GAYLORD ― With 11 minutes to play, Pewamo-Westphalia could smell the Ford Field turf.
After taking a 28-14 lead in the fourth quarter of a Division 7 state semifinal matchup with Menominee on Saturday, November 22, the Pirates looked like they had a state finals berth well within their grasp. Then, the Maroons started to mount their comeback.
A quick Menominee drive ended with a touchdown pass from Tanner Theuerkauf to Maverick Geniesse, bringing the Maroons within eight points. A stop and another TD pass, Theuerkauff to Nathan Komp, brought them within two points. The Maroons got another stop, forcing a turnover on downs with around two minutes to go, giving Menominee a chance for a go-ahead score.
The Maroons put the game in the hands of their QB, and it paid off for Menominee as Theuerkauf threw his third straight TD pass with 30 seconds to go, finding Dawson Bardowski in the endzone for what turned out to be the game-winning score and giving Menominee a thrilling 32-28 victory.
Here are the key takeaways.
Thelen shakes off early mistakes for big day
Menominee made a nearly four-hour trip to Gaylord High School for the D7 semifinal, but the PW offense looked like it was shaking off a long drive after its slow start. The Pirates’ first drive ended with an interception in the endzone, while their second drive ended with a fumble that set up a Menominee touchdown.
Then, Ty Thelen started to make plays.
The senior quarterback shook off the slow start, eventually throwing three touchdown passes as PW built a 28-14 lead. He helped move the ball on the ground while letting his big body receivers (Trent Piggot, Caleb Blyth) go up and make big catches when they needed it. He also had an interception on defense.
Blyth had two touchdown catches, while Piggot had one.
Menominee comeback shows ‘U.P. power’
The teams from the Upper Peninsula like to play with a chip on their shoulder, especially when they play teams from downstate. Menominee needed that edge in a big way in the final quarter.
Trailing by 14 points, the Menominee offense was in the hands of senior Tanner Theuerkauf, one of the best quarterbacks in the U.P. He delivered on three straight drives, throwing touchdown passes to Maverick Geniesse, Nathan Komp and Dawson Bardowski to turn a 14-point deficit into a four-point lead and eventual victory.
It’s the second time in three years Menominee has traveled to Gaylord to win an MHSAA semifinal game, riding a performance from Trevor Theuerkauf to a 32-21 win over North Muskegon and a state finals berth. Now, his little brother is leading the Maroons to Ford Field.
Menominee to play Schoolcraft, PW done in semis
The loss brings Pewamo-Westphalia’s season to a close, the program’s most successful season since its state title run in 2021.
PW went 9-0 in the regular season, winning the Central Michigan Athletic Conference with a 5-0 record. They won a Division 7 district title with a 58-28 win over North Muskegon, then beat Ithaca 42-21 to bring home a regional title. They wrap the season at 11-1 overall.
Menominee, meanwhile, will take on Schoolcraft in the Division 7 state finals on Sunday, Nov. 30 at 9:30 a.m.
Contact GHT Sports Editor Dylan Jespersen at Djespersen@gaylordheraldtimes.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @dylanjespersen, and Instagram, @dylanjespersen
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Late Menominee comeback ends Pewamo-Westphalia’s playoff run in semis
Reporting by Dylan Jespersen, The Petoskey News-Review / The Petoskey News-Review
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
1 comment
UP teams like to play with a “chip on their shoulder?” Really? I don’t think it is so much a “chip” on anyone’s shoulder. It is that fact that the UP teams are required to make a very long trip by bus and are than ridiculed for losing. While the lower peninsula team is only an hour away from the final game destination. The lower peninsula guys get to sleep in their own beds before game night. I remember when Okemos played for the class B state championship for Basketball, in 1982. The UP team was far superior in every category. Everyone knew this. But, two weeks on the road in various hotels while the lower peninsula team gets to sleep at home along with no gymnasium to even hold a practice? They lost. They were the best team in the state. But they lost. Why does it have to be Ford Field? How about making this more fair and holding the game in Marquette at the superdome? In case you haven’t noticed, when the lower peninsula teams have to travel to the UP, they don’t preform as well and they end up losing.