Menominee senior Isaiah Odom (8) lets out a scream of joy after a 35-32 overtime win over Traverse City St Francis in a MHSAA Division 7 district championship game on Nov. 9, 2024 at Walton Blesch Stadium in Menominee.

MENOMINEE — Six yards.

That was the only thing that stood in the way of a Menominee win over Traverse City St Francis, a district championship and to keep its revenge tour alive on Saturday.

Trailing 32-29 in overtime, Menominee faced 3rd-and-6. Junior Tanner Theuerkauf received the snap out of the shotgun and rolled to his right. Nothing was there.

Theuerkauf re-routed himself and rolled to his left. As he rolled to his left he saw junior Dawson Bardowski wide open on a drag route.

Theuerkauf fired a pass toward the endzone. Bardowski slowed down to catch the pass. St Francis junior Brandon Lesinski leaped in hopes of getting a hand, fingernail or any body part on the ball to deflect it, but fell inches short.

Bardowski caught the ball in the endzone. Touchdown Maroons.

Pandemonium ensued inside the confines of Walton Blesch Stadium. Menominee’s quest to return to Ford Field stayed alive and well with a thrilling 35-32 win over the Gladiators.

“I couldn’t be happier for our guys and our team,” Menominee coach Chad Brandt said. “I’m just so proud of the resiliency and the love and passion for each other, to keep competing when things aren’t going the best. It paid off. We got the ball last and just a couple more points than they did.”

St Francis received the ball for the first possession of overtime and stared down a 3rd-and-3. But a flag flew on the play. False start, the sixth one committed by the Gladiators in the contest.

Junior quarterback Tyler Endres dropped back to pass, ultimately opting to scramble around and pick up three yards.

St Francis opted to kick a field goal. It was successful to take a 32-29 lead. All the Gladiators needed was to keep Menominee out of the endzone for four plays.

Theuerkauf picked up four yards on first down. He attempted to connect with senior Kaiden Bell on second down, but fell incomplete. Then he found Bardowski for the game winning score.

“It feels great. All the credit goes to my teammates,” Theuerkauf said. “The (offensive) line blocked amazing. We really overcame adversity today.”

For a brief period of time, however, overtime appeared bleak. The Gladiators handed the ball to senior running back Eli Biggar on 1st-and-10 from the Maroons 17-yard line. He was stopped by Theuerkauf for a gain of eight.

But Theuerkauf didn’t immediately get up. He left the game with an injury.

And suddenly, any momentum or energy the Maroons had at that point disappeared with 36 left in the third quarter.

The Gladiators capped off a 9 play, 42-yard drive with a five-yard score from Braxton Lesinski. But the PAT was blocked, and the Maroons stared at a 23-21 deficit and took possession with 16 seconds left in the third from their own 20-yard line.

Theuerkauf wasn’t in command of the huddle. Quarterback duties, at this point of the game, rested on the young shoulders of sophomore Dylan Beal.

The Maroons started down a pivotal third down. They needed something magical to happen.

In that moment, Beal created magic. He connected with Bardowski for a 42 yard gain, moving Menominee to the Gladiators’ 16-yard line.

“I’m just thankful that I got to go in,” Beal said. “I didn’t like that (Theuerkauf) went down, but it happens. I just had to step up and do my role.”

Two plays later Theuerkauf returned to the game, ultimately scoring from three yards out for a 29-23 lead with 6:22 left. All Menominee needed was a stop on defense and a win was within reach. With St Francis starting its ensuing drive on its own 32-yard line, there was a chance to keep the downstate foes out of the endzone.

But 15 plays, 68 yards and 5:58 of game clock later Endres scored from 1-yard out on a QB sneak. Tie game at 29. All the Gladiators needed was a successful PAT try to take a lead with less than 30 seconds remaining.

But kicking hiccups struck again.

The PAT try sailed wide left. The game stayed tied at 29 as the Menominee faithful erupted into chaos.

All of this occurred after the Gladiators opened the game with a 14-0 lead in less than 8 minutes into the game.

In fact, the Gladiators led 17-14 with 25 seconds left in the first half. Endres’ pass attempt went wild, missing his target and smacking the chest of Menominee junior Landon Daigneau, who ran it back for a touchdown.

Instead of trailing 17-14 at the half, Menominee led 21-17 with a confidence boost and momentum entering the break.

“We knew we were battle tested,” St Francis coach Josh Sellers said. “Menominee’s a great team. We didn’t take advantage of our opportunities today.”

Now the Maroons advance to the regional championship game. Its opponent is a familiar name to the Menominee faithful.

North Muskegon.

The Maroons and Norsemen met in the state semifinal game a year ago in Gaylord. Menominee won 32-21.

This collision, however, will feature the same element St Francis faced: North Muskegon has to make the near 7-hour drive. A Trip which may be faster driving through Chicago and Wisconsin than crossing the Mackinac Bridge.

Either way, Menominee’s quest to return to Ford Field remains alive and well for one more week.

“It means everything,” Menominee senior Lucas Thoune said with tears beginning to form in his eyes. “I don’t know where I’d be without Menominee football.”