Gladstone junior Casey Alworden (4) takes the opening kick-off for a touchdown against Escanaba on Oct. 20, 2023 at Escanaba Athletic Field.

ESCANABA — It’s rivalry week in Delta County.

Gladstone is set to host Escanaba at 7 p.m. Friday at Marble Athletic Field.

For seniors Casey Alworden and Isaac Ketchum, Friday’s game is emotional for a multitude of reasons.

The Braves enter the game with a 1-7 record. Playoffs are out of the question. This will be their final high school football game.

But the duo also possesses a rare accolade. The duo have yet to lose to Escanaba during their high school careers. The Braves have won three-straight over the Eskymos for the first time ever in this storied and historic rivalry.

Friday provides the opportunity for Gladstone to make it four-straight over the orange and black.

Daily Press sports editor “The Big Dog” Mitch Vosburg chatted with Alworden and Ketchum before Friday’s monster showdown.

Big Dog: Well gentlemen, we made it to Week 9. It’s Escanaba week. How are we feeling?

Casey Alworden: Good. I’m healthy. I mean, overall the team is obviously not the healthiest. We got six injured starters I think it is, but going in this week I’m feeling pretty good.

Isaac Ketchum: I feel pretty good. I mean, it’s my senior season. I’ve had to be content with everything that’s happened so far, even though we haven’t been playing so well. I’ve just had to try and take in everything and go out with happiness.

BD: Casey, when people look at you they see a dude that may be kind of small. But for some reason, whenever you put on a pair of cleats you become an absolutely electric athlete. Where does that come from?

CA: I grew up with two older brothers, having that help. They helped me through sports, and my middle brother, Caden, helped me get into the gym and train for football and baseball. That training, like in the back of my head, I know I’ve worked hard to get to where I am, and I just rely on the training to be able to do what I did.

BD: This question is for Isaac. How would you describe Isaac Ketchum the football player?

IK: I don’t think I have a limit mentally to myself. I mean, when I’m on the football field I’ll take on any single player. I don’t care how big they are, I don’t care how strong they’re, how strong they look.

BD: Let’s say someone is coming to watch you guys play for the very first time. How would you describe Gladstone football in 2024?

CA: I’d say kind of just like a hard nosed team. I mean, we don’t have any flashy players, anything like that. We rely on our run game quite heavily, but we can also throw a deep ball, short passes. I mean, we mix up our offense quite a bit. So I’d expect a variety of things.

IK: Very athletic. We break away on some plays that are given, I guess we’re a very hard, physical hitting team. I think every single team we’ve played, no matter how good we’ve done against them, I think we’ve thumped them pretty hard.

BD: You guys have not one, not two, but three-straight wins over Escanaba. What are you willing to do to make it four in a row?

CA: Personally, I don’t think I’ve ever lost to esky yet in football, so hopefully that doesn’t end this year. It means a lot to me to beat them, never losing them in football. But I think we have a chance. I mean, if everyone comes to play, give it their best effort I think we’ll be alright.

IK: I think everybody’s just got to give 100% effort. Everybody. All 11 people on the field. That’s really all we need. Everybody to give a maximum amount of effort.

BD: Obviously this season hasn’t gone the way you wanted it to. You’re 1-7 and on your fourth quarterback of the season. How are you guys staying positive through all the hiccups?

CA: Just focus on the little things, honestly. The big plays we can get. Anything positive in our offense or defense or any big plays. They really help us stay positive and just wanting to play more.

IK: I mean, throughout practice and stuff nobody’s really talking negative or anything. We’re just still trying to do everything we can to win. All the coaches are doing everything, putting all the time in and stuff. We’re not really giving up.

BD: How special is it to play this game at Marble Athletic Field?

CA: It’s big. I mean, any home game you just love to have. You don’t have to ride on a school bus an hour away. It’s easier. You don’t have to worry about trying to remember stuff. The crowd and our community is awesome. They’re always coming out to support us. Having our students section there too is great.

IK: Really, really big. There’s going to be what, 1,000 people there? There’s going to be so many people there. It’s gonna be amazing. So much better playing at Gladstone, too. It’s home.

BD: Last question. This is the last time you guys play a high school football game. Has that sunk in yet?

CA: No, I was actually talking with a buddy of mine on the team Chase poets yesterday. We’re like, ‘dude, this doesn’t even feel like we’re gonna be done with football for the rest of our lives.’ I’ve been playing with them since sixth grade, and it’s just weird. It doesn’t feel like we’re going to play our last game, it feels like we’re gonna be here next year. It hasn’t sunk in too much yet.

IK: It has. Even last week I started crying as soon as the game was over, just because I knew I only had one more game left. I gotta be happy with everything I’ve done, happy with last year and happy with everything I’ve done this year.