Todd VanSicklel/For the Gazette Calumet’s Tyler Halonen runs the ball against Kingsley during a semifinal matchup Saturday in Kingsley.

KINGSLEY — The Calumet Copper Kings lost to the Kingsley Stags, 51-15, in the semi-final district game on Saturday at Rodes Field in Kingsley.

“They are a well-coached football team,” said Calumet coach Josh Frantti. “They played in a state championship last year. I thought our guys did a great job battling, but we had some costly turnovers that snowballed quick. Against good teams in the playoffs you can’t have that, but our kids battled until the end.”

The Copper Kings went into the second quarter trailing, 7-0. Kingsley’s Isaiah Cosgrove then scored twice on a 24- and a 15-yard run in the second quarter.

With seconds left in the half, the Copper Kings put together a drive and found themselves on the one-yard line after Nels Loukus caught a pass for a gain of 43 yards.

The Copper Kings ran three running plays, but Kingsley’s defense pushed them back to the three-yard line. Calumet went for it on fourth down and completed a pass in the end zone as time expired. However, the touchdown was called off due to a holding penalty and the Copper Kings replayed the down from the 13-yard line with no time on the clock. They attempted another pass play, but it was incomplete.

“We make it 21-7 there — it is a two-score game,” Frantti said. “Maybe it would have made a difference — giving us a little juice going into the second half — but [Kingsley] is a great football team and we made one too many mistakes today.”

The Copper Kings travelled seven hours and overnighted for the District 81 semi-final playoff game in the Lower Peninsula.

“Our kids our are used to it,” Frantii said. “We are far away from everything. I thought the boys travelled well.”

In the fourth quarter, Calumet thwarted the shutout when Ted Loukus ran in a three-yard touchdown. Oskar Loukus’ extra point was good to make 44-7.

The Copper Kings scored again later in the quarter when Keith Koivisto punched in a five-yard touchdown and Trent Anderson scored the two-point conversion on a quarterback pitch.

The Copper Kings ended the regular season with a 6-3 record.

“Our seniors did great this year,” Frantii said. “We missed out on the playoffs last year and they didn’t like that feeling. Our seniors really worked and got us here. They have laid the foundation for our younger players. We play a tough conference. All three teams we lost to this year are in the playoffs.”

The Stags will face Boyne City in the district final on November 8 at Kingsley.

“Our senior captains Matt Frantti, Ted Loukus, Ken Koskela, Micah Pieti were our leaders all year,” the Calumet coach said. “We didn’t get the results today, but without those four it is a tough year for us.”