OYNE CITY - They had the home field. And the comfort of being able to sleep in their own beds Friday night, eat breakfast and then take the ACT test.
After the strain of academics was completed, the Boyne City Ramblers turned their attention to another exam.
Only this one carried significance in another realm. Football.
In their seventh straight trip to the playoffs, the Ramblers were aching to advance beyond the first round after losing to Suttons Bay last year, 49-12.
Calumet, on the other hand,Êmade the 328-mile trek from the Upper Peninsula to take on the Ramblers in a Division 6 district semifinal matchup.
The Copper Kings stopped off in Marquette for a short practice, and then spent the night in St. Ignace before completing the journey to Boyne City on Saturday morning.
If the Ramblers were hoping the Copper Kings would suffer any problems loosening up after making such a long ride, they were mistaken.
GainingÊits legs much quicker than anyone had reason to expect, Calumet took care of business from the opening whistle and never let up.
Holding the usually high-powered Boyne City offense in check throughout the contest, Calumet rolled on to this week's district final with a 34-7 victory before a large crowd at Earl Brotherton Field.
Both teams were coming off victories to close out the regular season, but the Copper Kings (6-3) perhaps carried a little more momentum into the game following their best outing of the season in the finale.
Just the previous week, Calumet had thrown a shutout at Marquette, 27-0, to finish the regular season 5-3 and qualify for the playoffs. Teams that play only 8 games need to win 5 for an automatic berthÊto the post-season.
Playing in rain and mud, its outside speed effectively negated, Calumet found a different way to win.
It prepared the Copper Kings for any conditions.
"Just the style of offense that they (the Copper Kings) play puts a lot of pressure on the defense," Boyne City coach Dave Hills said prior to the game.
Calumet applied that pressure right from the start.
The Ramblers came in 7-2, and having been tested every week in the rugged Lake Michigan Conference which featured 4 playoff qualifiers this year.
With elusive senior running back Robby Jensen carrying the mail all year, the Ramblers looked toÊputÊpoints on the board.ÊThe only question seemed to be if Boyne City's defense could slow down Calumet's offense.
Calumet, though, shut down the Ramblers' running attack. The Copper Kings limited Boyne City, which finished 7-3, to just 84 yards rushing.
Jensen had the only Rambler touchdown, busting through for an 11-yard run in the third quarter. But he found little running room otherwise, winding up with 27 yards on 8 carries.
"I think we've really come around with our offensive line in terms of coming off the ball," Calumet coach John Croze said. "We certainly played a heck of a schedule in terms of having to play a strong team across fromÊus."
The Copper Kings advance to play Iron Mountain, 9-1, in a Division 6 district final either Friday or Saturday in Iron Mountain.
