Negaunee, MI – August 27th, 2026 – Just like last season, the Negaunee Miners and Marquette Sentinels met week one to kick off the new football season. Last year, the Miners came away with a 30-22 victory. This year’s Diamond Jubilee Trophy game was held in Marquette on a perfect, 68-degree night. In another back-and-forth battle, Negaunee held on late to defeat the Sentinels 30-28 and keep the trophy in Negaunee.
First Quarter
Negaunee wasted little time getting on the scoreboard. Quarterback, Kyle Waterman, connected with Evan Dellangelo on a one-on-one matchup. Dellangelo raced down the sideline for 60+ yard TD, putting the Miners ahead 8-0. Waterman then found Aries Korsman for the two-point conversion with 1:04 remaining in the first quarter.
The Miners struck again shortly after, with Waterman finding Dellangelo once again. This time, the two connected on a double move that resulted in a 59-yard touchdown. Dellangelo then hauled in the two-point conversion over two defenders, giving Negaunee a 16-0 lead.
Second Quarter
Negaunee had a chance to add to its lead after Marquette’s defense forced a fumble at the Miners’ 15-yard line, allowing the Sentinels to cross the Negaunee 30-yard line for the first time of the night.
Marquette finally got on the board with 1:45 remaining in the first half when Winston Leonard pitched the option to Wes Robinson, who found the end zone from eight yards out. The extra point was good, cutting Negaunee’s lead to 16-7. The Miners took that 16-7 advantage into halftime and received the opening kickoff of the second half.
Third Quarter
Negaunee opened the second half with another explosive play from Dellangelo. With an option pass, Waterman pitched the ball to Waylon Harvala, who then completed the pass to Dellangelo for his third touchdown of the night. Waterman connected with Korsman on the ensuing two-point conversion, extending the Miners lead to 24-7. Marquette answered with 5:09 remaining in the third quarter. Leonard pitched the ball to Robinson, who broke free and found the end zone to cut Negaunee’s lead to 24-14.
The Miners responded once again, as Waterman kept the ball on a naked bootleg and made several defenders miss on his way to the end zone. Negaunee attempted another two-point conversion, but the pass was intercepted, leaving the Miners with a 30-14 advantage.
Fourth Quarter
Marquette refused to go away quietly. With 3:50 remaining in the game, Leonard connected with Skylar Blackburn on a 40-yard touchdown pass to bring the Sentinels within ten (30-20). Marquette then converted the two-point attempt when Dylan Pond powered his way up the middle and battled into the end zone, cutting the deficit to 30-22.
The Sentinels recovered the ensuing onside kick, giving them another opportunity to make it a one-score game. With 2:37 remaining, Leonard delivered again, completing a 52-yard deep pass to Evan Brown. Marquette went for two to tie the game, but the attempt fell incomplete when the pass hit the receiver in the facemask.
Marquette then attempted another onside kick, but Negaunee recovered. The Miners needed just one first down to put the game away, the Sentinels’ defense forced a fourth-and-inches situation until Mason Swenor would seal the game for Negaunee as he got the yard they needed.
Negaunee was able to power through for the necessary yardage, sealing a thrilling 30-28 victory and keeping the Diamond Jubilee Trophy in Negaunee and starts the season 1-0. The Miners will return home for their season opener Friday, Sept. 4, when they host the Gladstone Braves at Miners Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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