Austin St. Louis (11) rushed for a career high 202 yards to lead the Saints to a win over Glen Lake Saturday, October 17. The St. Ignace Saints, playing with a different line-up owing to injuries, played tough-to-defeat Maple City-Glen Lakes Lakers 32- 20 during a non-conference contest at Saints Field Saturday, October 17.

"Everyone played well, especially some young players from the junior varsity," said Saints Coach Marty Spencer. "It was a team effort on offense and defense after losing five players to injuries."

Freshmen Dane Mortensen, Richard Bentley, Wyatt Orm, Dylan Leveille, and Brennan Danielson contributed on offense, defense, or special teams. Mortensen started at offensive center and never had a bad snap. Bentley played noseguard while Orm, Leveille, and Danielson played on special teams.

Cody Swagger recovered the Lakers fumble to set up a five-yard scoring pass from Cole Christiansen to John Evashevski for a 6-0 lead with 42 seconds left in the first quarter. Glen Lake tied the score at 6 on a Tim Hubbell twoyard touchdown at 11:07 of the second quarter.

The Saints’ John Evashevski (32) catches this five-yard scoring pass from Cole Christiansen for the team’s first touchdown. The Saints, 4-4 on the season, took a 12-6 lead at 8:49 of the second quarter on an Austin St. Louis four-yard score, but the Lakers answered with a 50-yard scoring pass from Nate Sneed to Elliot Clark and the visitors added the extra point for a 13-12 offensive edge.

St. Ignace marched 65 yards on eight plays as Caleb Litzner rambled in from eight yards out for an 18-13 advantage with 3:00 remaining in the first half.

The Saints’ defense stopped a potential scoring drive late in the second quarter on a huge quarterback sack by Richard Bentley for a 13 yard loss, ending the first half with St. Ignace leading by five points.

Caleb Litzner gained 162 yards for the Saints rushing attack and totaled 412 yards against Glen Lake. St. Ignace increased the lead to 26-13 at the 8:00 mark of the third quarter as St. Louis, who rushed for a career high 202 yards, scored on a 36-yard run and Christiansen to Evashevski notched the two-point conversion pass.

Turnovers hurt the Saints as Clark recovered a fumble and returned the football 65 yards for the Lakers touchdown. He added the extra point kick to slice the St. Ignace lead to 26-20 with 6:30 left in the game.

Jim Murphy recovered another St. Ignace fumble, but on the third offensive play the Saints’ Grant Simmons intercepted the Lakers pass. Five plays later, St. Louis iced the win on a 21-yard touchdown run for the 12-point victory.

Saints offensive statistics: Austin St. Louis, 23 carries for 202 yards; Caleb Litzner, 22 carries for 162 yards, two receptions for 15 yards; Cole Christiansen, five of seven passing for 33 yards, three carries for 11 yards; Cody Swagger, four carries for 37 yards; John Evashevski, three receptions for 18 yards.

Grant Simmons St. Ignace Saints defensive statistics: Cody Swagger, 14 tackles, one fumble recovery; Dan St. Onge, 13 tackles; Grant Simmons, 12 tackles, one interception, two sacks; Joey Ostman, Austin St. Louis, 11 tackles; John Evashevski, eight tackles; Caleb Litzner, seven tackles; Mike Barthelemy, six tackles; Richard Bentley, three tackles, one sack; Louie Radecki, Curtis St. Louis, three tackles.

The Saints will close out the regular season with a road game at Manistique Friday, October 23.
Cody Swagger St. Ignace