Marquette gets its first win, 47-8 at Sault Ste. Marie

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. — Sault Ste. Marie lost the ball on a botched pitch in the opening minutes Friday night, and Marquette had the lead before the first quarter was half over.

The Sentinels led 41-0 at halftime and beat the Blue Devils 47-8 at Van Citter’s Field for their first win of the season.

Winston Leonard threw touchdown passes of 52 yards to Wesley Robinson, 85 yards to Brody Clements and 6 yards to Cooper Smith, and ran 6 yards for the game’s first score. Landen Faccio ran for touchdowns of 6 and 12 yards. Marquette led 14-0 after one quarter.

Wesley Robinson took over at quarterback in the second half and threw a fourth-down touchdown pass into the right corner of the end zone with 6:50 left in the third. A running clock was already in effect under Michigan’s scoring differential rule, and the rest went quickly.

Both first-quarter touchdowns followed Sault turnovers. The Blue Devils, who start a freshman at quarterback, lost a fumble on a botched pitch in the opening minutes and another on a high snap late in the quarter.

Marquette’s defense, which had given up 79 points in losses to Negaunee and Menominee, held Sault Ste. Marie scoreless into the fourth quarter. Skyler Blackburn intercepted a pass in the second quarter to set up a score.

The Blue Devils avoided the shutout when Mason Garlinghouse threw 40 yards to Kanyon Peller. Peller then moved to quarterback and handed off for a two-point conversion.

Marquette is 1-2 and hosts Cadillac next week. Sault Ste. Marie travels to Charlevoix on Friday.