Seeley-Swan outlasts Tigers on homecoming night

Speed, it has been said, kills. 

When you add power to velocity, it often creates some intense collisions.

Such was the case on a splendid, sunshine-bathed day when two of the top Western Conference, 8-player football teams collided in St. Regis. 

The outcome was some banged up, dazed players on both sides of visiting Seeley-Swan's 40-18 win over St. Regis’ Tigers this past Saturday. 

Seeley came in with an unblemished, 4-0 victory and first place in the conference for their meeting with St. Regis, which was 3-1 overall and 2-1 in league play. 

And, to add to the already glorious day, it was Homecoming in St. Regis. 

But Seeley was out to spoil the festive atmosphere and maintain its lofty perch in the conference standings and did so with a convincing 40-18 victory. 

The Blackhawks got on the scoreboard first when junior running back Kolten Zurmehlen capped a grueling Seeley-Swan drive by crashing over the goal-line from one yard out with 4:46 to go in the opening quarter.  The score was one of five touchdowns on the day for Zurmuehlen, a 5-7, 165-pound power runner who is not afraid to lower the pads into an opponent, with speed to boot. 

After holding St. Regis on downs later in the opening quarter, Seeley struck again, this time on a 64-yard TD burst from senior running back Tyler Haines.  A successful two-point, point after touchdown (PAT) try put the Blackhawks ahead 14-0. 

However, St. Regis wasted no time answering that score as junior Barrett Bessette took the ensuing kickoff and blew by the Seeley defenders en route to a 64-yard kickoff return touchdown with 1:27 to play in quarter number one. 

The PAT try failed, but St. Regis was cut the Seeley lead to 14-6 as the first quarter came to an end. 

With Zurmuehlen leading the way, Seeley opened the second quarter with a drive that ended when he bulled over the Tigers’ defense and scored from 10-yards out, just 50 seconds into quarter number two. Zurmuelen, who had several pad-rattling collisions with Tigers’ defenders during the game, ran for a two-point PAT, giving the visitors a 22-6 lead. 

Seeley forced St. Regis to punt on its next possession and was on another drive when Tigers’ sophomore Nathan Bohn picked off a Blackhawks pass.  The ensuing St. Regis drive fizzled several plays later, giving Seeley the ball on their own 21 yard line. 

Several plays later, Zurmuehlen found the St. Regis end zone again, busting over the goal line on a six-yard TD run.  The PAT try was no good, but at that point Seeley held a 28-6 lead. 

That score would hold up at halftime. 

St. Regis came out in the second half showing they were not done for the day, despite the seemingly lopsided first half score.  Starting from their own 15, the Tigers methodically moved downfield, then cashing in a fourth-and-five situation on the Seeley 12, giving them a first and goal at the five yard line. 

St. Regis sophomore quarterback Conner Lulis, who spent most of the first half scrambling away from a relentless Seeley pass rush, found Bessette with a five-yard TD flip.  The PAT was no good, but with 6:22 to go in the third quarter, the Tigers pulled within 28-12. 

With both defenses ramping up the energy, the score remained 28-12 as the third quarter expired. 

St. Regis ignited the home crowd and themselves when, with a mere 13 seconds gone in the fourth quarter, Bessette scored grabbed a “naked” screen toss from Lulis and outsprinted the Blackhawks defense on his way to a 46-yard touchdown.  The extra point attempt failed, but the Tigers were within 10 points, 28-18 with 11:47 to play in the game. 

Later in the quarter, with head coach Jesse Allan reaching into his bag of trick plays, the Tigers appeared to have scored on a lateral/pass play that caught Seeley off guard.  However, the play was ruled to have involved two forward pass plays, which is a rules violation, wiping out that apparent score. 

When play resumed following fan and coach complaints about the call, St. Regis continued their drive until Zurmuehlin wrestled the ball from the hands of a St. Regis receiver, giving the Blackhawks possession at the 37. 

Earlier in the quarter, Zurmuehlin scored from seven yards out, giving the Blackhawks a 34-18 lead with 8:56 to play in regulation. 

He would wrap up his prolific scoring day near the end of the quarter when he crashed into the end zone from three yards out, giving the Blackhawks a 40-18 lead with 1:36 to play.  The final horn sounded, upholding that lead. 

Coach Allan, although expectedly disappointed, took the loss in stride and had praise for his team’s never say die attitude. 

“Makes a coach feel better knowing your boys didn’t quit,” he said. “We will lick our wounds and get back to the grind next week.  Hat off to Seeley, those three studs up front didn’t make things easier for us”. 

Next up for the Tigers is a bye this weekend.  They return to action Friday, October 11 when they host Darby for senior night.  The game begins at 7 pm. 

    St. Regis quarterback Conner Lulis (10) launches a pass downfield during the Tigers game versus Seeley-Swan Saturday afternoon in St. Regis. (Chuck Bandel/VP-MI)
  

    Two St. Regis defenders put pressure on the Seeley-Swan quarterback during their Homecoming game this past Saturday in St. Regis. (Chuck Bandel/VP-MI)