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Pickford wins state title

Rob Roos | Sault Evening News Pickford’s Jimmy Storey (18) and Isaac Brown (22) bring down Portland St. Patrick’s Derec Fedewa (5) during the 8-Player Division 2 state championship game Saturday in Marquette.

MARQUETTE — It’s finished business now for the Pickford Panthers.

Pickford returned to the Dome and capped its season with a 48-15 win over Portland St. Patrick in the 8-Player Division 2 championship game Saturday.

The Panthers went 12-1 for a second straight year, but this time they brought home the championship trophy rather than runner-up from Northern Michigan University’s Superior Dome.

“It’s everything you could ask for,” Pickford coach Josh Rader said. “The goal at the beginning of the season was to get back here and finish the business we left off last year after losing in the state championship game. To be able to come back and finish it, I’m so proud of the guys.”

Pickford senior quarterback Jimmy Storey ran for 119 yards and three touchdowns, while going 9-for-9 passing for 193 yards and two TDs.

“In the first practice of the season, we got all the guys together and set our goals,” Storey said. “Winning the state championship was the final one. Every practice, every game, we were working towards this moment.

“From playing football in the backyard as kids, to competing so many years with all those guys,” Storey said. “I wouldn’t have wanted it to have been with any other group of teammates. It’s been an amazing, crazy ride.”

It was a dominant performance by the Panthers, who had contributions from throughout their senior-ladened lineup. Nick Edington and Luke Batho both hauled in touchdown catches. Stephen LaMothe caught five passes for 100 yards, while Edington had three catches for 48 yards.

Pickford outgained the Shamrocks 426 to 145 in total offense.

The Panthers’ defense registered six quarterback sacks. Senior defensive end Sam Burton led the Panthers with 11 tackles, including three sacks. Storey added seven tackles and two sacks from his linebacker post.

“We wanted to put them in situations that they don’t like,” Rader said of containing a Shamrocks team that was averaging 52 points a game. “We kept the run game contained and then it was important to keep pressuring their quarterback. If we let him sit back there with time, we knew he was a very accurate passer and they had some speedy kids that could make plays. So we planned to bring a lot of pressure in this game, and I thought our defense did a great job of rushing the quarterback and keeping their offense off balance.”

The Shamrocks finish 12-1, taking their second runner-up result in three years.

“Pickford played great today, and they made the plays to win,” Portland St. Patrick coach Patrick Russman said.

“We just couldn’t keep pace with them. They have a team that can hurt you in a number of different ways. They are big on the line and come at you with a tough running game. If you scheme your defense to stop the run game, they can pass too. It’s a very talented and well-coached team.

“I really appreciate everything our guys did,” Russman said. “Our seniors have been in this (championship) game twice now. I couldn’t be prouder of how they have played and the things they have done to represent our school. I am happy to have had the opportunity to coach those guys.”

From the outset, the Panthers showed they were the bigger, stronger team and they couldn’t be stopped.

The Panthers started the scoring with a methodical nine-play opening drive, capped by a 31-yard touchdown run from Matt Bush.

It didn’t take long for the Shamrocks to answer, however. John Schneider returned the ensuing kickoff 81 yards, down to the Panthers’ 7-yard line. Three plays later Ned Smith banged in a 1-yard TD run. Connor Cross threw a conversion pass to Tyler Coyne to tie the game, 8-8.

The Panthers marched down the field again on their next drive. Storey threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Nick Edington for the go-ahead score. Stephen LaMothe added the conversion run to make it 16-8.

From there, the Panthers would score every time they had the football until the game was well under control.

Storey capped two more scoring drives with 2-yard QB keepers in the second quarter. Storey tossed a 2-point conversion pass to Micah Bailey and Isaac Brown added a conversion run, and the Panthers enjoyed a 32-8 lead at halftime.

“After the first couple drives we were feeling like we owned them up front,” Panthers’ senior guard Isaiah May said. “We felt like they couldn’t stop us, and we just needed to keep pushing and not let up.

“This is what we play for, what we love,” May said. “We’ve all been dreaming about this (state championship) since we first started playing football.”

Storey had a 3-yard TD run, and threw a 45-yard scoring pass to Luth Batho in the third quarter. Isaac Brown added his second 2-point conversion run of the game following the last score, which began a running clock at 5:20 of the third quarter.

“We were ready to take what the defense gave us,” Storey said. “On both of the touchdown passes, we saw that our receivers were going to have good chances to get open. Nick and Luke both made the catches. I have confidence in them, and in all of my teammates.”

The Panthers substituted freely in the fourth quarter and their 11-player senior class all got on the field. The Shamrocks added a final score as Connor Cross threw a 76-yard touchdown pass to Coyne with 7 seconds remaining.

Cross finished 3-of-12 passing for 128 yards. Smith paced the Shamrocks with 30 yards rushing on eight carries.

Smith also led the Shamrocks on defense with 14 total tackles, while Alex Kissane had 13 and Derec Fedewa had 11.

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