SPORTS

Blue Devils play host to No. 1 ranked Gladiators

Rob Roos
The Sault News
Ryan LaPlaunt of Sault High (34) runs up the middle against St. Ignace in the season opener. Sault High plays its final regular season home game against Traverse City St. Francis this Friday night.

SAULT STE. MARIE — The No. 1-ranked team in the state in Division 7 is coming to town Friday night.

Sault High (4-2) plays host to the Traverse City St. Francis Gladiators (6-0) in a Northern Michigan Football League Legends Division game. Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Van Citters Field.

“They’ve been playing at a high level all season,” Sault High coach Scott Menard said of the Gladiators. “We’ve played well too but haven’t been able to win the close games. We’re the underdog and probably not too many people around the state are picking us to win this one. It’s up to us to find a way to step up to the challenge.”

The Blue Devils fell in an offensive shootout, 36-32, at Grayling last week. Sault quarterback Jakob Davie had a career night with four touchdown passes and one rushing TD. But it wasn’t enough as Grayling countered with its own dynamic plays. The teams traded touchdowns for four quarters but Grayling scored last and emerged with the win.

Giving up the big play has been costly for the Blue Devils in their two losses. Grayling’s David Milliken had a 64-yard TD run, while Kingsley’s Connor Schueller ripped off an 86-yard TD run — both on the first play of scrimmage against the Sault this season.

“Those plays are spirit crushing,” Menard said. “We came back in both of those games, but too many times we’ve given up big plays. Normally defense is our strength. We’re better suited to the grind-it-out, three and four yards a carry type of games. We can score, but there are some teams we don’t want to get into a shootout with. TC St. Francis is also one of those teams. We’re better off in low scoring, defensive battles.”

Sault High faces another team capable of big offensive numbers. The Glads are coming off a 62-0 win over Tawas, in a game that was called after three quarters after the Braves suffered multpile injuries and did not have enough players to continue. The Glads average 51.8 points and are giving up just over 9 points a contest, with three shutouts to their credit.

Glads’ senior quarterback Charlie Peterson completed 6 of 7 passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns against Tawas.

Last season, Sault High won 14-7 at TC St. Francis in its NMFL debut at Thirlby Field. The Glads went on to make it all the way to the Division 7 state championship game last year before falling 42-35 against New Lothrop.

As far as common opponents between the Sault and TC St. Francis — The Blue Devils also defeated Tawas 42-0 and beat Ogemaw Heights 14-6. TC St. Francis has beaten Ogemaw Heights 63-26 and Grayling 32-15.

It will be the last home game of the regular season for Sault High. Sault seniors include Davie, Jonah DeNuccio-McShane, John Robinson, Braeden Smith, Ryan LaPlaunt, Emmett Fazzari, Jacob Gruschow and Nick Cicco.

Around the EUP

Pickford (5-1) visits Newberry (5-1) in a Great Lakes Eight East Division showdown, a clash of teams ranked in the top five in the Upper Peninsula polls. Pickford is ranked No. 3 and Newberry is No. 5 in this week’s UPSSA poll, and they are tied for the conference lead.

In other games Friday night, the Cedarville-DeTour Islanders play host to Gaylord St. Mary in a non-conference matchup at Cedarville. Engadine visits Rudyard for a Great Lakes Eight East Division game, while Brimley travels to Ironwood. In 11-Player football, St. Ignace visits Manistique.

Contact Sports Editor Rob Roos at rroos@sooeveningnews.com. Follow him on Twitter, @rroosTEN.