St. Ignace Saints 5-0, Qualify for Playoffs With 20-6 Win Over Rudyard
By David Latva

Seniors Jaimee Bloxsom and Derek Marshall were crowned 2007 LaSalle High School homecoming queen and king during halftime ceremonies at Saints Field Friday, September 21.

The St. Ignace Saints (5-0 overall) will be making their 11th trip to the Michigan High School Athletic Association playoffs after recording their fifth consecutive win of the season during a 20-6 Straits Area Conference victory over the Rudyard Bulldogs during homecoming Friday, September 21, at Saints Field.

St. Ignace needed five victories with an eight-game schedule to qualify for the playoffs, and opened the season with wins over Charlevoix, East Jordan, Newberry, and Rogers City, and Rudyard.

The Saints took advantage of six Bulldogs turnovers during Friday's game.

The Saints are 2-0 in the SAC and remain the only undefeated team in the five-team conference. The Saints will play rival Cheboygan Chiefs (4-1 overall, 2-0 SAC) at home Friday, September 28, a match-up of the top two SAC teams.

"We are in the playoffs, but maybe a little banged up," said Coach Spencer after the Rudyard game. "The defense played outstanding, especially our pass coverage. The offensive line did a great job of blocking and the running backs found the holes. This was a total team effort."

James Peterson (right) gains yardage after receiving this first half pass against Rudyard. Andy Tamlyn (55) blocks for the senior receiver.

The offensive line of center Nate Tamlyn, guards Nick Montie and Derek Marshall, tackles Andy Tamlyn and James Halberg, and ends James Peterson and Alec Fitzgerald have been outstanding all season, Coach Spencer said.

The Saints defense picked off six of Rudyard's passes, with Gerrit Mortensen owning three of the interceptions, while Shawn Cowell intercepted two, and Anthony Lester, one.

The first 12 minutes were scoreless until St. Ignace scored at 10:34 of the second quarter on a 15-yard shovel pass from Mortensen to James Peterson. Andy Tamlyn kicked the extra point for a 7-0 lead.

"Gerrit doesn't panic and, on that play, showed his true athletic ability," said Coach Spencer.

The Saints form a victory huddle with coaches Marty Spencer and Les Therrian after the 20-6 win over the Bulldogs, qualifying St. Ignace for a playoff berth.

Lester's pass interception shut down a potential Rudyard scoring drive on the Bulldogs' next possession. Late in the first half, Mortensen's second interception sparked the Saints to a Cowell oneyard touchdown, with Tamlyn adding the extra point for a 14-0 lead with 1:24 left in the first half. Cowell ended the second quarter with the Saints fourth interception of the first half.

Two key plays took place during the next two possessions. The Saints defense held the Bulldogs on a fourth-and-two situation as Cowell knocked down the pass attempt. St. Ignace took over and, facing a third-and-12, turned the ball over on an interception by the Bulldogs Craig Wallis, who returned the ball to the Saints' 45- yard line.

There were two penalties on the play. as Rudyard was flagged for roughing the passer. while St. Ignace was tagged for a personal foul after the interception. The referees discussed the play and after both penalties were enforced, the Saints regained possession at the Rudyard 23-yard line.

Jesse Becker St. Ignace

After St. Ignace missed a 22- yard field goal, the Bulldogs, on the first play from scrimmage, took advantage of good field position as Peter Lawlor, who led the Rudyard offense with 142 yards on 10 carries, dashed 80 yards up the middle to cut the Saints lead to 14- 6 with 11:37 remaining in the game.

St. Ignace 's next possession went just four downs, however, Cowell's second interception at the Rudyard 36-yard line set up a Jesse Becker two-yard touchdown to increase the Saints lead to 20-6 at 5:02 Mortensen intercepted his third Bulldog pass to end Rudyard's final offensive threat.

Seniors Jesse Becker and Derek Marshall led the Saints on both sides of the ball as Becker rushed for 127 yards and Marshall earned 11 tackles.

"This team has played with a lot of heart all season and we believe in each other," said Becker. "This season, the offense and defense has played outstanding."

"We came together during the first three days of camp at the Superior Dome," said Marshall. "There was a lot riding on this game with a playoff berth, homecoming, and playing Rudyard. We wanted this win."

Peter Lawlor Rudyard

St. Ignace totaled 319 yards of offense, while Rudyard tallied 209 yards.

During halftime ceremonies, seniors Jaimee Bloxsom and Derek Marshall were crowned LaSalle High School's homecoming queen and king.

The previous 10 playoff appearances for the Saints at the MHSAA playoffs were in 1983, 1984, and 1985, all with Coach Barry Pierson, with Coach Bob Dilday in 1988, with Coach Charlie Otlewski in 1992 and 1993, with Pierson in 1996, and with Marty Spencer in 2000, 2002, 2003, and 2007.

Saints offensive

St. Ignace

stats: Jesse Becker, 23 carries for 127 yards; Gerrit Mortensen, seven of nine passing for 97 yards; Shawn Cowell, 17 carries for 57 yards; Kyle Smock, 12 carries for 41 yards, one reception for 23 yards; Anthony Lester, seven receptions for 47 yards, two carries for three yards; James Peterson, three receptions for 23 yards; Rob Robinson, three carries for five yards, one reception for four yards.

Saints defensive stats: Derek Marshall, 11 tackles; Alec Fitzgerald, 10 tackles and one sack; Nick Montie, seven tackles; James Halberg and James Peterson five tackles; Shawn Cowell (two interceptions) and Antony Lester (one interception), four tackles; Steffan Saffian, three tackles and one sack; and Gerrit Mortensen (three interceptions), Kyle Smock, Nathan Thompson, and Lance DeKeyser, two tackles.

Bulldogs offensive stats: Peter Lawlor, 10 carries for 142 yards and two receptions for 27 yards; Josh McCollum, five of 18 passing for 61 yards; James Perry, four carries for 17 yards, one reception for 13 yards; Jeff Briggs, one reception for 17 yards; Todd Anderson, one reception for four yards.

Bulldogs defensive stats: Aaron Diepenhorst, 16 tackles; Craig Wallis, 10 tackles; Jacob McMillan nine; Peter Lawlor eight.

St. Ignace will entertain Cheboygan in a key SAC contest, while Rudyard will travel to Rogers City to take on the Hurons Friday, September 28.