With Heavy Hearts, Saints March Past Red Devils
GLADSTONE---It was a mostly sunny, mild afternoon in Gladstone Saturday as two high school football teams from opposite ends of the Upper Peninsula "met in the middle". The St. Ignace Saints and Ironwood Red Devils played this non-conference game to fill out their nine-game schedules for the 2015 season. The Saints showed up in Gladstone Saturday with heavy hearts, taking the field for the first time since one of their commrades was stolen from them by a suspected drunk driver just seven days prior. Mitch Snyder, who would have turned 18 next month, died in a traffic accident after attending his Homecoming football game and dance. The St. Ignace community has been devastated by the loss of a student and athlete that nearly everyone described in a positive light. The emotions were still raw on Saturday amongst Snyder's teammates, and from within the small group of Saints fans who made the 135-mile drive down US-2 to the Marble Athletic Field. Brutal. Horrific. Unbelievable. Devastating. Those were just a few of the adjectives that were expressed by some of the folks in attendance at Saturday's game. The Snyder family did not want a moment of silence. They did not ask Ironwood, or their own team, even, to wear special patches honoring Snyder. All they wanted was to be present at the pre-game coin toss in the middle of the field, because that is where Mitch Snyder would have been had his life not been needlessly taken away. The Saints boys had run through a special paper sign put together by the Gladstone Braves, expressing love, support, and prayers for the St. Ignace team. And then veteran U.P. head official Tom Smith brought the captains together for the usual ritual. But this time, it was different. Smith directed Brandstrom to indicate to the crowd that the Saints would be receiving the opening kickoff. She did, and then it was hugs and handshakes all around, in one of the most emotional "human" moments ever seen at the Marble Field. The Saints cheerleaders all wore "69 Snyder" shirts. Many of the cars driven by the Saints fans had "Snyder 69" scrolled on the back window. His cousin stood along the St. Ignace sideline taking pictures...with a photo of Snyder on a button attached to her jacket. As for the game itself, the Saints rolled to a 40-0 lead at halftime and cruised to a 69-12 victory over the Red Devils as the second half was played on a running clock. Sixty-nine points. How ironic, considering Snyder's uniform number was "69". Not long later, the Red Devils fumbled and Mitch Peterson scooped it up and took it 44 yards to the house. The Saints scored on offense, and defense, and then, on special teams. Kreski took an Ironwood punt 65 yards for a touchdown. It was a 24-0 game in the first quarter. The next time St. Ignace had the ball, David LaVake got the carry, broke several tackles, and scored on a 38-yard touchdown. Then, early in the second quarter, Kreski, a likely Division Eight All-State pick, rushed for a seven-yard touchdown. Ironwood battled hard despite having only 16 kids and a 0-6 season record. The Saints, now playoff-bound at 7-0, used their JV players at times, especially on two-point conversion attempts. St. Ignace has a showdown with Ishpeming next week. Ishpeming. Fitting, indeed, considering that town's triumph over heartache, from just a few years ago. One would not be surprised to see a quiet moment between Saints Coach Marty Spencer and Hematite Coach Jeff Olsen, next Friday in St. Ignace. And just like on this sunny day in Gladstone, two communities will unite as one. Click the above headline to see photos and videos from the game, as well as from the pre-game coin toss and national anthem. Pictured at top: St. Ignace captain Gage Kreski hugs the mother of his lost teammate, Deb Brandstrom, after the pre-game coin toss Saturday in Gladstone. |