Gremlins 30 Kyle Primeau celebrates after an interception in the first quarter of Friday night’s game In Houghton.David Archambeau/For the Daily Mining Gazette

HOUGHTON – It’s been said that football is a game of inches. That certainly was the case Friday night in Houghton as the Gremlins kept the Westwood Patriots out of the end zone twice on two-point conversion attempts with not much room to spare. That led to 14-12 opening night victory for the 2022 Houghton football squad.

While it wasn’t the prettiest of football games, according to Houghton head coach Micah Stipech, he’s not complaining.

“Last year, they (Westwood) beat us by nearly 50 points (54-6),” he explained. “So, I was pleased. It was ugly at times, but I am not giving it back. It was a 12-round bout, and it was won by decision.”

Westwood bested Houghton in several key categories despite the results on the scoreboard. Among them are total offense, 187-153 yards; number of plays, 43-20; rushing attempts, 39-15; and time of possession, 28:03 to 19:52. However, those categories don’t win games. What does win games are successful trips to the end zone, starting with the Gremlins’ first offensive play of the season.

It was then that senior quarterback Camden Markham took the snap, stepped back and launched a pretty pass to receiver Gaborik Carlson who took it the house for a 63-yard touchdown. Markham would sneak in for the two-point conversion, and it was a 8-0 game with just 14 seconds counted off the clock.

“We drew that pass play up in preparation for this game, and we had been practicing it all week. So, it was a real shot in the arm for it to work,” stated Stipech.

Then, it was Westwood’s turn with the ball. However, even after a long and methodical push down the field which lasted eight minutes, it was snuffed out by an interception by the Gremlins’ Kyle Primeau to end the first quarter.

“That first quarter was tough,” noted Westwood coach Jacob Wolf. “We got behind the eight ball and became timid and could not dig ourselves out despite a better second half.”

As the first quarter morphed into the second, Markham was again in the end zone on a quarterback-keep run play at the 8:56 mark. The two-point conversion was no good.

Westwood finally got on the scoreboard with less than a minute to go in the first half. Running back Jerzee Karki took it in on a three-yard scamper. However, his two-point conversion run failed. It was a Gremlins’ lead at 14-6 as the two teams broke for the lockers.

After scoring a second touchdown, Westwood had a chance to tie it at the end of the third, but an unsuccessful two-point conversion made the difference, and the game stood at 14-12 Gremlins lead.

“Offensively, we showed we could strike quickly and be potent,” added Stipech. “Our pass game was 5-5 for more than 90 yards and that’s very good on an opening night.

Stipech also praised the agility of running back Primeau. The junior had just six carries, but he averaged nine yards a carry. In comparison, his Westwood counterpart Karki had 16 carries for 55 yards. That averaged out to just 3.4 yards a carry.

“Westwood has been a heavy hitter within our conference,” Stipech added. “So, to win a game like this says a lot about our kids’ preparation and work in the summer. Without that, there is no way they could go toe-to-toe in the final minutes of a game like this. So, I am proud of our effort.”

The Gremlins are on the road this week as they face the L’Anse Purple Hornets Thursday, Sept. 1. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.