Hornets hammer Marinette to complete perfect season

MARINETTE — The M&M 7-8 Grade Hornets football team wrapped up an undefeated season with a 34-6 triumph over rival Marinette on Tuesday.

“Marinette was one of the better opponents we played this year but we encouraged our boys to send a message to their eighth graders as to what they can look forward to for the next four years,” Hornets coach Justin Bardowski said.

Kieffer Chouinard accounted for all five of the Hornets touchdowns and was 2-for-2 on 2-point conversion attempts.

Chouinard’s first score of the night came on an 18-yard scamper before lofting a 12-yard strike over triple coverage into the hands of Destin McDaniel, as the Hornets seized a 16-0 lead at halftime.

Chouinard kicked off the second half with a 56-yard keeper for his third touchdown of the night. After uncorking a 68-yard rope to McDaniel, Chouinard capped off the Hornets’ offensive outburst with a 56-yard run that made it a 34-0 contest.

The Hornets’ defense forced four Marinette turnovers, including a forced fumble by Kizer Izaakson and fumble recoveries by Jett Thonne and Jacob Counts.

Counts also recovered an onside kick.

The Hornets finish the 2024 season a perfect 7-0.

Due to lower numbers, the Hornets were composed of both seventh and eighth graders, while every opponent they matched up against was made up of strictly eighth graders.

The last Hornets team to go undefeated was made up of the Maroons that played for a high school State championship at Ford Field last season.