FELTCH TOWNSHIP — Earlier this week, Forest Park was named the No. 1 team in eight-man football by the Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.
“We got the No. 1 ranking, which is nice, but now we’re a big target.” Trojans head coach Brian Fabbri said. “There are goals for Forest Park and there are bigger goals, and they should welcome that.”
On Thursday, the Trojans carried the weight of that ranking on the road against North Dickinson at James D. Priestup Memorial Field. Rather than succumb to pressure, Forest Park’s offense exploded for a 53-32 win over the Nordiques.
The Trojans are now 4-0, while North Dickinson is 1-3.
“I’m not too happy with our execution, but I give North Dickinson a lot of credit.” Fabry said. “They watched us play, executed their game plan and moved the ball against us.”
While Forest Park was learning how to handle the pressure of being ranked No. 1 in eight-man football, the Nordic team was in a different frame of mind.
“The Mystery of Forest Park” “We had to fight through it,” Nordiques head coach Mike Christian said.
“And I think we did a better job once we settled in a little bit. But they’re too good a team to give up a lead like that.”
The Trojans started the game with great success on the ground, as Nick Stevens went 30 yards on the first play and Grayson Sandell scored a touchdown from 40 yards out. The drive took less than 30 seconds to put Forest Park up 7-0.
The Nordiques’ first drive started well, but things changed when Brodie Starr intercepted a pass and ran it 67 yards for a touchdown, giving the Trojans a 14-0 lead less than four minutes into the first quarter.
With North Dickinson in a tight spot, they stormed back on the second drive. Junior Brady Jungwirth found sophomore Trenton Kramer for a 39-yard pass to start the game. Jungwirth then completed a 35-yard touchdown pass to junior Spencer Kramer to give Forest Park a 14-8 lead.
North Dickinson recovered an onside kick shortly after the score and began driving into Troy territory.
But the Nordic team lost the ball on downs and the drive fizzled.
Sandell turned that miss into a 43-yard TD scamper on the next play to extend the lead to 20-8.
Vic Giuliani scored three points in the first half, Stevens added a running touchdown and Forest Park finished the half with a 46-8 lead.
“We’ve got to keep that emotion, that energy up, like we turned it around in the second half.” Christian said.
Instead of giving up, the Nordic team used the second half to prove a point.
“I’m really proud of the guys for not giving up.” “A lot of teams are down 30 points at halftime, so it’s easy to lose,” Christian said.
“I’m really proud of the way they didn’t give up and came out and fought back.”
Jungwirth threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Ty King and then on the next drive he threw a short pass to Trenton Kramer for an 88-yard touchdown to cut Forest Park’s lead to 46-24 early in the fourth quarter.
On the first play of the ensuing drive, Trojans sophomore Dax Houki carried the ball through the Nordiques defense for an 87-yard TD that was just out of reach.
“I can’t believe it, he’s only a sophomore.” “He has a knack for the game,” Fabbri said. “He finds holes.”
“We have to work on the little things.”
North Dickinson sophomore Jason Graham capped the fourth quarter scoring with a 19-yard rushing TD with four minutes left.
“Simply put, this is the first time we’re distributing match balls.” Christian said, “Because he was phenomenal.”
Graham led the Nordiques with 162 yards on 18 rushes.
He also recorded 10 tackles on the defensive end.
North Dickinson also got contributions from Jungwirth (20-of-36 passing for 263 yards, two touchdowns, one interception, 10 tackles), Trenton Kramer (seven catches, 151 yards), Spencer Kramer (six catches, 72 yards, two passes for six yards), Myles Lindholm (one fumble recovery) and Colm McFayden (one fumble recovery).
The Trojans made some mistakes in the second half, but Fabbri was happy with the win.
“It’s just a matter of practicing and practicing.” “We’ll watch the film on Friday and put it aside,” Fabbri said. “I told the guys, ‘A win is a win.’
“We’re going to get the win, but we’re going to watch this game, learn from it and move on to the next opponent.”
North Dickinson travels to Rapid River to take on the Rockets on Friday.
Forest Park returns to Dick Mettlach Field on Friday to take on Lake Linden Hubbell.
“That’s a big thing for us.” Fabbri said, “I’ll never forget what happened last year. We beat them in the regular season, we got up to their spot in the playoffs and they beat us. We couldn’t do anything offensively. They were flying all over the field and are always well-coached. I owe it all to them.”
“They’re always coming off the ball. They always have good technique. So we’ve got to raise our level.”
Eagles 36, Badgers 12
SALLING, Wis. — After a tough start to the season, the Niagara High School eight-man football team traveled to Salling, Wis., on Thursday looking to turn the tide, but the Badgers couldn’t overcome their woes, falling to the Eagles 36-12.
“Another tough defeat” Niagara head coach Philip Towns said. “We just didn’t make the tackles tonight and that’s why we lost.”
Senior Tommy Martin was all over the field for the Badgers.
He finished with 12 carries for 26 yards, caught two passes for 13 yards and a touchdown, and completed 10 of 14 passes for 49 yards.
Niagara also received contributions from Alex Tripp (12 carries, 99 yards, one touchdown, three catches for 15 yards, 10 tackles, one interception), Dante Stachovits (six carries, 15 yards, 4 of 8 passing for 56 yards, two interceptions, one touchdown, eight tackles) and Owen Dankes (eight tackles).
The Badgers return home to take on Elcho/White Lake on Friday at 7 p.m.