Senior quarterback Gerrit Mortensen (3) passed for 132 yards, rushed for 102 yards, kicked one field goal, and intercepted two Red Devil passes in the Saints win over East Jordan Thursday, September 3. St. Ignace used a balanced offense and defense that bent, but didn't break, to bounce back from a disappointing effort in the earlier season opener, posting a 28-6 nonconference road win over East Jordan at Boswell Stadium Thursday, September 3.

"We played much better as a team than against Charlevoix," said Saints Coach Marty Spencer. "We are getting healthy and that is a positive and makes us better."

The Saints totaled 329 yards of offense, 197 on the ground and 132 in the air, while the defense allowed 292 yards that included 230 rushing and 62 passing. They kept the Red Devils out of the end zone until the closing four minutes of the game.

Gerrit Mortensen was responsible for all of the Saints’ 28 points with two passing touchdowns, two passing touchdowns , one threepoint field goal, and one extra point kick. After a scoreless first quarter, the Saints marched 74 yards on nine plays, with Mortensen scoring from four yards out and kicking the extra point for a 7- 0 lead at the 7:49 mark of the second quarter. Two key plays that led to the score were a 23-yard pass completion from Mortensen to Caleb Litzner and a 22- yard quarterback run.

John Evashevski St. Ignace Mortensen suffered an ankle injury before the season opener and was limited in playing time, especially on the defensive side of the ball. The senior, who didn't play defense against Charlevoix, intercepted two Red Devils passes in the closing 2:20 of the first half. Austin St. Louis’ pass interception lifted Mortensen to a three-yard quarterback sneak and a 13-0 halftime advantage for the Saints.

Joey Ostman St. Ignace St. Ignace increased the lead to 19-0 at 6:58 of the third quarter on a 27-yard scoring pass from Mortensen to Cole Christiansen and Austin St. Louis 42-yard punt return set up a Mortensen 40-yard field goal to give the Saints a 22-0 lead going into the final quarter.

The Saints, 1-1 on the season, closed out their scoring on a Mortensen to St. Louis 11-yard scoring pass early in the fourth quarter before Michael Mumich scored the Red Devils’ only touchdown from one yard out.

The Saints interior offensive line of Luke Thurston at center, Lou Radecki and Nate Montie at guards, and Grant Simmons and Mike Barthelemy at tackles was a key, with blocking up front for the St. Ignace quarterback and running backs.

Saints offensive statistics: Gerrit Mortensen, 10 of 14 passing for 132 yards, nine carries for 102 yards; Austin St. Louis, six receptions for 72 yards, three carries for 30 yards; Caleb Litzner, 13 carries for 47 yards, two receptions for 31 yards; Cole Christiansen, one reception for 27 yards; Evan Everson, four carries for 18 yards, one reception for two yards.

Saints defensive statistics: Dan St. Onge, 16 tackles; Austin St. Louis, 10 tackles, two fumble recoveries; Joey Ostman, John Evashevski, Grant Simmons, eight tackles; Gerrit Mortensen, seven tackles, two interceptions; Mike Barthelemy, Caleb Litzner, and Jimmy Campbell, five tackles; Cole Christiansen, four tackles; Cody Swagger, Jayson Fenlon, Nate Montie, Dylan Rountree, Carl Ingalls, Lou Radecki, Jake Gustafson, and Curtis Gustin, two tackles.

St. Ignace will travel to McBain to face the Ramblers Friday, September 11, with the junior varsity set to kick off at 4 p.m. and the varsity game scheduled for 7 p.m.