×

UP Arctic Blast back on track

Take .500 mark into home game with Green Bay

UP Arctic Blast Coach TJ McCarthy talks things over during a game last season. The Blast and Green Bay Blackjacks meet at 3 p.m. Saturday at Niagara’s Ropele Field in a Northern Lights Football League game. (Burt Angeli/Daily News photo)

NIAGARA, Wis. — UP Arctic Blast have turned things around after starting the Northern Lights Football League campaign with a pair of losses.

Fox River Raiders and Tri-City Bulldogs put the Blast in an 0-2 hole. But they have bounced back after beating the Dodge County Braves and Wisconsin Ravens.

“I saw something click,” said Blast Coach TJ McCarthy. “First time I was happy with a loss.”

The Blast (2-2) hope to go over the .500 mark Saturday, meeting the defending league champion Green Bay Blackjacks at 3 p.m. Saturday at Niagara’s Ropele Field.

“I knew we would be rebuilding,” McCarthy said. “We recruited young kids.”

The Blast, with players from throughout the UP and northern Wisconsin, rallied from a 10-6 deficit to beat the Dodge County Braves 26-10.

McCarthy said Niagara’s Alex Dumke was a dynamo in the game with three interceptions, one for a score, and also caught a touchdown pass.

“Our defense was phenomenal,” McCarthy said. “The guys have really pulled together.”

McCarthy, a Blast player for nine years (2001-2009), says this season’s defense is the best since 2006.

The Blast, according to McCarthy, had not defeated the Wisconsin Ravens since this season’s 13-12 decision. David Halvorson caught the deciding touchdown pass from former Northern Michigan University player Calvin Lowe.

Daven Bosma had four sacks in the game including one to end the game.

The mobile Lowe moved to starting quarterback after an injury to starting quarterback Trevor Kraemer.

“This team gets along,” McCarthy said. “This is the most fun I’ve had in five years.”

Joe Smotucha and Jared Humblet, one of four Humblets on the team, serve as team captains. McCarthy said Trey Adams runs over people from a running back spot.

“We have ‘next man up’ as our team slogan,” said McCarthy, who reports a roster of 37 players. “I’m not a genius as a coach but this team has come together. We are doing so many things right.”

The semi-pro Blast have four regular season games remaining before, hopefully, the postseason.

“We’re not done,” McCarthy said. “We’re just starting.”

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today