Calumet huddles up during a game against L'Anse Friday in L'Anse. (Eddie O’Neill/For the Gazette)

L’ANSE — The Calumet Copper Kings football team scored early and often in their last regular-season game against the L’Anse Purple Hornets on Friday. They scored 34 points in the first half and another eight in the second half for a 42-8 victory on the road.

“This was a great way to end the regular season,” said Calumet coach Josh Frantti. “The game ball goes to our seniors as they played their last regular-season game.”

The Copper Kings scored three touchdowns in the first quarter. The first one came courtesy of Ben Anderson who ran 27-yards for six at the 8:30 mark. Four minutes later, teammate Tyler Halonen crossed the goal line on a 15-yard pass play.

Trent Anderson then capped off the first with a 41-yard run. A successful point after made this one 20-0 in favor of Calumet after 12 minutes.

The second was not much different as Calumet controlled the scoring. They added another 14 points. Trent Anderson got his second TD on a 32-yard run and Oskar Loukus closed out the quarter with a 41-yard run for six. It was now a 34-0 Calumet lead at half. 
”Calumet is a good team,” said L’Anse co-coach Jon Boever. “They do not have a ton of size, but they are very quick, athletic and disciplined in their fundamentals in everything that they do. Hats off to them.”

The Purple Hornets avoided the shutout with a third-quarter touchdown pass to Daniel Connor at around the three-minute mark.

With the score now 34-8, Frantti and his staff were able to play some bench players in the final 12 minutes.

“I liked the fact that a lot of guys got to play,” said Frantti. “Even some JV boys got in.”

Calumet’s Keith Koivisto had the final say with a fourth quarter touchdown. With a successful two-point conversion, the Copper Kings led at that point, 42-8.

As this was the last home game of the season, the Purple Hornets said good bye to 10 seniors. They included: David Wilson, Kaleb Gerth, Hunter Thomas, Matthew Maki, Keyden Goodbird Jace Sikkila, Daniel Connor, Matthew Rinkinen, Keegan Davidson and Carson Sanregret.

“I am super proud of them,” noted Boever. “they are a great group of kids, very coachable. They wanted to leave a legacy of trying to turn the program around, and they have. It is a winning culture here now.”

Up next

At 7-2, the Copper Kings are guaranteed a playoff spot. At 5-4, the Purple Hornets are on the bubble. Both teams learned their fates on late Sunday.