Rob Roos photo Azariah Hernandez (21) Rapid River running back against Pickford Friday.

PICKFORD – While their running game usually does most of the damage, Pickford showed it can also strike from long range with its passing attack.

Junior quarterback Jimmy Storey threw for 329 yards and five touchdowns in the Panthers’ 58-12 win over Rapid River in a Great Lakes Eight East Division football game Friday night.

Pickford, ranked No. 1 in the state in the 8-Player Division, improves to 4-0 overall, 2-0 Great Lakes East.

“We knew Rapid River would have a quality, well-coached team,” Pickford coach Josh Rader said. “We felt if we could be physical up front and keep pounding the ball, we could wear them down.

“Our line did a great job of opening up holes, and the backs were the beneficiary of that,” Rader said. “We had some big pass plays too, so it was a good balanced performance on offense.”

The Panthers outgained the Rockets 512 to 112 in total offense.

Storey was 14-of-21 for 329 yards, and he also ran for a touchdown. The Panthers compiled 183 rushing yards, with Stephen LaMothe adding two TDs and Matt Bush also scoring once. Isaac Brown caught two TD passes, while Chase Warner and Luke Batho had one each.

Storey also had a 1-yard TD run late in the first quarter, and threw a 5-yard scoring pass to Brown early in the second quarter as the Panthers took a 20-6 lead.

The Rockets struck again with a 24-yard touchdown pass from Brent Lundquist to Steven Taylor. The conversion failed, but the Rockets trailed only 20-12.

Pickford scored twice more to take the momentum into halftime with a 34-12 lead.

The Panthers pitched a shutout on defense in the second half, while putting up 24 more points.

The Rockets dipped to 2-2 overall, 1-1 GL East.

“The turning point was when they had us 20-12, and then we had a couple turnovers and they took advantage,” Rapid River coach Steve Ostrenga said. “They beat us deep on a couple pass plays and the next thing you know, we’re down 34-12. They have some speed, and we didn’t do a good job of tackling.

“If we could have sustained some drives and not give the ball right back to them, we could have put ourselves in a lot better position.”

The Rockets had 65 yards rushing on 37 carries. Gunner Larson was the leading rusher with 44 yards .