ST. IGNACE — Even when they’re not at their best, the Pickford Panthers, more times than not, find a way to rise above it all on the football field.
In a penalty-plagued game that saw them commit multiple turnovers, the Panthers still hammered out a significant victory in a difficult road environment.
Fueled by several big plays and a defense that held firm, the Panthers rolled to a 44-14 win at St. Ignace in a battle of Bridge Alliance 8-Player Conference unbeatens on Friday, Sept. 18.
Here’s some big takeaways from Friday’s showdown in St. Ignace.
Andrzejak, Browne star for Panthers
No matter where he was on the field, Mason Andrzejak was a threat.
On Friday, the Pickford senior star had one of the biggest games of his career, scoring two rushing touchdowns in the first half and intercepting a pass and taking it to the house for a TD to put the Panthers (4-0, 3-0 Bridge Alliance Straits) in control at 28-0 in the third quarter.
Pick a side of the ball — Andrzejak dominated.
“It was a high-stakes game and we were really motivated,” Andrzejak said. “We were coming in here to win, and we all thought that. Not one single person thought we were losing, so that was good.”
Andrzejak’s 3-yard TD run and successful two-point conversion put the Panthers up 8-0, while junior Tyler Browne, who had a two-touchdown night of his own, caught a 45-yard TD pass from senior quarterback Carter Rye, extending Pickford’s lead to 14-0 midway through the second quarter. Andrzejak finished an excellent first half by breaking loose for a 19-yard TD, putting Pickford up 20-0 right before the break.
Andrzejak saved arguably his most impressive play for early in the third with his INT and score, which helped put the Panthers in control at 28-0. Browne got in on the fun by scoring from 56 yards out for a TD and keeping Pickford in command in the fourth.
Saints hang around, but can’t make comeback
While they fell short, St. Ignace (3-1, 1-1) continued to fight and saw some scoring success in the third, when senior quarterback Caden Lester connected with junior Chase Seeley on a 30-yard TD throw, trimming Pickford’s lead to 28-8. In the fourth, the Saints got to within 36-14 after Lester tossed his second TD pass of the game, this time to senior Colt Fettig.
However, that’s the closest the Saints would come to the Panthers, who used their powerful ground game to convert first downs, kill clock, and have offensive success.
Defensively, St. Ignace benefited from an interception by Seeley late in the opening quarter.
Upper hand in the conference
It wasn’t his team’s cleanest performance, especially after the penalties they committed, but Pickford coach Josh Rader saw his team grind through it, improve, and earn the biggest win of any Bridge Alliance team so far this fall.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game, all four quarters, and we talked about it all week is being mentally tough,” Rader said. “We knew there were going to be swings, and there were, and our guys bounced back. It’s all about preparing for that moment, and we knew they were going to make adjustments, and we’d make adjustments. (St. Ignace). That’s a good team.”
A one-yard TD plunge from Rye late in the fourth rounded out a solid offensive night for the Panthers, who have the upper hand early in the conference campaign.
“This is one of those games that during the year, in the preseason, you circle the game and know that it’s going to be tough,” Rader said. “We knew St. Ignace was going to be good this year, and so you just prepare for it, and it’s a big win. It’s one of those wins that helps propel your team forward. You want to take steps every week, but when you get a big win against a tough team, it helps you to strive forward.”
Pickford continues league play when it hosts Newberry at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25.
St. Ignace travels to face Inland Lakes at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25.
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