Callie Smith and Mckinley Portice were crowned Homecoming King and Queen during the football game Friday, October 9. Pickford Moves One Win

From Playoff Berth

The Pickford Panthers, 5-2 on the season and 4-1 in the Mid- Eastern Football League (MEFL), moved one win away from a playoff berth with a 41-20 league decision over the Engadine Eagles Friday, October 9.

The Panthers two remaining contests are MEFL road games against Cedarville Friday, October 16, and North Dickinson Friday, October 23.

Pickford scored four first-quarter touchdowns as Dylan Rye opened the offense with a nine-yard score and Jordan Lavigne added the twopoint conversion for an 8-0 lead.

Lavigne scored on a 44-yard run and returned a pass interception 42 yards to build the Panthers lead to 20-0. Jacob Eddy closed out the first-half scoring with a five-yard scoring pass from Rye. Charlie Halsey tallied the two-point conversion for a 28-0 halftime advantage.

Members of the Pickford Homecoming court are (from left) Alison Rader, Jesse Streiter, Amanda Brancecum, Glen Cottle, Kelsie Brown, Ilya Afanasyev, Callie Smith, and Mckinley Portice. Homecoming was Friday, October 9. (Photograph courtesy of Pickford Yearbook) Ryan McBride and Halsey completed the scoring for Pickford with one-yard touchdown runs and Eddy kicked the extra point.

Phillip Hood scored the Eagles’ three touchdowns on a 23-yard run, five-yard run, and rambled 94 yards for the final score. Michael Klobucher kicked two extra points.

Panthers offensive statistics: Jordan Lavigne, 18 carries for 157 yards; Dylan Rye, 17 carries for 106 yards, one reception for five yards; Charlie Halsey, 12 carries for 75 yards; Jacob Eddy, three of seven passing for 32 yards; Seth Gruenberg, four carries for 36 yards; Ryan McBride, five carries for 32 yards; Matt Beard, two receptions for 27 yards.

Panthers defensive statistics: Tyler Kauffman, six tackles; Charlie Halsey, four tackles, two fumble recoveries; Dylan Rye, four tackles, one pass interception; Cody Becks, Matt Beard, Ben Eckola, four tackles; Jacob Eddy, Jon Kelly, Ryan McBride, three tackles; Jordan Lavigne, two tackles, two pass interceptions.

Eagles offensive statistics: Phillip Hood, 13 carries for 158 yards, six of 10 passing for 64 yards; Michael Klobucher, five receptions for 29 yards; Jeff Dishaw, one reception for 35 yards.

Eagles defensive statistics: Michael Klobucher, 18 tackles, one fumble recovery; David Fowell, 15 tackles, two pass interceptions; Kyle Franklin, 15 tackles; Phillip Hood, 13 tackles; Michael Sawyer, 11 tackles; Ken Oven, nine tackles; Jeff Dishaw, six tackles; Bob Laverty, five tackles; Cody Flatt, four tackles.

The Eagles will close out the season with home games against Rapid River Friday, October 16, and Brimley, Friday, October 23.