Hancock coach Ramon Sague and quarterback Bryce Hanner compare notes during a game against Negaunee Friday at McAfee Field. (Eddie O’Neill/Daily Mining Gazette)

HANCOCK — The Neguanee Miners came digging for another win on the turf of McAfee Field on Friday and found it. They struck gold early and often in their 49-10 win over the Hancock Bulldogs.

With the win, the Miners improve to 4-1, while the loss put Bulldogs at 1-4 just past the halfway mark of the 2023 season.

“The guys came ready to play tonight,” said Negaunee coach Paul Jacobson. “It was nice to have some breathing room after playing some tight games earlier this season.”

On their first possession, the Miners posted a 61-yard drive and Kai Lacar punched in a touchdown run to make it 6-0. After the Bulldogs were forced to punt, the Miners scored again. This time it was James Thompson who snuck in for six and minutes later the team posted two for a 14-0 lead.

It was then the Bulldogs’ time to score. Hancock’s quarterback Bryce Hanner hit wide receiver Luke Mikkola for a 29-yard pass for their first touchdown. With the extra point, it was a 14-7 game. Minutes later, the Bulldogs added a field goal off the foot of Mikkola. His 28-yard boot through the uprights made it a 14-10 Neguanee lead as the first quarter came to an end. However, that is as close as this one got.

In the second the Miners scored 21 points and blanked the Bulldogs offense – not just for the second quarter, but the third and fourth as well.

In the second, Lacar scored twice more and a pick-six by the Miners’ Eli Cody made this one 35-10 at halftime.

“The game ball goes to Lacar,” said Jacobson. “He worked hard for us and ran hard and got yards when we needed him to.”

While down more than 20 points, Hancock coach Ramone Sague liked what he saw in the opening half.

“After a poor performance against Gladstone a week ago, this was a much-improved game,” he said. “I told them that we might be down, but we were playing good football. At 14-0 we came back with 10 points. In particular, I was very pleased with the way Bryce Hanner played. I think he completed over 60 percent of his passes for more than 200 yards. He did a great job of running the offense.”

He was hoping that his Bulldogs would win the second half but that didn’t happen. The Miners added two more touchdowns in the third. Neither team scored in the fourth. This one ended at 49-10.

“Bryce Vanderwest did a great job at safety,” Sague added. “It was his first time playing the position. Also showing much improvement was Max Heinonen on defense. In general, we played hard and made Negaunee – a very good team – earn all those points. I really liked that effort. I think we are in good shape as we move forward.”

UP NEXT

The Bulldogs are on the road to Kingsford to face the Flivvers at 7 p.m. Friday.