Lake Linden-Hubbell's Brady Axford (5) finds daylight in an MHSAA Division 2 playoff game Saturday against North Central at Ron Werner Field in Lake Linden. (Eddie O’Neill photo)

LAKE LINDEN — For the second time this season, the Lake Linden-Hubbell Lakes defeated the North Central Jets on the gridiron. Their first meeting was a month ago at North Central. That one ended 52-34 in favor of the Lakes.

Saturday, the Lakes did it again with a 52-28 victory at Ron Warner Field, and this one was more meaningful as it was an 8-Player Division 2 Region 1 semifinal game.

“November football feels great,” said a smiling Lakes coach Brett Gervais. “I am really proud of the guys. They played their tails off. They are finding ways to get better game by game and we are happy to be moving on.”

The Jets opened the scoring with a seven-play, 42-yard drive that ended in a touchdown run by Nathan Pipkorn at the seven-minute mark.

The Lakes countered with six of their own, courtesy of Josh Daavettila, who charged into the end zone on a 46-yard run. Daavettila was back at it minutes later with a 44-yard run and touchdown after a Lukas Axford interception. The two-point conversion was good and the Lakes led 14-6.

The Jets tied it at 14 with a 60-yard touchdown run by Pipkorn with less than a minute to go in the first.

The Lakes outscored the Jets 22-8 in the second quarter. This included two touchdowns by quarterback Brady Axford and another one by his brother Lukas.

Brady Axford led the rushing attack with 208 yards, including four touchdowns. Daavettila followed with 17 carries on the ground for a total of 129 yards and two touchdowns.

The Lakes led 36-22 at half.

“At the half, I told the guys to keep doing what they were doing,” said Gervais. “And we did.”

Both teams scored six in the third. Brady Axford scampered in for 13 yards for the Lakes at the 8:01 mark. Less than two minutes later, the Jets’ Riley Cretens took it 33 yards to the end zone.

The Lakes added the only scoring in the fourth with a 40-yard pass play. The two-point conversion was successful, and this one ended 50-28.

“Game ball goes to our offensive line,” said coach Gervais. “They did a great job.”

With the win, the Lakes will face North Dickinson for the regional final on Saturday at North Dickinson.