LL-H senior defensive back Luke Marcotte intercepted a pass on the final play of the first half, just seven seconds after the Lakes gained a 14-0 lead on senior quarterback Carter Crouch’s 12-yard pass to junior end William Lyons.

“We got a lot of momentum right before the half,” said LL-H senior running back Caleb Gregoire. “We were all feeling pretty good. The interception was huge.”

The victory sends the Lakes (7-3) to Ishpeming for Saturday’s district championship game at 1 p.m. The Hematites (8-2) buried Bark River-Harris 48-8 in another district opener Friday. The Wykons finished 7-3.

Gregoire also had an interception early in the third quarter as the Lakes maintained their 14-point cushion.

WEST IRON COUNTY’S Dakota Hawkes (60) looks to line up a block on Lake Linden-Hubbell’s Luke Marcotte as Wykons ball carrier Noah Lewis looks for room to run during the first half Saturday.

West Iron appeared to catch a break midway through the third when senior linebacker Trey Bociek recovered a fumble on its 46-yard line, but the Wykons were unable to capitalize.

Gregoire gave LL-H a 20-0 advantage 58 seconds into the fourth frame on a 27-yard run off left guard.

Bociek got the Wykons on the board with 9:10 left to play when he spinned through the middle on a two-yard QB keeper.

Gregoire scored again just 13 seconds later on a 57-yard dash along the right sideline for a 28-7 advantage.

LL-H’s advantage ballooned to 36-7 midway through the fourth when Gregoire broke off left tackle for a 35-yard score.

“I had good blocking from my teammates,” said Gregoire, who rushed 15 times for 154 yards and three TDs. “The guys blocked pretty good in the first half, but I think they blocked even better in the second half.”

West Iron ended the scoring on Bociek’s five-yard pass to senior tight end Noah Thomson with 3:35 left to play.

The Lakes marched 65 yards on 11 plays during their opening possession, gaining an 8-0 lead on Crouch’s 12-yard aerial to Gregoire midway through the first quarter.

LL-H was on the move during its second possession, then lost a fumble on the Wykons’ 39-yard line.

West Iron then mounted a drive before turning the ball over on downs at the Lakes’ 11.

LL-H compiled 344 yards in total offense. Crouch completed 7-of-10 passes for 96 yards.

West Iron’s offense was limited to 78 yards in the first half, and Bociek, under heavy pressure most of the afternoon, was 1-of-6 passing for nine yards before the intermission.

Bociek finished with six completions in 16 attempts with two interceptions. Senior running back Noah Lewis led the Wykons in rushing with 64 yards on 11 carries.