Norwegian running back Cameron Varda (1) slams into a St. Ignace defender during Friday’s game at Romberg Field. (Sean Chase/Daily News Photo)
NORWAY — Norway’s national eight-a-side soccer team has struggled to win at home lately.
But that wasn’t the case Friday, as the Knights opened their Great Lakes Eight Conference East schedule with a 60-22 win over St. Ignace at Romberg Field.
“I’m glad our kids came out.” Scott Popp, head coach of the Norwegian national team, said: “The game got a little out of control and St. Ignace got a little shaky because soccer is a game of emotions, which is understandable, and I was very happy with how the kids kept their composure. They showed me the lesson.”
Norway is 4-1 on the year and 1-0 in conference action.
After struggling with injuries and illness, the Knights wanted to show they were more than just a one-trick pony.
“I wanted to spread that around.” Pop said. “The Cole (Bage) and Owen (Bage) show, it’s well known in UP…They have to show people that there are other athletes on the team, so they can double team with Owen. We can’t.’ That opens up the game for us. ”
“When you go into halftime and you can say to the second- and third-grade kids, ‘Okay, you guys are going to come out and start your first series,’ they get excited. … They go on to win and score points. I want to continue.”
Norway did just that on its first drive of the game. They strung together an eight-play drive, capped off by a 44-yard touchdown pass from Cole Bage to Bryce Adams. Owen Bage converted the 2-point conversion to give the Knights an 8-0 lead.
But the Saints weren’t going down without a fight. After stuffing the run in the backfield, St. Ignace quarterback Kayden Lester completed a pass to Jace Peters, who ran 48 yards to the house. The 2-point conversion was successful, tying the score at 8 points.
Owen Byge took the ensuing kickoff home 83 yards, giving Norway a 14-8 advantage.
“Owen has that sneaky speed.” Pop said. “One of the things I like about Owen is when he’s receiving, he doesn’t care. He’s not going to wait for that alley to open up. He gets the ball. As soon as there’s any opening, you’re going to go for it, even if it’s coming up. As a returns specialist, that’s what you have to do. You can’t wait for a block.”
St. Ignace scored on its next drive with Lester’s 50-yard TD pass to Evan Arnold. The Saints scored a two-point try to maintain a 16-14 lead.
Norway took over in front of a raucous home crowd.
The Knights regained the lead on Andrew Hautamaki’s 1-yard run with three minutes left in the first quarter. Cameron Varda added a 9-yard TD run as time expired in the opening frame, giving Norway a 30-16 lead.
Varda added a 33-yard TD run in the second quarter. However, he was forced to leave due to injury shortly after. He finished the day with three carries for 97 yards and two TDs.
“Cam (Varda) hurt his ankle again.” Pop said. “So he had his limitations. Hopefully we can get him fixed by next week. Because as you can see, he’s hard to tackle and he has speed. He can hit that hole and once If you hit him, he’s gone.”
Norway would score two more times in the first half, both on passes to senior Landon Amundson. His first touchdown came on a 34-yard pass from Cole Bage. Although he was hit by an underthrow, Amundson made a comeback in time to break through the Saints’ defense and score a TD.
Two minutes later, Amundson caught a pass in the middle of the field, shook off a St. Ignace tackler, and ended up scoring a 42-yard TD. At this point, Norway was leading 52-16.
“I didn’t know Landon Amundson could do a little bit.”Shake & Bake,” said Pop. “He stopped midway and the child froze. He broke the kid’s ankle, circled the kid and scored. ”
Hautamaki scored on a 9-yard TD run just before halftime, giving the Knights a 60-16 advantage.
The Saints had 20-yard TD passes between Lester and Arnold in the fourth quarter to make the game 60-22.
Bryce Adams led the Norwegian offense with six catches for 94 yards and one TD. He also made an interception on defense.
