North Central lineman Owen Chartier (56) and his brother Fabian Chartier (27) pull out to block for running back Alex Naser (88) Saturday at Stephenson. The Jets completed an undefeated regular season with a 50-8 win over the Eagles. (Matt McCarthy/Daily News photo)

LAKE TOWNSHIP — Behind five total touchdowns from sophomore quarterback Luke Gorzinski, North Central completed a third straight undefeated regular season, rolling Stephenson 50-8 Saturday afternoon at Herbert Corey Track and Field.

Gorzinski, with four rushing tallies on the day, scored on a 62-yard run on the first play from scrimmage. He added a four-yard run a little more than five minutes later and a 64-yard run with a minute left in the first stanza, as the Jets built a 22-0 lead at the end of the first quarter and never looked back.

Gorzinski added a touchdown pass to cousin Ian Gorzinski and later ran in a eight-yard touchdown for the Jets to take a 36-0 advantage into the half. A running clock was in effect the remainder of the game.

The Jets’ offensive attack was very balanced. As the weather gets colder and potentially wet, that’s an essential thing in 8- or 11-player competition. North Central head coach Leo Gorzinski emphasized blocking as a key to both.

“I want to give credit to the guys up front, our lineman. The work that they did over the summer,” said Coach Gorzinski. “Our playoff loss to Pickford at home last season really motivated them to work harder and get their timing down better.”

The coach credited Carter Eichmeier and Fabian Chartier for their season long technique.

“Those two have made our running game so much better, I want to credit them both,” Gorzinski said.

The Jets played five games and received a forfeit win from Lake Linden. The week before North Central went to Ron Warner Field and beat Lake Linden-Hubbell in the snow and rain. The Jets will host winless Engadine in a first round playoff game Saturday at noon at Powers.

The Eagles played hard and didn’t give up even with the running clock in the second half.

“Our season has been up and down, the last three weeks, we got off to slow starts, and it really hurt us, today as well,” said Stephenson head coach Logan Carlson. “We shot ourselves in the foot and North Central is too good of a team for that to happen.”

Carlson emphasized that despite three straight losses, his players didn’t give up and kept playing till the end of each game.

“If we’re going to go anywhere in the postseason, we need to get better and clean up or mistakes.

Stephenson (3-3) also qualified for the MHSAA football playoffs, as they’ll travel to Pickford on Thursday. The Eagles are in Division 1 of the 8-player playoffs, while the Jets are in Division 2.

The Jets, as a team, are a very tight knit, coach Gorzinski noted. A third straight undefeated regular season is something the Jets can hang their helmets (hats) on.

“We been able to field some really talented players here at North Central,” Coach Gorzinski said. “This particular group of kids is really hungry. They want to succeed. We worked to get away from having to rely so much on our passing game. Our shortened season had its ups and downs, but we’re happy to be playing in times like this.”

NC – 22 14 6 8 — 50

S – 0 0 0 8 — 8

1st Quarter

NC- Luke Gorzinski 62 yard run (Alex Naser run), 11:12, 8-0

NC- L. Gorzinski 4 yard run (Ian Gorzinski reception from L. Gorzinski), 6:21, 16-0

NC- L. Gorzinski 64 yard run (Run failed), 1:02, 22-0

2nd Quarter

NC- I. