ONAWAY ― Avoid injuries. Pick up a victory. Prepare for Week 9 and the postseason. Repeat.
That has been the formula for success for the Gaylord St. Mary football team for the last three weeks, and it has been an effective one. The Snowbirds entered their Week 5 matchup with Onaway with an unblemished record, a relatively healthy roster and their goals of a conference title and playoff push well within their grasp.
On one hand, it was one of the smoothest victories of the season for GSM, coasting to a 40-0 victory on Friday, Sept. 26, against the Cardinals behind a dominant effort on the ground. However, the formula wasn’t followed directly, as a significant injury may have lasting impacts on the remainder of the season. Still, a win is a win, and coach Kevin O’Connell knows his team is improving, from the players up to the coaches.
“We have to be cleaner, and that is a sign of our youth. We just have to start maturing a little bit and think a little bit more about what we’re doing,” said coach O’Connell. “We can be good.”
Starting QB returns, but running game owns the day
GSM starting quarterback Nathan O’Connell had missed the last two games with an injury. He got back into action at Onaway and, while the Snowbirds certainly missed their star signal caller, the running game stood out in the victory over the Cardinals.
Sophomore Logan Greenier ran in three of the Snowbirds’ four rushing touchdowns, logging TD runs of 3, 5 and 25 yards. O’Connell threw for a TD, connecting with Cal Royce for a 63-yard score to start the game, and also rushed for a 15-yard TD in his return.
“It was nice to see Chummy back,” said O’Connell, referring to his son Nathan by his well-known nickname. “Our offensive line continues to be dominant, so was our defensive line; it was good.”
GSM’s other TD came on a 20-yard fumble scoop-and-score from Calvin Skowronski.
Injury to Royce will be important to watch
After the Snowbirds defeated Forest Area in Week 2, Coach O’Connell stressed how important it was to play these games hard while avoiding injuries.
“We’re already on I-Lakes, we’re Portland St. Patrick, we’re Adrian Lenawee Christian and Crystal Falls,” said O’Connell. “We have to play these games and pray to God we don’t get injured.”
Well, they’ve gotten through these games, but it looks like the injury bug caught them right before the schedule begins to pick back up.
Sophomore Cal Royce has been a standout player through the first four weeks, a transfer from Boyne City who gets carries, catches, returns and kicks at a high level for the Snowbirds. Maybe the one player the Snowbirds can’t replace, Royce went down with a leg injury in the second quarter and left in serious pain. He did not return to action.
“The loss to Cal, hopefully it’s temporary. We can do some things, we had some younger guys step up, but you can’t replace Cal,” said O’Connell. “Nobody has two of that kid. I’m not sure what the injury is. We’ll see.”
The next time GSM and Royce will have a chance to see will be next Friday, October 3 at Pellston.
Contact GHT Sports Editor Dylan Jespersen at Djespersen@gaylordheraldtimes.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @dylanjespersen, and Instagram, @dylanjespersen
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Gaylord St. Mary football ground game cruises vs. Onaway, but key injury dulls win
Reporting by Dylan Jespersen, The Petoskey News-Review / The Petoskey News-Review
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
