A perfect season
Lakes football ends at 9-0 with win over Gladiators
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LAKE LINDEN -- There had only been 10 Lake Linden-Hubbell football teams that had gone undefeated before Saturday. The 2026 Lakes became the 11th with a 42-24 win over the Ontonagon Gladiators.
While a 9-0 season is something to celebrate, Lakes coach Brett Gervais says there is still a bigger goal - a state title on the 8-player gridiron.
"I couldn’t be prouder of the sacrifice and hard work that went into this," said Gervais. "Now we need to focus on a new season - the postseason. We have to be committed to win next week."
Interestingly, Saturday’s regular-season finale at home began with the Lakes down, 6-0. On their first drive of the game, the Gladiators' Brayden Buzzo punched in a three-yard carry for six.
However, the Gladiators' lead was a short-lived one as the Lakes countered with a touchdown plus two courtesy of Blake Lebo. The running back found daylight for a 41-yard goal line jaunt at the 4:24 mark.
An 8-6 lead for the Lakes improved to 16-6 before the first quarter ended. This time it was Tyler Axford for 30-plus yards and a touchdown.
In the second quarter, the Lakes scored twice more and kept their opponent off the scoreboard.
Lebo was at it again adding to his 42-total yards on the ground for another touchdown at the 6:05 mark. Then a seven-yard pass from Brady Axford to Tyler Axford resulted in another six points. Add two, and the score was 30-6 in favor of the Lakes at half.
"With the lead, I was able to let the younger guys play some meaningful minutes in the second half," added Gervais. "I would much rather see those guys get in than rack up a lot of points."
Getting everybody in included having four quarterbacks see time behind the center. Lebo proved to be the best passer as he was 3-of-5 in the air for a total of 64 yards. This included a touchdown pass. On the ground, freshman Alfred Milkey led the charge with 12 attempts for 82 yards. He also has two interceptions on the afternoon.
The Gladiators outscored the Lakes 18-12 in the second half. While both teams scored six in the third quarter, the Gladiators outpaced the Lakes by a touch down in the fourth.
First it was Buzzo on the receiving end of a 27-yard pass to make the score 36-18. Another Gladiator touchdown at the 4:42 mark put them within 12 points of the Lakes.
The Lakes, however, had the final say with Milkey’s 40-yard score with just over two minutes left in the game.
While a 2-7 record wasn’t what Ontonagon coach Preston Manos had hoped for in his first year as head coach, he said he was proud of the effort the Gladiators showed throughout the season.
"I am proud of our kids," he said. "It was a good first season to build on."
Up next
The Lakes will face the North Central Jets in the opening round of the playoffs Saturday at home. They downed the Jets earlier in the season, 44-27.