The Saints quarterback Cole Christiansen (10) receives the snap from center Dane Mortensen (69) as left guard Nate Montie (54) and Mortensen prepare to block attacking defensive linemen. The St. Ignace defense and running backs Jordan Baker of Cedarville, Charlie Halsey of Pickford, and Jared Clark of Rudyard excelled during the first week of the gridiron season.

Two Goal Line Stands Lift Saints To Non-League Win

Over Rayders

St. Ignace scored 13 first-half points and the Saints’ defense held the Charlevoix Rayders out of the end zone on two crucial goal-line stands en route to a 13-6 non-conference road win during the season opener Friday, August 27.

"The two goal-line stands were huge," said Saints coach Marty Spencer. "We played well at times, but still have to work on parts of our game."

Senior Caleb Litzner dashed 74 yards to score the Saints first touchdown of the season at the 6:20 mark of the first quarter and John Eby kicked the extra point for a 7-0 lead.

The Saints’ Caleb Litzner (30) avoids the Rayders’ Dylan Putman (5) and Jake McLean (21) during the 74-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. St. Ignace posted a 13-6 win over Charlevoix in the season opener Friday, August 27. Early in the second quarter, St. Ignace marched 71 yards on 11 plays using more than five minutes, and Litzner answered from seven yards out for a 13-0 advantage with 5:45 remaining in the first half.

Charlevoix, a member of the Lake Michigan Conference, took possession and drove to the two yard line with 1.8 seconds on the clock, but on the final play of the second quarter, Levi Thompson stuffed the Rayders’ ball carrier as time expired and St. Ignace went into halftime with a 13-point lead.

Levi Thompson, St. Ignace The Rayders’ John Boss scored at 5:12 of the third quarter from four yards out to cut the St. Ignace lead to 13-6.

Charlevoix's offense used more than nine minutes to start the fourth quarter, driving to the 9- yard line for a first-and-goal situation. The Rayders gained seven yards on two running plays for a third-and-goal from the 2-yard line before Nate Montie and Austin St. Louis combined to tackle the Charlevoix running back for a two yard loss.

The Rayders facing a fourthand four at the 4-yard line attempted to run a sweep around the right end, but the St. Ignace trio of Grant Simmons, Cody Swagger, and St. Louis stalled the Charlevoix potential winning scoring run and the Saints offense sealed the final 2:18 for the win.

The Saints and Rayders played mistake-free football.

Saints offensive statistics: Caleb Litzner, eight carries for 102 yards, one reception for nine yards; Galloway Thurston, nine carries for 63 yards; Austin St. Louis, nine carries for 52 yards, four punts for a 33-yard average; Cole Christiansen, one of seven passing for nine yards.

Jordan Baker, Cedarville Saints combined tackles/assists: Grant Simmons and Nate Montie, 15; Austin St. Louis 11; Joe Ostman 10; Curtis St. Louis six; Galloway Thurston five; Carl Ingalls, Richard Bentley, and Levi Thompson four; Louie Radecki and Parker Simmons three; Luke Thurston and Caleb Litzner two.

St. Ignace will host East Jordan in parents night at Saints Field Thursday, September 2, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.

Baker Part of Six Touchdowns

In Trojans Win Over Bays Senior quarterback Jordan Baker passed for two touchdowns, rushed for two scores, and returned two punts for touchdowns to carry the Cedarville Trojans to a 58-0 nonleague home win over the Brimley Bays Friday, August 27.

Charlie Halsey, Pickford "Everyone played well and I was pleased with the effort for the first game," said Trojans Coach Scott Barr.

Baker scored on two touchdown runs of nine and five yards and completed a 27-yard scoring pass to Ian Burton. Burton kicked two extra points to give the Trojans a 20-0 lead.

Cedarville added five touchdowns in the second quarter for a 52-0 halftime advantage. Baker returned punts of 46 and 44 yards for scores, Matt Hill scored from 12 yards out and caught a 12-yard scoring pass from Baker, Jeremy Sherlund rushed 26 yards for the touchdown, and Brandon Melcer closed out the scoring for the Trojans with a four yard run in the fourth quarter.

Trojans offensive statistics: Jordan Baker, six of nine passing for 195 yards, two touchdowns, five carries for 46 yards; Matt Hill, three receptions for 114 yards, seven carries for 36 yards, one touchdown; Ian Burton, two receptions for 50 yards, two carries for 10 yards; Jeremy Sherlund, nine carries for 57 yards; Charlie Nelson, one reception for 30 yards.

Trojans defensive statistics: Michael Kenny, 14 tackles; Patrick Duman and Jake Strait, seven tackles; Jeremy Sherlund, six tackles, one pass interception; Jordan Baker, one pass interception.

The Trojans will host the Stephenson Eagles with the kickoff set for 7 p.m. Thursday, September 2.

Halsey Scores Five Touchdowns To Lead Panthers Over Rockets

Senior Charlie Halsey rushed for 286 yards and scored five touchdowns to lead the Pickford Panthers to a 48-24 Mid-Eastern Football League road win over the Rapid River Rockets Friday, August 27.

The Panthers opened up a 22-0 advantage as Halsey scored on 40 and 39 touchdown runs, Adam Taylor completed a 36-yard scoring pass to Jarred LaVigne, and Seth Gruenberg and Jordan LaVigne added two-point conversions.

Rapid River cut the Pickford lead to 22-16 with two secondquarter touchdowns before Pickford closed out the first-half, scoring 18 unanswered points on two Halsey touchdowns, two Gruenberg conversion runs, and a twopoint safety recorded by the Panthers defense for a 40-16 halftime score.

The team traded touchdowns in the second half as the Rockets scored in the third quarter and Halsey completed the offense with a fourth quarter score and Gruenberg's fourth two-point conversion.

Panthers offensive statistics: Charlie Halsey, 18 carries for 286 yards; Jordan LaVigne, 15 carries for 86 yards, one reception for eight yards; Seth Gruenberg, 13 carries for 74 yards; Adam Taylor, two of four passing for 44 yards; Jarred LaVigne, one reception for 36 yards.

Panthers defensive statistics: Tyler Kauffman, 10 tackles; Jared Bush, seven tackles; Kyle Decker, six tackles; Matt McBain and Charlie Halsey, five tackles, Jacob Eddy, Jarred LaVigne, and Jordan LaVigne (interception), four tackles; Seth Gruenberg and Jason Hill, three tackles; Tim Stallman, Cody Becks, and Ryan McBride, two tackles, and Mike Decker, one tackle.

Pickford will host the Bark River-Harris Broncos in a Mid- Eastern Football League contest Friday, September 3.