Saints defensive players Grant Simmons (76), Rob Robinson (30), Stefan Saffian (84), and Tyler Oja (28) converge on the Trojans' offensive back. The St. Ignace Saints' first bid for a semifinal appearance in the football playoffs since 1996 came to a disappointing end with a 30-26 setback to the Crystal Falls-Forest Park (CFFP) Trojans, the defending Division 8 state champions, in the regional finals at the Superior Dome in Marquette Saturday, November 15.

"This was a tough defeat to swallow, especially for the seniors," said Saints Coach Marty Spencer. "They have proved their leadership roles throughout the season and that was a key factor in our success."

The Saints (9-3 overall) fell behind early during the first 4:30 of the game as the Trojans (12-0 overall) raced out to a 16-0 lead.

On the third play of the game, Josh Siler rambled 64 yards for the touchdown and the junior added a two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead.

On the ensuing kickoff, Taylor Bartczak recovered a Saints fumble. Six plays later, Siler plunged over from the two-yard line for another touchdown and converted a two pointer to build a 16-0 advantage before St. Ignace ran its first offensive play of the game.

Austin St. Louis (11) hauls in a shovel pass and dashes 40 yards for the Saints' second touchdown of the game. "We dug ourselves into a hole, but this team never has 'quit' in their vocabulary," added Spencer.

Tyler Oja recovered a Trojans' fumble on CFFP's next series at the Trojans' 16-yard line. Rob Robinson rushed for 12 yards and Gerrit Mortensen carried the final four yards for the Saints' first touchdown to cut the lead to 16-6 at the 3:30 mark of the first quarter.

CFFP lost the services of Josh Siler to an injury on the next possession, but Jim Wheeler stepped up to lead the Trojans' offense for the remainder of the game.

On the second play of the second quarter, Mortensen and Austin St. Louis combined on a 40-yard shovel pass for a Saints touchdown. Mortensen kicked an extra point to close the gap to 16- 13.

The Trojans answered with a 14-play, 71-yard drive as Wheeler scored from nine yards out for a 22-13 lead with 5:11 remaining in the first half.

Ronnie France (57) and Gunnar Zipp combined to make a stop against the Trojans. France recovered two fumbles that led to touchdowns and Zipp recorded a school record 34 tackles. St. Ignace turned a 65-yard march into their third touchdown to cut the Trojans' lead to 22-20 at halftime as Mortensen and St. Louis hooked up on a 29-yard scoring pass with 2:13 remaining in the first half.

The Trojans put together a potential scoring drive before halftime before the St. Ignace defense held CFFP on downs inside the Saints' 35-yard line, with 14 seconds remaining before halftime.

The Trojans defense opened the second half by collecting a pass interception, however, the turnover didn't hurt the Saints as a Trojans offensive drive stalled.

After the Saints failed to move the ball, St. Ignace was forced to punt on its next possession. Mortensen booted a 44-yard kick and junior Ronnie France recovered a Trojans' fumble 19 yards away from the end zone.

Saints Coach Marty Spencer talks to quarterback Gerrit Mortensen during a second-half timeout. St. Ignace took its first and only lead (26-22) of the game on another shovel pass from Mortensen to St. Louis, this time from 11 yards out. The two point conversion pass fell incomplete.

The Saints' lead was shortlived as the Trojans returned the ensuing kickoff to their own 44- yard line. Four plays later, Bob Reid scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak and the senior added a two-point conversion to give the Trojans a 30-26 edge.

The St. Ignace punting game set up an opportunity for the Saints to score the go-ahead touchdown as Mortensen boomed a 52-yard punt and, for the second time, France recovered a Trojans' fumble at the CFFP's 35-yard line.

The Trojans were flagged for a pass interference that put the ball at the 20-yard line but, after three plays of small yards gained, the Saints turned the ball over on a fumble that the Trojans recovered at the 13-yard line.

The Trojans offense then focused on winding the clock down, starting with three plays to end the third quarter and 18 plays into the final period, using up 9:40 before the Saints offense had a chance again with 2:20 left in the game.

