Traverse City Record-Eagle

Football

November 16, 2009

Football: Glads survive scare

St. Francis edges Ishpeming in OT

By John Vrancic

MARQUETTE -- Things got a little scary for top-ranked Traverse City St. Francis in its Division 7 regional football final on Friday the 13th.

Junior fullback Joey Kerridge and defensive back John Zakrewski, however, saved the night for the Gladiators as they escaped with a 28-20 overtime victory over a stubborn Ishpeming team in the Superior Dome at Northern Michigan University.

The defending state champs, who improved to 12-0, advance to next weekend's state semifinals against the winner of today's Merrill-Ravenna contest. The Hematites finished 9-3.

Kerridge scored the game-winner on a 1-yard run through the left side and added the two-point conversion to put the Gladiators up by eight points in the overtime.

"Scoring when you get the ball first in overtime is huge, especially against a team like Ishpeming that doesn't kick extra points," said St. Francis coach Greg Vaughan. "This was a great game. The Hematites are one tough football team."

Zakrewski then intercepted a pass in the end zone two plays later to seal the verdict.

"I was on the sideline cramping up and the crowd went crazy after John intercepted that pass," said Kerridge. "That was definitely a sigh of relief. We had great blocking up front on that (winning) touchdown. I just saw an opening and went for it."

St. Francis had taken a 20-14 lead on a 6-yard run off left tackle with one minute, 48 seconds left in regulation.

The Hematites, however, tied the contest on a 53-yard pass from junior quarterback Daniel Olson to junior end Wyatt Jurasin along the left sideline with 15 seconds remaining to force the overtime.

"He (Olson) is a shifty quarterback, probably the best we've seen all year," said St. Francis coach Greg Vaughan.

The Gladiators scored first on Kerridge's 33-yard interception return less than three minutes into the contest and raised the count to 14-0 on Riley Bullough's 17-yard pass to Max Bullough just six seconds into the second stanza.

Ishpeming, however, closed within 14-8 on Olson's 45-yard pass to senior split end Derrick Brionnes with 4:51 left in the second frame.

The Hematites appeared ready to tie the contest 17 seconds before halftime when senior linebacker Damian Sarvello recovered a fumble on the St. Francis four-yard line.

But the Gladiators stopped Olson at the one-foot line as the half expired, much to the relief of the St. Francis faithful.

Ishpeming did tie the contest, though, when Sarvello hauled in a 10-yard aerial in the right flat from Olson midway through the third quarter.

"They (Ishpeming) definitely came to play," said Kerridge. "They never gave up. There's a lot of pressure when you're the defending state champs. Everybody plays their best game against you."

The Gladiators were outgained 220-218 in total offense. They collected 185 yards on the ground. Zakrewski, who was feeling under the weather after the contest, led the way with 90 yards on nine carries. Riley Bullough was 4-of-10 passing for 33 yards and two interceptions.

"That's a phenomenal football team" said Ishpeming coach Jeff Olson. "They were huge, and they were strong. For our kids to battle back like that after all the adversity, we can't take anything away from them."

Olson converted 8-of-20 passes for 182 yards, three TDs and two interceptions. He also did the punting and led the Hematites in rushing with 65 yards in 24 attempts.

Jurasin led Ishpeming in receiving with five catches for 113 yards.

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