(Battle Creek) – St. Joe got back in the win column and avenged a loss a year ago, all with a 27-21 win at Battle Creek Central.

St. Joe fell to the Bearcats last year at Dickinson Stadium 21-10. But thanks to the Bears defense coming up big in the final two quarters, St. Joe enacted a bit of payback.

After the Bear defense held Central to a 3 and out on the opening drive. The Bearcats punted and Derek Atkins started the scoring by returning the punt for a 56 yard touchdown return. Sean Akins point after was good and the Bears were up 7-0.

The Bearcats tied the game on the following drive when Cyntell Williams ran for a 4 yard score and it was 7-7.

St. Joe would retake the lead less than a minute into the second quarter when Griffin Beaudette threw a 37 yard touchdown pass to Jordan Brewer on 4th down and had a 14-7 lead.

The score stayed that way until the 58 seconds to go when Carlos Parks scored from a yard out and the game was tied at 14-14 going into halftime.

St. Joe would start the third quarter with the ball and retook the lead on a 38 yard field goal from Sean Akins at 17-14.

Battle Creek Central got a break on their following drive. St. Joe fumbled the ball on the punt, which was recovered by the Bearcats at the St. Joe 21 yard line. Williams scored on the next play and the home team had the lead for the first time at 21-17.

In the back and fourth game. St. Joe would take the lead on a 2 play drive following a Central fumble at the Bearcats 27 yard line. Griffin Beaudette threw a 25 yard pass to Jordan Brewer who made a spectacular one handed catch at the 2 yard line which allowed Sammy McCoy to score on the next play and gave St. Joe a 24-21 lead.

The Bears would force a fumble on the next drive when Collin Morrow grabbed the ball off of the back of a Bearcats running back after the Bearcats attempted a trick play.

St. Joe would get a 35 yard field goal from Akins on that drive and had a 27-21 lead.

Central turned the ball over on downs 3 times, and fumbled once as the game ended with the Bears taking a knee.

Akins kicked off 6 times and reached the endzone each time for touchbacks leaving the Bearcats opening up drives at their 20 yard line.

Battle Creek Central’s average starting field position was their own 26 yard line. The Bears drives, on average, were at the Bearcats 47 yard line.

St. Joe improved to 4-1 on the season and will host 3-2 Benton Harbor at Dickinson Stadium for Homecoming and the celebration of the 100th season of St. Joe football.

.