Forest Park running back Dax Houki (13) escapes a tackle during Friday’s game against Norway at Dick Mettlach Field. (Photo by Shawn Chase/Daily News)
CRYSTAL FALLS — Whenever Forest Park and Norway meet in an eight-man football game, there are bound to be fireworks.
The Knights played Friday’s game with a short list of personnel due to illness, but both teams played on Friday and the Trojans came away with a 42-40 win over Norway at Dick Mettlach Field.
“We knew we had to work really hard coming into this game.” Norway coach Scott Popp said: “We knew it was going to be a tough game with all the injuries. I was happy with the way they played early in the game. They showed spirit but illness just wore them down.”
“Coach (Fabri) has a great team. He has a lot of options. I think he’ll do great in the playoffs.”
Forest Park falls to 3-0 on the season, while the Knights fall to 2-1.
“I’m very happy.” Said Trojans coach Brian Fabbri: “Norway came out and attacked us right away. We looked bad on the first couple drives, but defensively we didn’t put much pressure on the quarterback, but we covered guys and guys were making plays.”
“So they beat us up and we got a little scared. Our guys weathered the storm and got it done.”
After stalling on the first two attempts, Forest Park’s offense surged forward with a rushing touchdown by Grayson Sandell with a minute left in the first quarter, and a missed extra point gave the Trojans a 6-0 lead.
Forest Park blocked the Knights’ next attempt and quickly switched to an aerial attack, as sophomore quarterback Vic Giuliani threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to senior Kevin Giuliani to give the Trojans a 12-0 lead.
“Offensively, we have two of the best linemen in UP in Kevin Giuliani and Matthew Showers.” “Sometimes we’ve got to rely on our seniors and let them make plays,” Fabbri said.
“I can’t say enough about those two kids. They’re a big part of this team.”
Norway broke through with a passing TD of their own on their next possession, when senior Cole Baij hit Josh Shilts for a 40-yard TD to put the Knights up 12-6.
Sandell extended the Trojans’ lead with a 44-yard TD run in the second quarter, and Vic Giuliani passed to Kevin Giuliani for a two-pointer to extend the lead to 20-6.
Vic Giuliani scored on a 12-yard quarterback keeper and Dax Hooki had a 34-yard rushing touchdown, giving Forest Park a 34-6 lead by halftime.
The Knights suffered a string of injuries in the second half and were down their No. 1 running back for the remainder of the day’s games.
“It’s not just Cameron Varda that’s missing, we’ve also missed Andrew Hautamaki. He’s our No. 1 running back.” “He couldn’t play,” Popp said, “and then we brought in Elliot Kramer, who was also a running back.”
“Then we have Landon Amundson at back, and he’s never played running back before. He got hurt. So we had to put Carter (Cazzola) at back. It’s tough to move a lineman to running back in the middle of a game.”
Vic Giuliani found Kevin Giuliani on the Trojans’ first drive of the second half for a 29-yard TD run to extend the lead to 36 points.
Norway’s beleaguered offense regained its rhythm on its second attempt of the third quarter.
The Knights ran five straight plays to put the score in reach when Cole Baij connected on Owen Baij for a 24-yard touchdown pass.
Cole Baij also scored on a 42-yard run in the fourth quarter as Norway lost, 42 to 20. After the game, Coach Fabbri focused on keeping his players focused.
“One week at a time.” Fabry said. “It doesn’t matter who we’re playing, where we’re playing or when we’re playing. Right now, we’re just thinking about North Dickinson.”
Owen Baij led the Knights with 144 yards receiving and a touchdown on six catches, and also ran five times for 22 yards.
Norway also got contributions from Cole Byge (16-of-29 passing for 244 yards, two touchdowns, one interception), Shilts (one catch, 40 yards receiving, one touchdown), Landon Amundson (nine tackles, one tackle for loss), Keith Barker (eight tackles) and Maddex Birklund (four tackles, one sack, one tackle for loss).
Forest Park received contributions from Sandell (111 yards, 16 carries, two touchdowns), Huecki (84 yards, 11 carries, one touchdown), Kevin Giuliani (83 yards, three catches, two touchdowns) and Vic Giuliani (14 yards, four rushes, one touchdown; completed 3 of 4 for 83 yards and two touchdowns).
The Trojans are in action again on Thursday, taking on North Dickinson at James D. Priestup Memorial Field.
“We can’t have the Kramer brothers out in public.” Fabry said. “We can’t give them time. We’ve got to get a better approach to the quarterback.”
The Knights are back in action on Friday with an away game against Ironwood.
Lakes 46, Nordiques 32
LAKE LINDEN — North Dickinson University’s eight-player varsity football team brought their talents to Lake Linden and gave it their all on Saturday against the Lakes.
But the Nordics couldn’t hang on to victory as Lake Linden-Hubbell won 46-32.
North Dickinson took the lead on its first drive of the first quarter when Brady Jungwirth connected with Trenton Kramer for a 19-yard touchdown.
Spencer Kramer scored a two-point try to give the Nordic team an 8-0 lead.
Lake Linden scored on three consecutive drives to take a 22-8 lead by the second quarter.
Lakes added one more point before halftime to take a 30-8 lead.
Jungwirth got the Nordics back in rhythm in the third quarter, finishing with a 51-yard touchdown pass to Trenton Kramer.
Jason Graham also had a 3-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to give North Dickinson a 46-24 lead.
Jungwirth and Trenton Kramer each caught a 6-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough for Lakes to pull out the win.
Trenton Kramer led the Nordiques in receiving yards with 14 catches for 208 yards. He also had three receiving TDs.
North Dickinson also got offensive contributions from Jungwirth (21-of-34 passing for 251 yards, three touchdowns, two interceptions), Spencer Kramer (seven catches, 43 yards) and Graham (six rushes, 49 yards, one touchdown).
Defensively, Graham led the team with 13 tackles. Trenton Kramer and Ty King each recorded 11 tackles.
The Nordicks host Forest Park at James D. Priestup Memorial Field on Thursday.
Cardinals 30, Badgers 12
NIAGARA, Wis. — The Niagara eight-man football team lost a home game to Newman Catholic, 30-12, on Friday.
“Another hard-fought defeat” Badgers head coach Philip Towns said. “Some mistakes cost us this win. They fought until the end.”
Senior Cameron Schiefelbein led Niagara’s receiving corps with four catches for 100 yards receiving and a touchdown.
The Badgers also received contributions from Tommy Martin (13 carries, 56 yards, 1 touchdown, completed 8 of 11 passes for 125 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception, 10 tackles), Alex Tripp (12 carries, 54 yards, 2 catches for 17 yards, 7 tackles, 1 deflection), Abein Patterson (5 carries, 12 yards, 3 tackles, 1 interception), Dante Stachovits (7 tackles) and Noah Wheeler (6 tackles, 1 interception).
Niagara will play away against Thuring on Friday.
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