The Saints marching band under the direction of Jason Byma, with more than 60 musicians, performing during pre-game of the St. Ignace/Newberry matchup Friday, October 9. The band also played at halftime. Downfall as Saints Drop

SFL Contest

St. Ignace was plagued with four turnovers and three Saints players suffered game-ending injuries in the first half, leading to a 28-14 Straits Football League (SFL) setback at the hands of the Newberry Indians Friday, October 9.

The Saints, 3-4 on the season, saw their playoff hopes snatched away and the SFL title will have to be shared with the Rudyard Bulldogs as both teams complete the season with 2-1 league records.

The injuries for St. Ignace came early as Nate Montie and Evan Everson suffered ankle injuries and Gerrit Mortensen sustained a right shoulder injury in the first 20 minutes.

Austin St. Louis St. Ignace The Montie and Mortensen injuries may possibly end their playing seasons, while Everson’s participation is questionable for the Saturday, October 17, contest against Maple City-Glen Lake.

Newberry came into the game at 0-6 overall, but the Indians played very well and dominated the play in the first half, running 37 offensive plays to the Saints 22.

The Indians took their possession and drove 78 yards on 18 plays as Lance Pinter scored from five yards out. The running back added the two-point conversion for a 8-0 lead with 1:35 left in the first quarter.

The Indians’ Aaron Stachnik recovered four St. Ignace fumbles and his first recovery set up a Steven Pinter two-yard touchdown for a 14-0-halftime advantage.

Cole Christiansen’s pass interception gave the Saints new life. Eight plays later, Austin St. Louis dashed 14 yards to cut the Indians lead to 14-6 at the 4:39 mark of the third quarter.

Mike Barthelemy St. Ignace Dan St. Onge recovered the Newberry fumble on the Indians’ next possession, but the Saints offense was stalled and the team couldn't take advantage of the play.

Newberry took possession. Following a 54-yard pass completion from John Schummer to Mike Looby, Steven Pinter scored on a four-yard run and Lance Pinter notched the two-point conversion for a 22-6 lead. A Stachnik fumble recovery set up Steven Pinter's third touchdown on a five-yard run to extend the Indians’ lead to 28-6.

The Saints closed out the scoring on a seven-yard scoring pass from Christiansen to Joey Ostman. St. Louis added the two-point conversion.

Saints offensive statistics: Austin St. Louis, six receptions for 92 yards, 11 carries for 55 yards, one pass completion for 25 yards; Gerrit Mortensen, six of seven for 77 yards, three carries for 35 yards; Caleb Litzner, four receptions for 54 yards, eight carries for 34 yards; Cole Christiansen, six of 12 passing for 83 yards, one reception for 25 yards, two carries for seven yards; Evan Everson, three carries for 27 yards; Joey Ostman, one reception for seven yards; John Evashevski, one reception for seven yards; Cody Swagger, one carry for two yards.

Mackinac County Sheriff Scott Strait (left) and St. Ignace Police Chief Tim Matelski after the Cedarville high school football team defeated St. Ignace 28-20 Friday, October 2. Last year, the Saints downed the Trojans and Sheriff Strait had to wear a St. Ignace jersey, but this year, Chief Matelski had to sport a Cedarville jersey, the outcome of a friendly wager between the two. Saints defensive statistics: Dan St. Onge, 14 tackles, one fumble recovery; Austin St. Louis, 13 tackles; John Evashevski, 10 tackles; Grant Simmons, nine tackles; Caleb Litzner, seven tackles, one fumble recovery; Joey Ostman, Carl Ingalls, Mike Barthelemy, four tackles; Louie Radecki, Gerrit Mortensen, Cody Swagger, three tackles; Cole Christiansen, two tackles, one pass interception.

Jeremy Sherlund Cedarville Indians offensive statistics: John Schummer, six of 12 passing for 128 yards, three carries for 14 yards; Steven Pinter, 22 carries for 83 yards; Lance Pinter, 13 carries for 75 yards; Jordan Davis, four receptions for 58 yards; Mike Looby, one reception for 56 yards; Tyler Brow, one reception for 14 yards.

Saints Varsity Football

Game Time Changes

The St. Ignace Saints will entertain Maple City Glen-Lake Saturday, October 17, with the kickoff rescheduled for 1 p.m., it was originally scheduled for 3 p.m. There will no junior varsity game, owing to the Lakers not having enough players. Trojans Drop First Regular

Season Game Since 2006

The Cedarville Trojans, playing at home, dropped their first regular season and Mid-Eastern Football League (MEFL) game since 2006 when the North Dickinson Nordics handed the Trojans a 50-14 setback Friday, October 9.

The Trojans, 6-1 overall and 4-1 in the conference, had posted undefeated regular season records during 2007 and 2008 and were perfect in the first six games before the Nordics clinched the conference championship. The last setback by the Trojans was the final game of the regular season at North Dickinson in 2006.

The Nordics, presenting a huge line with players averaging more than 250 pounds, rushed for 531 yards en route to the league win.

North Dickinson took a 14-0 lead after the first quarter before Zach McFarlane scored on a sixyard run and Ian Burton kicked the extra point to cut the Nordics’ lead to 14-7 at the 8:22 mark of the second quarter.

The Nordics answered for a 20- 7 advantage, but on the ensuing kickoff Tyler Anderson returned the football 85 yards and Burton added the extra point for a 20-14 score.

North Dickinson sent the game into halftime at 28-14 after scoring its fourth touchdown with 1:13 left in the half, and closed out the game with three second-half touchdowns.

Trojans offensive statistics: Ian Burton, seven of 17 passing for 73 yards, 10 carries for 27 yards; Tyler Anderson, 12 carries for 47 yards, three receptions for 30 yards; Zach McFarlane, 11 carries for 39 yards, two receptions for 25 yards; Charlie Nelson, one reception for 10 yards; Jeremy Sherlund, one reception for eight yards.

Trojans defensive statistics: Zach McFarlane, 12 tackles; Michael Kenny, 10 tackles, one fumble recovery; Patrick Duman, 10 tackles; Tyler Anderson, nine tackles, one pass interception; Jake Strait, six tackles.

Nordics offensive statistics: Max Smith, 192 rushing yards; Mike Miller, 176 rushing yards.