Lake Linden-Hubbell's Lukas Axford carries the ball up field in a game against Munising Mustangs Saturday at Ron Warner Field in Lake Linden. (Eddie O’Neill/For the Gazette)

LAKE LINDEN — Brett Gervais, coach of the Lake Linden-Hubbell football team, is a firm believer in the axiom that practice makes perfect. So much so that he is convinced that it led the Lakes to their first win on Saturday at home. They defeated the Munising Mustangs (0-2), 48-36, and improved to 1-1 on the season.

“We had better week of practice going into this game than we did for Week 1,” Gervais stated. “There was some bad weather earlier in the week, but the boys stuck it out and worked hard.”

The Lakes led by as much as 34-0 in the third quarter. Much of the scoring had the last name Axford behind it. It started at the 6:30 mark of the first quarter with Brady Axford scampering in for 15 yards and the first score of the game. Add two points and the Lakes led 8-0. It was Brady’s first of three touchdowns. He led the rushing for the Lakes with 126 yards.

In the second quarter, the boys in blue added another eight points. This time it was a seven-yard pass play for Brady Axford to his brother Lukas Axford in the end zone. Lukas had three receptions for a total of 30 yards and two touchdowns on the afternoon.

“I was happy with how our guys came out in the second half,” stated Gervais. “There was an intensity there that was good to see. We sustained drives better with more consistency.”

Better drives resulted in three touchdowns and two-point conversions. Among those scoring were Tyler Axford and Brady Axford to make this game a 34-0 Lakes lead. 
With less than three minutes left in the third, the Mustangs finally got on the board as Levi Hauler crossed the goal line after a 49-yard run.

The Lakes countered with eight points of their own with time running out in the third. A 51-yard run by Brady Axford and a two-point conversion put the Lakes up 42-6 and started the running clock (due to 35-point difference).

It was a short-lived running clock as the Mustangs began the fourth quarter with eight points that started with a Dylan Adkinson touchdown at the 11:33 mark.

While the Mustangs won the fourth quarter 30-6, it was not enough to catch the Lakes, and this one ended 48-36.

“I was able to get everybody in there at the end,” noted Gervais. “That was important as our younger guys need the experience.”

Up next

The Lakes will welcome Rapid River to the Ron Warner Field on Saturday, Sept. 13. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m.

Lake Linden-Hubbell’s Brady Axford heads for the end zone in a game against Munising Saturday at Ron Warner Field in Lake Linden. (Eddie O’Neill/For the Gazette)