BATTLE CREEK – What was billed as a top battle between a young Bearcats squad that pulled of an upset over Portage Northern the week prior and the power and speed of the St. Joe run game.  It was the power and speed that came out on top, and it was a no-doubter.

St. Joe scored touchdown on 6 of 8 offensive drives, and even recorded a touchdown on special teams to go on for a 62-30 win over the Bearcats at C.W. Post Field in Battle Creek.

St. Joe again dominated the ground game, recording 426 yards rushing, after gaining 325 the previous week.   St. Joe amassed a total of 573 total yards and scored the second most points in a game in team history.  St. Joe’s highest point total also was at Battle Creek Central in a 67-35 win over the Bearcats in 2008. 

Trey McGinnis starting the scoring early as his 4-yard touchdown run just 82 second into the first quarter gave St. Joe a 7-0 lead.  McGinnis’ touchdown was set up by a 37-yard pass from Preston Nichols to Andrew Barlow, a penalty on the Bearcats brought the ball to the 4 yard line before the McGinnis touchdown.

St. Joe’s offense was back on the field 46 seconds later when Battle Creek Central turned the ball over on a fumble.  This time Matt Lanier was behind center as quarterback, and again the Bears scored another touchdown, as Lanier ran it himself from 6-yards out and the Bears now had a 14-0 lead.

Battle Creek Central then fumbled the ball to St. Joe again, and three plays later, Joron Brown crossed the goal line on a 44-yard touchdown run and the Bears lead expanded to 20-0.

The Bears defense forced a 3 and out on the Bearcats next drive.   Lanier again drove the Bears down the field, taking it the final 13-yards himself for a 27-0 St. Joe lead.

Battle Creek Central finally got on the board early in the 2nd quarter on a 22-yard touchdown pass from Devoine Newton to Nate Rucker to cut the lead to 27-8.

Preston Nichols came back in for the Bears next possession, and the Bears put another touchdown on the board, as Joron Brown scored his second touchdown of the game for a 34-8 lead.

Battle Creek Central went three and out again, and the Bears offense didn’t need to come out on the field for another touchdown.  Bearcats punter Tayshaun Vaughn had his punt blocked by Caleb Garey, Trey McGinnis jumped on the loose ball in the endzone and St. Joe expanded the lead to 41-8.

Lanier came back at quarterback for the Bears next drive, but the Bear had a methodical long 73 yard drive down the field. McGinnis ran the final 16 yards for a 48-8 lead.

Battle Creek Central closed out the scoring of the first half on a 4 yard touchdown pass from Newton for Melvin Nelson and the two teams went into halftime with St. Joe leading 48-14.

After halftime a Preston Nichols touchdown pass to Joron Brown put the Bears up 55-14.

The Bearcats got another Newton to Melvin touchdown pass to make the score 55-22.   McGinnis’s 4th touchdown early in the fourth quarter made it 62-22.  Before another Newton touchdown made it 62-30. 

Battle Creek Central falls to 1-1 while St. Joe improves to 2-0 overall and in the SMAC, and will host 0-2 Portage Northern next week at Dickinson Stadium.