Forest Park sophomore Vic Giuliani, 12, picks off a pass for Onekama during an eight-man game in the MHSAA Division 2 state semifinals Saturday at Dick Mettlach Field. (Sean Chase/Daily News Photo)
CRYSTAL FALLS — In 2017, Forest Park’s varsity eight-man football team won the state championship.
On Saturday, the Trojans have a chance to add to their historic football legacy when they take on Onekama at Dick Metluck Field in the Michigan High School Athletic Association 8-Man Division 2 semifinals.
It was a close game from start to finish, but Forest Park took advantage of multiple mistakes by the Portagers to win 49-24.
“peace of mind,” FP head coach Brian Fabbri said. “We’ve been working hard since June and July. Over the summer, our seniors came and our juniors came. It’s a relief just to get there. We’ve worked hard all year long. We’ve had our ups and downs. (We) lost that Week 9 game, but I think that ultimately helped us set our sights on the big picture.
“It was a really good Onekama team. They didn’t quit. They got down early and fought back. They turned it into a football game. It was a lot closer than the scoreboard showed.”
Now, the Trojans will face Morris (11- We are focusing on 1). Morris defeated Britton Deerfield 36-0 on Saturday to secure a spot in the title game.
“At the end of the day, it’s football.” Fabbri said. “It’s a state championship game, but while the whistle blows, it’s just football. Play the game you grew up loving. Play the game you enjoy, that’s what it comes down to for me. That’s it. Enjoy the game and leave it all on the field.”
The Trojans got to work immediately after receiving the opening kickoff. On the first play of the first drive, sophomore Dax Fuki broke through Onekama’s defense and ran 63 yards for a TD, giving Forest Park a 7-0 lead 15 seconds into the game.
The Portagers did nothing on their second drive, with an incomplete pass on fourth-and-4 at the Trojans’ own 49-yard line, giving the ball back to Forest Park.
After using five plays to get inside the Onekama 15-yard line, the Trojans handed the ball to senior Grayson Sandell. He drove the ball in from 11 yards to go, and sophomore Dietrich Lassner completed the extra-point kick, giving his team a 14-0 advantage.
Sandel added another touchdown, this time from 6 yards out, with 57 seconds left in the first quarter. Lasner scored the extra point try, increasing the lead to 21-0. 
“This is Onekama’s achievement.” Fabbri said. “They’re well-coached. They dropped 21 (points), but they bounced back from there. It was good to get a quick start and hold the lead.”
Onekama appeared to have figured things out offensively on his fourth drive of the game, taking the ball past the 50-yard line for the first time after Trojans senior Kevin Giuliani was called for roughing the passer. Ta. Then a false start call started to unravel things.
On the next play, the Portagers fumbled but managed to get the ball back. And on 2-15, Forest Park sophomore defensive back Vic Giuliani picked off an errant pass from Onekama’s Luke Bradford.
The Portagers found their footing late in the second quarter after a helmet-to-helmet call moved the ball into Forest Park territory. Then, on a 2-10 at-bat, Onekama running back Nathaniel Barnett found a seam on the outside and sprinted 52 yards for a TD. The Portagers scored a two-point try, cutting the Trojans’ lead to 21-8.
“(It) had a lot of momentum for them before the first half, got a touchdown and shut us down there.” Fabbri said. “My message at halftime was, ‘We’re in the state semifinal game and we’re leading.’ So we allowed one big play and that was the problem. Our message was “Please continue playing soccer.” Don’t bow your head. You are in the lead. enjoy.
“…They bend but don’t break. That’s their quality and they’re fun to watch.”
After halftime, Onekama’s offense got back to work and looked like they would be looking to score again. But on second-and-3, the Portagers got the ball and Vic Giuliani ran it for 22 yards.
Three plays later, Forest Park senior Nick Stevens drilled the ball in from 10 yards left, increasing the lead to 20 points.
Bradford scored on Onekama’s next drive on a quarterback keeper. A successful two-point conversion cut the Trojans’ lead to 12 points, 28-16.
As the game became tense, Portagers fans became more involved in the game, especially in the section behind the Forest Park bench. Nowhere was that more evident than when the Trojans faced a third-and-two at Onekama’s 48-yard line.
“It comes down to finding a way.” Fabbri said. “The crowd behind (our bench) was buzzing as well. We had a third-down conversion and they were going for it. That’s just one of the things we stayed focused on, not jumping in and doing our job. I accomplished it.”
Forest Park turned to Stevens, who ran for eight yards on the conversion. The Trojans also converted on fourth-and-2 when Huki ran for a first down.
After a fierce battle, Forest Park took the lead with Fuki’s 3-yard TD run with 55 seconds left in the third quarter, taking a 35-16 lead.
Onekama fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and junior Trent Cannick took advantage, scoring a 22-yard TD on a run near the right end.
Kanic carried the ball on eight consecutive plays late in the fourth quarter, scoring a 7-yard TD.
“can’t believe it” Fabbri said. “That kid hardly ever comes off the field. (He) plays defensive end, (he) is our lead blocking fullback 90 percent of the time, and he’s like, ‘Coach, I want the ball. ” he said. As a coach, there’s nothing like looking into kids’ eyes and just knowing that’s how they feel. We just kept riding him and he kept drinking the whole time. He doesn’t go down on the first hit.
“He’s a great kid and I’m very proud of him. He’s put in a solid effort this year.”
Senior defensive lineman Kevin Giuliani picked up a big sack in the Forest Park win.
“(He) is completely unbelievable.” Fabbri said. “He’s the biggest guy on the field, so you can’t hide him. You’re not going to try to sneak him out somewhere. That’s not the case with Kevin. That’s because he’s a great player. It was one of those things where I just did my job instead of trying to do everything.
“We tried to throw him a few passes and it just didn’t work out. He played through a lot of adversity and banged his ankle, but it was just the kid wanting it more.” .”
