BOYNE CITY — Ryan Spate didn’t wait long for his redemption tour.
The Boyne City senior connected on a 34-yard field goal in the final seconds of Friday’s clash of northern Michigan powerhouses to get a 23-20 victory over visiting Traverse City St. Francis.
Spate had missed one from 44 yards out earlier in the quarter, but he got another chance when the Ramblers hit the hook-and-ladder to Owen Hewitt that picked up 46 yards and got Boyne to the St. Francis 17-yard line with eight seconds remaining in the game.
Boyne City took a timeout to go over their options before settling on Spate’s foot to play the hero in the rivalry game. The win moves the Ramblers to 7-2 and improves their playoff positioning. The loss drops St. Francis to 6-3, but they are still likely to earn a spot in the postseason.
The Gladiators took a 7-0 lead on Braxton Lesinski’s 15-yard touchdown run on third down in the first quarter. Boyne didn’t waste time tying up the ballgame as Spate got the Ramblers inside the St. Francis red zone with a 62-yard run. Hewitt picked up the touchdown on the next play to make it 7-7 after the extra point.
St. Francis went back up with a quarterback-sneak TD from Tyler Endres with 2:01 left in the first quarter. Sam Wildfong’s mad extra point made it 14-7.
The score remained 14-7 until Spate picked up a 14-yard TD run, but a bad snap on the extra-point attempt kept it a 14-13 game.
Tyler Thompson took it 99 yards to the house on the ensuing kickoff, swinging the momentum right back to St. Francis. Spate blocked the extra-point attempt, and the score remained 20-13.
After a sustained drive that extended into the fourth quarter, Hewitt capped it off with a 7-yard touchdown run that tied the game after the extra point.
Both the Ramblers and Gladiators find out their respective playoff opponents Sunday.
FOOTBALL
Kingsley 47
Charlevoix 28
Kingsley: Isaiah Cosgrove 2-yard TD run, 1-yard TD run; Nolan Hodges 7-yard TD run, 1-yard TD run; Perry Smith 4-yard TD run, 8-yard TD run; Gavin Lewis 3-yard TD run. Stags gained 393 yards, 7 TDs on 59 carries. Lewis 21 carries, 162 yards, TD; Smith 10 carries, 86 yards, 2 TDs; Cosgrove 16 carries, 73 yards, 2 TDs; Tucker Dreves 4-7 passing, 60 yards; Colton Goethals 7 tackles, TFL; Lewis FUM REC; Ethan Lyon FUM REC, outstanding on special teams.
Charlevoix: Ian Moran 19-yard TD pass to Logan Wadkins; Brady Jess 76-yard TD pass to Wadkins; Wadkins 74-yard TD run; Garrison Sterrett 29-yard TD run, 9.5 tackles, FUM REC; Ryan Pearl 10.5 tackles; Brady Warchol 9.5 tackles, TFL; Hunter Lemerand 10 tackles; Sawyer Blaszczyk 8 tackles.
UP NEXT: The Stags end the regular season at 7-2. The Rayders end the regular season at 6-3.
Glen Lake 35
Mancelona 0
Glen Lake: Sam Dykstra 9 carries, 112 yards, 5-yard TD run, 35-yard TD run; Fletcher Middleton 14 carries, 254 yards, 62-yard TD run, 26-yard TD run; Ben Diotte 11-yard TD run; Dominic Stein 5 tackles, 2 TFL; Benji Allen 5 tackles, 1 sack, TFL.
UP NEXT: The Lakers end the regular season at 8-1. The Ironmen end the regular season at 4-5.
East Jordan 35
Elk Rapids 8
East Jordan: William Webb 2 receiving TDs; Korbyn Russell 2 passing TDs; Logan Shooks 2 rushing TDs; Brenden Aenis 1 fumble recovery TD.
UP NEXT: The Red Devils end the regular season at 7-2. The Elks end their regular season at 3-6.
Petoskey 42
Clare 21
UP NEXT: The Northmen end the regular season at 9-0.
Freeland 28
Cadillac 8
UP NEXT: The Vikings end the regular season at 4-5.
Frankfort 41
Oscoda 8
UP NEXT: The Panthers end the regular season at 7-2.
Gaylord 50
Sault Area 0
UP NEXT: The Blue Devils end the regular season at 3-6.
Grayling 42
Tawas 0
Grayling: Myles Mead 7-10 passing, 114 yards, TD; Austin Schwartz 3 catches, 45 yards; Corbin Allen 2 catches, 28 yards, TD, 7 carries, 74 yards, TD; Braiden Tuck TD; Xavier White TD; Gavin Cvitkovich TD; Caleb Baker 35-yard FG.
UP NEXT: The Vikings end the regular season at 2-7.
Mason Co. Central 36
Manistee 22
UP NEXT: The Mariners end the regular season at 5-4.
Fowler 35
McBain 28
UP NEXT: The Ramblers end the regular season at 8-1.
8-PLAYER FOOTBALL
Inland Lakes 50
Gaylord SM 8
Gaylord St. Mary: Daniel Jacobsen 29 carries, 130 yards, TD.
UP NEXT: The Bulldogs end the regular season at 9-0. The Snowbirds end the regular season at 7-2.
Bellaire 50
Posen 22
Bellaire: Drake Koepke TD; Jayden Hanson TD; Ethan Lambert TD; Ben Landis TD; Corperryale Somers TD; Damon Fox TD; Junior Wandjison TD.
UP NEXT: The Eagles end the regular season at 7-2.
Bear Lake 71
Ashley 0
UP NEXT: The Lakers end the regular season at 5-4.
Onekama 30
Breckenridge 12
UP NEXT: The Portagers end the regular season at 8-1.
Mesick 52
Pellston 14
UP NEXT: The Bulldogs end the regular season at 2-7.