St. Ignace Assistant Coach Les Therrian talks with his defensive team during second half action. St. Ignace ran four plays, failing to pick up a first down and that ended the Saints 9-3 season.

"This was an amazing season as every player used their athleticism to their fullest. I was pleased with the way the older players accepted the younger players and that was a huge key to our success," added Spencer.

Seniors on the Saints team include Tyler Mapes, Anthony Lester, Kyle Smock, Andy Tamlyn, Tyler Oja, Rob Robinson, Bob LaDuke, Lance DeKeyser, James Halberg, Bill Grogan, Stefan Saffian, and Frank Beaudoin.

Coach Spencer and his staff will have 20 players from the regional final roster returning for the 2009 campaign.

Crystal Falls-Forest Park dominated on the offensive side with 81 plays to St. Ignace's 41 and tallied 401 yards to the Saints' 208 yards.

Saints offensive statistics: Gerrit Mortensen, 10 of 20 passing for 134 yards, three touchdowns, six carries for 20 yards, one touchdown; Austin St. Louis, five receptions for 105 yards, three touchdowns; Rob Robinson, nine carries for 41 yards, two receptions for 17 yards; Caleb Litzner, three carries for 13 yards, one reception for six yards; Anthony Lester, two receptions for six yards, one carry for five yards.

The St. Ignace Saints marching band drum corps, under the direction of Jason Byma, performed during halftime of the St. Ignace-Crystal Falls football game in the Superior Dome. Members include (from left) Michael Wilk, Sarah Cullip, Devin Chargo, Stacy Goldthorpe, Joe Snowaert, Brandon West, Samantha Radecki, Dustin Mckenzie, Abby Chambers, Andrea Perry, Corey Moses, and Andy Mullins. Saints defensive statistics: Gunnar Zipp, school record 34 tackles; Tyler Oja, 15 tackles, one fumble recovery; Austin St. Louis, 15 tackles; James Halberg, 11 tackles; Lance DeKeyser, 10 tackles; Billy Grogan and John Evashevski, eight tackles; Stefan Saffian, Carl Ingalls, Anthony Lester, and Tyler Mapes, five tackles; Ronnie France, two tackles, two fumble recoveries; Jake Gustafson, Cole Christiansen, and Gerrit Mortensen, two tackles.

Saints defensive players Carl Ingalls (58), Tyler Mapes (1), and Bob LaDuke (54). Trojans offensive statistics: Jim Wheeler, 30 carries for 175 yards, one touchdown; Josh Siler, nine carries for 101 yards, two touchdowns, two conversion runs; Bob Reid, 10 carries for 51 yards; Mick Valesano, 11 carries for 57 yards.

No defensive statistics were available from the Trojans.

A Look at the Semifinals

Undefeated Crystal Falls-Forest Park is the only team from the Upper Peninsula remaining in the playoffs after the regional finals.

The Trojans will take on Frankfort (11-1) in the Division 8 semifinals at the Superior Dome Saturday, November 22.

The other Division 8 semifinal match-up is Muskegon Catholic Central (12-0) against Beal City (11-1), which will be played in Cedar Springs next Saturday, as well.

Caleb Litzner (4) and Tyler Oja (28) bring down Trojans player Jim Wheeler. Gladstone lost to Standish- Sterling 41-33, Kingsford suffered a double-overtime defeat to Grand Rapids Catholic Central 42-35, and Iron Mountain fell to Montague 33- 13.

Seniors (from left) Kyle Smock, Anthony Lester, Tyler Oja, and Andy Tamlyn walk to midfield for the final flip of the coin of their high school football careers during the regional finals at Northern Michigan University's Superior Dome in Marquette. This group of St. Ignace boosters proudly display their signs for their Saints team. St. Ignace Saints fans (from left) Dana Schieding, Kali Jo Marshall, Holly Smith, and Christi Therrian are clad in Saints colors to support their football team. A LaSalle High School student section cheers on the Saints.