the fourth game of the regular season, I would leave this game feeling really optimistic because we played a good team, and we showed we could compete. And learned that we needed to improve in some areas. Unfortunately this was our last game.”

Calumet quarterback Paul Sturos recovers a fumble against Houghton during a MHSAA Division 6 playoff game on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, in Calumet, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

The Copper Kings will start prepping this week to hit the road and face Menominee on Saturday. A year ago, the Copper Kings defeated the Maroons at Agassiz Field to win the district title.

“We know they will be tough, and we also know we have a lot of work to do this week,” Croze said. “But it should be a good game.”

Houghton 0 0 0 16 — 16

Calumet 6 3 22 7 — 38

First Quarter

CHS — Nelson 80 run (2-point failed), 10:40

Second Quarter

CHS — Erkkila 29 field goal, :03

Third Quarter

CHS — Nelson 5 run (2-point conversion), 8:02

CHS — D. Loukus 80 run (FG good), 5:15

CHS — D. Loukus 26 pass from P. Sturos (FG good), :23

Fourth Quarter

HHS — Erva 42 run (2-point conversion), 11:44

HHS — Erva 2 run (2-point conversion), 6:33

CHS — Erkkila 1 run (Erkkila kick), 2:45

A pass intended for Calumet’s Dean Loukus (26) is deflected by a Houghton defender during a MHSAA Division 6 playoff game on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, in Calumet, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

Houghton’s Nathan Erva (5) dives across the goal line for a score against Calumet during a MHSAA Division 6 playoff game on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, in Calumet, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

Houghton quarterback Camden Markham (9) rushes against Calumet during a MHSAA Division 6 playoff game on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, in Calumet, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)