The St Louis Sharks took on the Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary Cardinals on Friday night in a TVC-West-II opener for both teams. After two victories by nineteen points, the Sharks needed all 48 minutes to improve to 3-0 on the season, pulling out a narrow 35-32 victory.
SMLS scored the only touchdown of the first quarter on a short run. St Louis would respond in the second quarter to jump ahead at the half. Ignatius Jackson got things rolling with a 5-yard touchdown, and Rafael Orta-Vazquez booted the extra point to lift St Louis ahead 7-6. Reece Giles found Ben Dousuah on a 59-yard touchdown pass to give the Sharks a 14-6 halftime lead.
Early in the third quarter, Ignatius Jackson bolted through the Cardinals’ defense for a 44-yard touchdown that gave the Sharks a 21-6 lead. It looked as if St Louis may be able to cruise to another victory, before SMLS answered back with two quick touchdowns to get within a point at 21-20.
Ignatius Jackson was the hero once again, sprinting to the end zone, a 69-yard race past the defense. This extended the Sharks’ lead to 8 points. St. Louis’ lead was squandered, as SMLS got a pair of touchdown runs, flipping the scoreboard in the Cardinals’ favor at 32-28.
With time winding down, St Louis took to the air for some late-game heroics. Reece Giles found an open Wisdom Zanquo, who went 21 yards for the winning score.
St Louis outgained SMLS 410-358. Reece Giles was 7/10 passing for 173 yards and two touchdowns. Ignatius Jackson led the rushing attack with 17 carries for 138 yards and three touchdowns. Wisdom Zanquo posted 76 receiving yards and 39 rushing yards as well.
With the win, St Louis is now 3-0 on the season for the first time since 2018. The Sharks will try to navigate unchartered waters as they pursue a 4-0 start, something that hasn’t happened since their undefeated 8-0-1 campaign of 1964. Standing in their way is the 1-2 Hemlock Huskies.
Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary (1-2), will remain in TVC-West-II play against Saginaw Valley Lutheran. The Chargers are currently 0-3, having been outscored 152-0.
