Pickford Downs Engadine in Homecoming Conference Contest
By David Latva

At left, Pickford High School seniors Krista Harlan and Joe Jenkins were crowned the 2007 Homecoming Queen and King before Pickford High School's football game against Engadine Friday night, October 5.

The Pickford Panthers clinched a playoff berth with their sixth win of the season, owing largely to senior Richard Gibson, who scored five touchdowns and gained more than 200 yards to lead the Panthers to a 44-16 Mid-Eastern Football League win over the Engadine Eagles Friday, October 5.

Gibson scored two first-quarter touchdowns on runs of 12 and 16 yards, and Dylan Rye and Gibson added the twopoint conversions for the Panthers (6-1 overall) for a 16-0 lead at the 8:59 mark.

Eddie Fair recovered a Pickford fumble, which led to John Troyer's one-yard touchdown run for the Eagles (0-7 overall). Phillip Hood and Daron Emery combined on the two-point conversion pass to cut the Panthers lead to 16-8.

Gibson continued his scoring and rushing streak with touchdown runs of 42 and 71 yards in the second quarter and scored on a 49-yard run in the third quarter. Paul Walsh tallied two conversions and Rye added one.

Above, Pickford High School's 2007 Homecoming candidates include (from left, before crowning October 5) Jessica Nasser, Amanda Felty, Holly Wondergem, Krista Harlan, Joe Jenkins, Tyler Bosley, Steven Sherman, and Paul Morrison.

McKinley Portice closed out the scoring for Pickford on a one-yard quarterback sneak.

Phillip Hood scored for the Eagles on a two-yard quarterback run in the closing two minutes of the game.

Panthers offensive stats: Richard Gibson, 10 carries for 230 yards, one reception for five yards; Dylan Rye, eight carries for 130 yards; Paul Walsh, nine carries for 109; McKinley Portice, one of five passing for five yards.

Panthers defensive stats: Richard Gibson, 11 tackles, one interception; Dylan Rye, eight tackles; Mickael Cantin, seven tackles; Zack Mortinsen and McKinley Portice, six tackles; Jordan Potter, five tackles; Joe Jenkins, Ben Eckola, Derrick Leese, four tackles; Paul Walsh, Matt Rose, Kurt Barras, three tackles; Tony Stefanski, Shawn Rader, two tackles; Josh Kibble, Nic Crowder, one tackle.

Richard Gibson Pickford

Eagles offensive stats: Michael Mast, 18 carries for 53 yards; John Troyer, 14 carries for 38 yards, one reception for six yards; Phillip Hood, six carries for 36 yards, two of nine passing for 18 yards; Joel VanHise, seven carries for 20 yards, one reception for 12 yards.

Eagles defensive stats: Ryan Draper and Phillip Hood, seven tackles, fumble recovery; Joel VanHise, six tackles, one interception; Eddie Fair, five tackles, one fumble recovery; John Troyer, Michael Mast, Kevin Woolford, four tackles; Killian Frisch, three tackles; Daron Emery, two tackles, one pass interception.

Phillip Hood Engadine Ryan Draper Engadine