Austin Hemmingson | Daily Press Gladstone’s Caden Alworden (1) and Zach Brazeau combine to wrap up Sault Ste. Marie’s John Robinson while teammate Andrew Sarasin (22) looks on during Friday’s game in Gladstone.

GLADSTONE — Many Gladstone High School students stormed onto the field in celebration here Friday night after the Braves earned a 20-8 homecoming football triumph over the Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils.

The non-conference victory enabled the Braves to snap a three-game losing streak and even their record to 3-3. The Sault is 4-2.

“We considered this a do-or-die situation,” said Braves’ coach Jeff Hansen. “We had to have this one. We stressed to the kids the importance of playing with a sense of urgency and they did what they needed to do.”

Gladstone capitalized on a Sault turnover midway through the third quarter when senior running back Cole Hansen scored on a 16-yard run around right end for a 13-0 lead, just moments after junior Toby Wagner recovered a fumble.

The Braves then hiked their advantage to 20-0 early in the fourth on senior Drake Forrest’s 68-yard pass to sophomore John Hansen, one play after Sault turned the ball over on downs.

“They had a great defensive plan for us,” said Sault coach Scott Menard. “We just couldn’t pull things together. All the credit goes to them. They were ready to play and we weren’t. A couple big passes hurt us. They were a little quicker on the edges and their quarterbacks threw well.”

Gladstone opened the scoring on the third play of the game when Forrest heaved a 54-yard bomb down the right sideline to senior Zach Hanson for a 7-0 lead.

The Braves then missed a scoring chance early in the third when they gained possession on the Blue Devils’ 14 following a high snap from center on a punt.

Although they failed to score on that possession, they got the ball a short time later on Wagner’s fumble recovery on the 16.

Both teams committed numerous penalties as they struggled to find their rhythm on offense.

Sault got on the board with eight minutes, five seconds left to play when junior Jack Swan scored on a one-yard run through the left side, set up two plays earlier on a 68-yard dash along the right sideline by Swan.

The Blue Devils moved into Gladstone’s territory one more time before the Braves secured the decision on an interception by Cole Hansen at the two.

“We knew Sault had a lot of big guys up front,” said coach Hansen. “We wanted our defense to play stout because we knew they were the type of team that likes to grind it out. We wanted to force them to beat us through the air.”

The Braves finished with 224 yards, including 184 through the air. Forrest was 4-of-7 passing for two TDs and an interception. Sophomore Cam Kelly finished 0-of-2. Cole Hansen led the Braves in rushing with 39 yards on 20 carries.

“We decided to go to a two-quarterback system this week and both of them played real well,” said coach Hansen. “We moved Cam up from jayvees because we liked the way he ran the option. Cole is a powerful runner and makes great plays at big moments. Ryan Polley is a tackling machine at linebacker and Riley Baldovski played a whale of a game at linebacker.”

Sault gained 291 yards in total offense, including 225 on the ground. Swan carried seven times for 84 and left-handed sophomore Jakob Davies completed 10-of-16 aerials for 66 yards and two interceptions.

Gladstone junior Blake Servant and Sault senior Bazzil Moran were ejected following an altercation late in the opening frame.

The Braves visit Escanaba Friday while the Blue Devils host Rogers City for homecoming.