Gerrit Mortensen (3) completes this 34-yard scoring pass to Anthony Lester (7), while Rob Robinson (30) and Lance DeKeyser (60) throw key blocks during the Saints 43-22 win over Charlevoix. The St. Ignace Saints football team took advantage of three Charlevoix turnovers during the first seven minutes of the third quarter and turned a three-point halftime lead into a 23-point advantage en route to a 43-22 non-conference win over the host Rayders at Kipke Field Friday, August 29.

"Overall I was pleased with our effort," said Saints Coach Marty Spencer. "We played much better in the second half on both sides of the ball."

The Saints took a 3-0 lead at 4:43 of the first quarter on a Gerrit Mortensen 15-yard field goal, but the Rayders answered with a Clayton Mitchell one-yard quarterback sneak, for a 6-3 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

After the ensuing kickoff, St. Ignace players took possession on their own 33-yard line and marched 67 yards on seven plays as Rob Robinson plunged over from three yards out to take a 9-6 lead at 10:07 of the second quarter.

Rob Robinson (with football) crosses over the goal line for the Saints' first touchdown of the season, from three yards out. James Halberg's fumble recovery jump started the Saints to a 17-6 lead. Anthony Lester caught the 34-yard scoring pass from Mortensen and a Lester to Robinson two-point conversion built the lead to 11 points, but the Rayders cut the margin to 17-14 at halftime with a 14-yard scoring pass from Mitchell to Jon Putman, and a two-point conversion pass to Brock Yenglin.

Austin St. Louis and Tyler Oja intercepted passes and Andy Tamlyn's fumble recovery spearheaded touchdown runs from Robinson (10 yards) and Lester (32 yards), and a 24-yard scoring pass from Mortensen to St. Louis during the first seven minutes of the third quarter, to extend the Saints lead to 37-14.

Two minutes later, Charlevoix scored on a 19-yard pass completion from Mitchell to Putman and a conversion pass to Yenglin to cut the Saints lead to 37-22 after three quarters. St. Ignace closed out the offense inside the threeminute mark of the fourth quarter on a St. Louis 47-yard scoring run.

John Evashevski St. Ignace Saints offensive statistics: Gerrit Mortensen, 10 of 18 passing for 203 yards, six carries for 26 yards, two extra point kicks; Rob Robinson, 14 carries for 137 yards, three receptions for 34 yards; Austin St. Louis, eight carries for 81 yards, three receptions for 72 yards; Anthony Lester, two receptions for 51 yards, two carries for 39 yards, one pass completion for three yards; Steffan Saffian, one reception for 19 yards; Caleb Litzner, four carries for 10 yards; Tyler Oja, three carries for four yards.

Saints defensive statistics: John Evashevski, 15 tackles; Billy Grogan, 10 tackles, one quarterback sack; Tyler Oja and Austin St. Louis, six tackles, one interception; Andy Tamlyn, six tackles, one fumble recovery; Steffan Saffian, six tackles; Anthony Lester, four tackles, one pass interception; James Halberg, four tackles, one fumble recovery; Lance DeKeyser, four tackles; Rob Robinson, two tackles, one quarterback sack; Gerrit Mortensen, Dan St. Onge, Bob LaDuke, Lucas Thurston, two tackles and Cole Christiansen, two tackles.

The Saints defense held the Rayders to 73 yards on the ground, while Clayton Mitchell completed 18 of 35 passing for 226 yards.

St. Ignace will host East Jordan in parents night Friday, September 5, at Saints Field, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.

Former Saints Coach

in Charlevoix

Former St. Ignace coach John Soderman attended to watch the Saints battle Charlevoix Friday, August 29. Mr. Soderman coached the Saints basketball and football teams from 1959-60 to 1963-64, and is a member of the Michigan Coaches Hall of Fame and Michigan Track Hall of Fame.