CALUMET — Calumet cruised to a 53-32 win against L’Anse on Friday in the last game at Agassiz Field for longtime coach John Croze.

He was honored with a plaque before his final regular season home game, acknowledging his three decades of involvement in the Calumet football program. He began as an assistant in 1991 and took over as head coach in 2000. He’s retiring as coach after this season.

His record including Friday’s win is 143-71 (.668).

“It was very special to see a number of alumni and old players (of mine) there on the sidelines during the National Anthem,” said Croze. “The whole experience today from the time I got to school to now has been awesome.”

“Its been a honor to be a Calumet football coach, and I’m proud of where Calumet football is right now,” Croze said. “We are one of the premier programs in the U.P. and the state. That has a lot to do with this community and the families that play Copper King football.”

The Copper Kings (7-2) set the tone within the first three minutes of the game. Running back Dryden Nelson found the hole and the end zone with a 29-yard run. It was Nelson’s first of three touchdowns. Tom Erkkila booted the extra point through the uprights and it was a 7-0 game.

Just minutes later the Copper Kings’ quarterback Paul Sturos made it 13-0 with an 87-yard run down the sideline. Erkkila nailed his second of five extra points, and the first period came to an end.

In the second period, the Copper Kings continued to roll over the Purple Hornets (4-5) with four more touchdowns. This included a 51-yard punt return by Erkkila and a 29-yard pass play from Sturos to Amar Patterson. It was 41-0 at halftime. Interestingly, none of Calumet’s six touchdowns in the first two quarters came from within the L’Anse red zone.

The Copper Kings amassed a total of 317 yards rushing on just 14 plays. Nelson had 125 of that yardage on three runs.

“It was a great first half,” Croze said. “Our defense did a great job of stopping L’Anse’s running game and not giving up the big plays.

Calumet gave second-stringers playing time in the second half.

L’Anse finally got on the boards midway through the third with a 16-run by Dysean Allen. He was the go-to guy on the ground as he carried the ball 27 times for 162 total yards in the game.

L’Anse scored again just two minutes later when quarterback Dean Magaraggia hit Brandon Lee for a 31-yard touchdown pass. Magaraggia had nine completions for 160 total yards in the air.

While the Copper went on to score two more touchdowns of their own in the third, the fourth quarter belonged to the Purple Hornets. They shut down the Copper King scoring machine and put up 19 points including a 31-yard field goal by Hunter Stanaway to close out the game.

“This one was a tough one tonight,” said L’Anse head coach Mark Leaf. “Calumet is just a great football team. They hit the big plays, and I wish them the best as they continue. At the same, I am very proud of my kids. They fought hard and never gave up, and that has been the story all year for these players.”

Croze by the numbers

Croze was named West PAC Coach of the Year eight times. He was named Regional Coach of the Year four times. He was U.P. Coach of the Year in 2009.

The Copper Kings won seven West PAC championships and three district championships during Croze’s tenure.

The Copper Kings won 10 games in a season three times under Croze. He coached 16 All-State players and six U.P. Players of the Year.

LHS 0 0 13 19 — 32

CHS 14 27 12 0 — 53

First Quarter

CHS — Nelson 29 run (Erkkila kick), 9:14.

CHS — Sturos 87 run (Erkkila kick), 3:52.

Second Quarter

CHS — Nelson 96 run (Erkkila kick fail), 10:33.

CHS — Nelson 21 pass from Kiilunen (Erkkila kick), 6:06.

CHS — Nelson 51 run (Erkkila kick), 3:03

CHS — Patterson 29 pass from Sturos (Erkkila kick), :51.

Third Quarter

LHS — Allen 16 run (Stanaway kick fail), 9:18.

LHS — Brown 31 pass from Magaraggia (Stanaway kick), 7:18.

CHS — Nelson 1 run (Erkkila kick fail), 2:52.

CHS — Peterson fumble recovery (Erkkila kick fail), 2:45.

Fourth Quarter

LHS — Biekkola 1 run (Lee 2-pt good), 7:34.

LHS — Allen 21 run (Lee 2 pt good), 2:14.

LHS — Stanaway 31 field goal, :00.