KALAMAZOO –Of the last six meetings between the Bears and Maroon Giants, four of them have taken place at Thomas Stadium in Kalamazoo.  The Home fans are probably getting a little sick of seeing St. Joe after the Bears 56-0 win on Friday.  The win marks the 12th straight time St. Joe has defeated Kalamazoo Central.  Which matches the all time longest streak in the series history.

St. Joe needed just 40 seconds to score what would be the only score that was needs as senior quarterback Matt Lanier ran for a 60 yard touchdown on an option run for a 7-0 lead.

Holding the Giants to a 3 and out on the next drive.  St. Joe would again strike quickly, after Elijah Turner blocked the punt, he recovered the kick and St. Joe would start at the KC 26 yard line.   Lanier found a wide open Riley Biggins on the first play and the Bears took a 14-0 lead.

The lead would expand to 21-0 the next time the Bears had possesion.  This time, St. Joe would take 5 plays and go on a 52 yard drive, capped off on a 5 yard run from Trey McGinnis.

McGinnis would score on the Bears first drive in the 2nd quarter when he scored on a 14 yard run to give St. Joe a 28-0 lead.

Around 3 minutes later a 45 yard sprint by McGinnis increased the Bears advantage to 35-0.  

A fumble recovery set up the Bears at the Maroon Giants 11 yard line for the next drive.  Lanier's seconds touchdown pass of the game was to Bobby Nate and the Bears had a 42-0 lead.

Kalamazoo Central was able to put a drive together on their next possession, but the Bears defense again clamped down and forced another punt.  Seven plays and 63 yards later, Thomas Moore scored from 6 yards out and the scoreboard read 49-0 at the end of the first half.  

The second half began with the MHSAA's point diffferential rule taking effect with the clock continuously running, and in the fourth quarter with more and more of the Bear reserves in the game, those players also added to the scoreboard as Jackson Lane score on a 1 yard run.  Max Taylor who had already made 7 of 7 of his extra points, stepped aside and had Rusty Klaer add the final kick.

Kalamazoo Central in a desperate attempt to break the shutout were stopped by the Bears defense at the St. Joe 7 yard line.

For the game, the Bears outgained the Maroon Giants 380-117, and the Bears defense held Kalamazoo Central to -1 yards passing.  St. Joe scored on 8 of their 9 possesions with the Bears being stopped on downs on the only one they did not score on.  

St. Joe improves to 2-1 and 1-0 in the SMAC, while Kalamazoo Central drops to 0-3 and 0-1 in the conference.  St. Joe will return home to Dickinson Stadium to face Battle Creek Lakeview.    

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