By Scott Nason
“The Game” ESPN 1400
thegamesportsshow.podbean.com
The beginning of the high school football season kicked off this past weekend across Michigan and here in the Eastern Upper Peninsula. With COVID-19 delaying the start of the 2020 football season, with a condensed and interrupted schedule, games in the area were played without a “pandemic hitch”.
Sault 37, St. Ignace 0
In 11-player football the Sault High Blue Devils opened up their season with a convincing 37-0 win at St. Ignace on Friday night. John Robinson had four touchdowns and ran for 152 for the Blue Devils. Ryan Laplaunt gained 148 yards rushing and had a touchdown for Sault High, who gained almost 400 yards on the ground.
You can hear the podcast of Friday’s game at Sault High Football at St. Ignace 8-27-21 (podbean.com) with Dave Watson and Pat Bennin, along with Coach’s Corner with Dave Watson and head coach Scott Menard at Coach’s Corner 8-28-21 (podbean.com).
Sault High (1-0) will have their home opener on Thursday as they face Tawas at 7 p.m. You can hear that game on 1230 WSOO with Dave Watson and Pat Bennin, starting with the pregame show at 6:35.
Pickford 36, Gaylord St. Mary’s 6
The Pickford Panthers opened up their 2021 campaign at the Purple Palace, and they had no trouble with Gaylord St. Marys, topping the Snowbirds 36-6, on Friday night in 8-player football. Panthers quarterback Zach Harrison had two touchdown passes, while John Sullivan added two touchdowns on the ground to go along with 136 yards rushing.
Pickford (1-0) will host Munising on Friday.
Newberry 36, Brimley 0
The Newberry Indians shut out the Brimley Bays on Friday night, 36-0 in Great Lakes Eight East Division football play in Newberry.
Indians quarterback Connor Rintamaki had two touchdown passes and ran for one. Jacques LeBlanc had 85 yards rushing for Brimley.
Newberry (1-0) visits Bessemer on Thursday night while Brimley (0-1) will travel to Rogers City on Friday.
Munising 28, Cedarville-DeTour 0
The Munising Mustangs defeated the Cedarville-DeTour Islanders on Friday night, 28-0 in Cedarville in 8-player football. This was the first game under the Islanders moniker for Cedarville-DeTour, who have been co-opting in football, but made the switch to other sports this summer.
Cason Smith had 108 yards rushing for the Islanders and was 7-of-20 passing for 62 yards. Hoss Sweeney had 4 receptions for 42 yards for Cedarville-DeTour.
The Islanders (0-1) will host Rudyard on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in Cedarville. You can hear that game on the EUP Game of the Week, with Matt Pocket on Country 105.
Rudyard 52, Superior Central 0
Fresh off their most successful sports season in school history, the Rudyard Bulldogs picked up where they left off on Saturday, as they blanked Superior Central 52-0 in Great Lakes Eight East Division football action in Rudyard.
Bulldogs quarterback EJ Suggitt ran for three touchdowns and threw for one. Austin Warner and Cam Peterson had touchdown runs for Rudyard, while Kallen Lawlor had a pair of touchdown receptions.
Rudyard (1-0) will be at Cedarville-DeTour on Thursday night.
For more local sports coverage, tune into ESPN 1400 on Monday night for the Twin Sault’s only local, regional, and national sports show “The Game” starting at 6 p.m. Special guest on tonight’s show is Kris Dunbar, Commissioner of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
You can also hear “The Game” online every Monday night from 6-8 p.m. at ESPN 1400 (1400espn.net). Podcasts of the show, as well as other local sports shows, broadcasts and content are available at The Game Sports Show ESPN 1400 (podbean.com), The Game Sports Show, Spodify, Podtrail, Apple Podcasts, Amazon, podcast platforms, as well as social media on Facebook and Instagram @thegamesportsshow.
You can hear Scott's podcasts at www.thegamesportsshow.podbean.com
- Bulldogs avenge another loss, heading to semifinals (with photos) - November 9, 2021
- Newberry, Rudyard advance to regional final - November 1, 2021
- Three area teams make the postseason - October 25, 2021