The Knights also got help from Cole Byge (9/12, 175 yards, 3 TDs, 4 carries, 22 yards), Amundson (2 catches, 76 yards, 2 TDs) and Owen Byge (4 catches, 33 yards, 1 fumble recovery). Contributed. ), Hautamaki (10 rushes, 93 yards, 2 TDs), Keith Barker Jr. (7 tackles), Isaiah Spruce (6 tackles, 1 sack).
Norway travel to Munsing on Friday.
“I have to really focus on this week and have a solid week of practice.” Pop said. “Münsing, they’re good. We played against them and we know how good they are. They’re a very physical team.”
A complete gallery of the Knights’ victory can be found at https://www.ironmountaindailynews.com/sports/local-sports/2024/09/gallery-knights-roll-in-homecoming-against-saints/
Badger 48, Wolverine 16
NIAGARA, Wis. — The 2024 campaign has been a rough season so far for Niagara’s eight-man varsity football team. On Friday, the Badgers looked to change things up by welcoming Elcho/White Lake to town.
Niagara did just that when it gave the Wolverines a hard time at Homecoming, winning 48-16 in Northeast Conference play.
“Big Badgers homecoming win.” Badgers head coach Phillip Towns said. “We were outscored in every phase of the game. Our seniors really stepped up and made big play after big play. I’m so proud of what we accomplished tonight. ”
Dante Stahovic led Niagara’s offense with three passing touchdowns. On the night, he was 6-for-10, throwing for 108 yards and one interception. He carried the ball four times for 24 yards.
The Badgers also got contributions from Alex Tripp (15 carries, 121 yards, 2 TDs, 4 tackles, 4 deflections) and Tommy Martin (17 rushes, 165 yards, 2 TDs, 2 catches, 38 yards, 1 TD, 5 tackles, 1 TD) did. Cameron Schiefelbein (3 catches, 67 yards, 5 tackles for 2 TDs, 4 for a loss), Brayden Bartles (5 tackles, 1 for a loss), Owen Danks (8 tackles, 4 for a loss), Wyatt Danks (6 tackles) tackles, 4 lost, 1 interception).
Niagara resumed operations Friday in Wabeno, Wisconsin.
Nordiques 52, Rockets 0
FELCH TOWNSHIP — After a tough game against Forest Park last week, the North Dickinson varsity eight-man team lost to the Great Lakes Eight on Friday at James D. Priestup Memorial Field. -Central bounced back with a 52-0 win over Rapid River in the conference.
Nordics running back Jason Graham opened the scoring with a 15-yard run in the first quarter. A few minutes later, Brady Jungwirth connected with Trenton Kramer for a 42-yard TD. The two-point conversion was successful, giving North Dickinson a 16-0 lead.
In the second quarter, Trenton Kramer caught two TDs, one each from Graham and Ljungwirth, and Ljungwirth added a 38-yard TD run to give the Nordiques a 36-0 lead.
Miles Lindholm scored on a 2-yard run in the third and Graham added a 3-yard TD in the fourth, giving North Dickinson a 52-0 victory.
Graham led the Nordics with 101 rushing yards and two TDs on 12 carries.
North Dickinson also got contributions from Spencer Kramer (16 tackles, one interception), Tyler Fleming (10 tackles, one interception) and Graham (10 tackles, two sacks).
The Nordic team enters Stevenson on Friday.
Trojan 59, Lake 6
LAKE LINDEN — Last season, Forest Park’s 8-man varsity team’s season ended at Lake Linden-Hubbell. The Trojans did not forget.
On Friday, Forest Park got its revenge on the Lakes, en route to a 59-6 Great Lakes Eight Conference West victory.
The Trojans are 6-0 on the season and 1-0 in conference play.
Grayson Sandell (53 yards rushing, 17 yards rushing), Kevin Giuliani (35 yards catching), Dax Fuki (8 yards rushing), and Matthew Showers (safety) each scored in the first quarter, giving Forest Park 30 yards. I won with -0. lead.
Trent Kanich (21 yards catch), Fuki (5 yards rushing) and Nicholas Stevens (55 yards rushing) each scored on their second runs, increasing the Trojans’ lead to 52-6.
