08/31/2007

Glads snap Nouvel's 37-game win streak

FROM STAFF REPORTS

SAGINAW — It was Turnaround Thursday for Traverse City St. Francis.

The Gladiators, upended by Suttons Bay in their season opener at Thirlby Field last week, bounced back with a 35-14 road victory over defending Division 6 state champion Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central.

The loss was just the fourth in five seasons for the Panthers, who eliminated Suttons Bay from the playoffs a year ago. Nouvel hadn't lost a regular-season game since October of 2002, a span of 37 games.

"We had a terrible week of practice,” said St. Francis coach Josh Sellers. "We came in here still wondering what the kids were going to bring. So to come out and play the way we did... the kids finally found themselves a bit tonight.”

St. Francis never trailed.

The Gladiators had five interceptions — two by Dan Brick and one each by Max Bullough, Grant Robb and Parker Pusick.

Brick returned a pick 51 yards for a touchdown. He also ran for a 9-yard TD. Jacob Schell also had two touchdowns on runs of 1 and 20 yards.

With the score tied 14-14, Spencer Wheelock scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 37-yard pass from Spencer Ambrosius.