It's been five years since the Pickford Panthers made it to the 8-man championship football game.
In that game in 2019, the team made a statement beating Portland St. Patrick 48-15 to take the Division 2 title.
In 2018, the Panthers lost to Morrice 44-16 in the Division 1 state title game.
After their manhandling of the Indian River-Inland Lakes Bulldogs Saturday afternoon on their home turf with a final score of 34-18, the purple and white are returning to the Superior Dome in Marquette Saturday, Nov. 23, at 11 a.m.
They will play a powerful Deckerville team that is 12-0 and last won a state title in 8-man football in 2012.
Panthers Head Coach Josh Rader's game plan worked against the high-powered Bulldogs.
"We wanted to do what we have done all season, maintain ball control. With the exception of a few big plays on their end, we maintained control," Rader said.
Ball control means keeping the ball on the ground. That means keeping it in quarterback Tommy Storey's hands as much as possible.
"Last year when played the Bulldogs in the semi-finals, we tried to pass too much and that took away from our game. We lost last year 12-0. We wanted to be in control," Rader continued.
Storey carried the ball 36 times for a total of 315 yards, an average of 8.8 yards per carry, and had 4 touchdowns. Storey's longest run was 65 yards.
Gunner Bennin took a little stress off Storey carrying the ball five times for 38 yards. Bennin started the game with a 77-yard kickoff return.
When Pickford did pass, Storey was efficient being 3 of 3 for 56 yards.
Bulldogs star quarterback, Aidan Fenstermaker, was held in check except for a few big plays that resulted in touchdowns.
Fenstermaker had a 77-yard TD run on a fake punt play in the first quarter. In the second quarter, he had a 48-yard TD run. Halfway through the fourth, he threw a bomb to Andre Bradford for a 63-yard score.
Fenstermaker did end up rushing 16 times for 170 yards, a 10.3 average per carry.
Panthers defense held strong with Eli MacDonald having 9 tackles. Caden Chromy 7. Haydn Rader 6.
