North Central's Carter Holle (81) sheds Rudyard defenders on Saturday in Powers. (Burt Angeli/The Daily News)

POWERS — North Central scored 44 points in the first quarter and dominated Rudyard 76-8 Saturday.

The tone was set early with the Jets’ Noah Gorzinski returning the opening kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown. His two-point conversion run gave North Central an 8-0 lead 13 seconds into the game.

Senior quarterback Brady Eichmeier and junior quarterback and wide receiver Gorzinski split time at the QB position and both led the 600-yard Jets’ offensive performance.

Eichmeier was 14 of 17 passing for 225 yards and four touchdowns.

He also caught a touchdown pass and had 44 receiving yards on two catches.

Gorzinski accounted for six touchdowns and was 10 of 13 throwing for 181 yards and four TDs.

“We were firing on all cylinders today,” said North Central coach Leo Gorzinski.

“From Monday’s practice to game time (Saturday), we are finally playing with the speed and intensity we are supposed to be playing and expecting out of this team.”

Senior receiver Carter Holle caught seven passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns and junior Leo Gorzinski Jr. contributed three catches for 77 yards and a touchdown.

Seven different players scored touchdowns for the Jets.

With no junior varsity game, North Central used some freshman and sophomores off its JV roster on Saturday.

Two JV players, Alex Naser and Luke Kleiman, scored touchdowns for the Jets.

Rudyard (2-1) came into the game following wins over North Dickinson and Brimley but were without three-year starter QB Dylan Mills.

Mills is out for the season following an injury against Brimley and Bulldogs’ coach Steve Sawyer didn’t use Mills’ absence as an excuse.

“We didn’t see this coming,” Sawyer said. “This was our worst nightmare seeing big, strong, defensive lineman firing off the ball.

“Their physicality, they (North Central) are legit and very good. We saw them on film and we thought we could compete with them. We can’t run our offense if we can’t pull our guards and center.”

Rudyard did not score until the final play of the second half with a running clock throughout the final 24 minutes.

Louie Mayer broke loose for a 60-yard touchdown run and E.J. Suggitt ran in the two-point conversion for the Rudyard scoring.

“We will do what we can and move forward,” Sawyer said. “Our goals are to win games and make the playoffs.”

North Central (2-1) plays at Ontonagon on Friday.

Jets’ coach Gorzinski is pleased with his team and looks forward to the tough stretch ahead.

“The intensity with how we are playing and coming off the ball is improving. We are flying around and playing fast and causing turnovers.”

Rudyard 0 0 0 8 — 8

North Central 44 20 6 6 — 76

First Quarter

NC — Gorzinski 80 kickoff return (2-pt conversion), 11:47

NC — Holle 61 pass from B. Eichmeier (2-pt conversion), 9:25

NC — Nester 14 pass from Gorzinski (2-pt conversion), 7:35

NC — N. Gorzinski 34 pass from L. Gorzinski (2-pt conversion), 6:24

NC — C. Eichmeier 34 pass from N. Gorzinski (Gronmark kick failed), 3:14

NC — N. Gorzinski 60 run (Gronmark kick), 0:57

Second Quarter

NC — Kleiman 12 pass from Kleiman (Gronmark kick), 9:41

NC — Hanchek 14 pass from B. Eichmeier (Gronmark kick), 7:57

NC — Holle 32 pass from B. Eichmeier (Gronmark kick blocked), 1:14

Third Quarter

NC — Hanchek 1 run (Gronmark kick missed), 3:29

Fourth Quarter

NC — C. Eichmeier 8 pass from B. Eichmeier (Gronmark kick failed), 5:00

R — Mayer 60 run (2-pt conversion), 0:00

North Central statistics

RUSHING — Gorzinski 3-67, Hanchek 4-24, Leo Gorzinski 1-19, Alex Nester 5-10, Brady Eichmeier 2-4

PASSING — Noah Gorzinski 10-13, 181, 4 TDs, Brady Eichmeier 14-17, 225, 4 TDs

RECEIVING — Carter Holle 7-175, 2 TDs, Leo Gorzinski 3-77, 1 TD, Brady Eichmeier 2-44, 1 TD, Carter Eichmeier 2-20, 1 TD, Alex Naser 3-32, 1 TD, Hanchek 1-14, 1 TD, Noah Gorzinski 1-12, 1 TD