Ishpeming, Michigan – October 14, 2016 – It was an old school, grind it out, 3-yards and a cloud of dust, type of game in Ishpeming on Friday night. The 3-3 Ishpeming Hematites hosted the 6-1 St. Ignace Saints. The Hematites were looking to advance one step closer to an automatic playoff berth.
St. Ignace struck first with 4:52 left in the first quarter when David LaVake took it in from 8 yards out. The Saints took an early 8-0 lead over the Hematites. The Saints then surprised the Hematites when they recovered an onside kick and took possession once again. Then, as they tend to do, the Hematites defense came up big when Wyatt Bodette picked off the Saints to halt the drive.
The Hematites capitalized on the turnover. Just six seconds into the second quarter Tanner Dellangelo ran in for a score from 11 yards out. Ishpeming tied things up at 8-8 after a successful 2-point try. The rest of the quarter proved to be a defensive stalemate. Neither offense was able to get much going.
The game turned in favor of the visitors in the third quarter. The Saints proved to be very efficient in the quarter. They had two possessions and both resulted in touchdowns. With just under 6 minutes left in the quarter Kenney Rickley scored to give the Saints a 16-8 lead. Then with 2:29 left in the frame Saints’ quarterback Steve Seccia found Preston Mayle in the end zone for a touchdown.
The Hematites were not able to match the Saints’ offensive performance in the fourth quarter. Donald Denofre was able to run in for a score with 28 seconds left to tighten things up at 24-16. But with under 30 seconds left in the game, it was too little too late. The Hematites fell to the Saints in a hard-fought battle, 24-16.
The loss drops the Hematites to 3-4 on the year. The Hematites travel to Gwinn next week to take on the Modeltowners Thursday night, October 20th. The Honor Credit Union pregame show is set to start at 6:20pm with kickoff beginning at 7:00pm.
LISTEN – FULL GAME – Ishpeming falls to St. Ignace 24-16
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