Kanich scored on a 3-yard run in the third as Forest Park won 59-6.
Sandel led the Trojans with 82 yards and two TDs on four carries.
Forest Park also stars Vic Giuliani (2-for-2, 56 yards, 2 TDs, 1 carry, 4 TDs), Fuki (9 carries, 80 yards, 2 TDs), Stevens (3 carries, 74 yards, 1 TD), Noah Starr (3 carries, 14 yards), Kanic (2 carries, 6 yards, 1 TD).
Stevens and Brodie Starr each recorded an interception for the Trojans.
Forest Park heads to Bessemer on Saturday.
Rangers 58, Bobcats 20
FLORENCE, Wis. — The Wausaukee Rangers withstood a third-quarter rally against Florence’s eight-man varsity football team to remain undefeated with a 58-20 win Friday at Robert Landry Field in Florence. was maintained.
Running back Jimmy Kausenbach scored the first point of the game for the Rangers (5-0) with eight seconds left in the first quarter. Senior quarterback Luke Smith converted the two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead.
Rangers running back Andrew Lawrence’s 3-yard TD run and two-point conversion with 3:42 left put Wausaukee up 16-0 at halftime.
“They (Wausaukee) are a good team, they play clean on both sides of the ball, and they have a big senior class that always helps.” Florence coach Kent Wahlstrom said.
A 39-yard pass from Smith to receiver Kaden Suenen extended Wausaukee’s lead to 22-0 early in the third quarter, and Florence scored on Nick Neville’s 37-yard touchdown run.
A fourth-and-inch play from the Bobcats’ own 29-yard line resulted in a botched swap between Wausaukee’s center and QB, and a Ranger penalty gave Florence possession of the ball at Wausaukee’s 7-yard line.
Senior Logan Kosky’s 2-yard run and successful two-point conversion cut the lead to 22-14 with just under four minutes left in the third quarter.
Smith was intercepted by Eli Malefke at the Rangers’ 42-yard line on Wausaukee’s next offensive possession, and Malefke returned the pick to the 19-yard line.
Koski’s second touchdown run, this time from 12 yards left, brought Florence within two points, 22-20, with 1:08 left in the third quarter, but the Bobcats’ 2-point shot missed and from there. Wausaukee took control first. of the game.
The Rangers’ recovery of Florence’s fumble gave Wausaukee good position at his own 40-yard line, and he began a scoring streak to start the fourth quarter.
The Rangers took a 36-20 lead on Smith’s 60-yard TD run and regained possession by recovering an onside kick at Florence’s own 49-yard line. Another long run by Smith and a 19-yard pass from Smith to Jeffrey Dunlap gave the Rangers a 42-20 lead with just under 10 minutes left.
“We knew we were going to have our hands full trying to contain Smith.” Walstrom said. “He just took over the game after we got within two points. He can run, he can really throw. He’s very accurate.
“He looks like the best quarterback in the conference, and I would say he’s the best offensive player in the conference that I’ve ever seen. He’s a very good player and had a great senior season.”
An interception by the Rangers’ Suenen, a 76-yard touchdown pass from Smith to Nathaniel Kusuba, and a two-point conversion run by Suenen increased Wausaukee’s lead to 50-20.
“It was another game like the one against Ishpeming early on, where we couldn’t do anything offensively and our defense was forced to spend a lot of time on the field.” Wahlstrom pointed out.
“That said, I’m proud of the fight we showed in the third quarter to get back in the game. We just didn’t have the personnel to handle them for four quarters tonight.”
Neville led Florence’s offense with 76 yards on 14 carries, and Koski added 56 yards on 11 carries.
Florence finished the game with linebacker Brayson Kelly recording 13 tackles and a half-sack. Defensive end Kosky had 10 tackles and a sack and a half, linebacker Neville had 10 tackles, and defensive lineman Sean Cassidy and safety Marefke each had six tackles.
Florence (2-3) hosts Three Lakes this Friday in the Bobcats’ annual homecoming game at Robert Landry Field.
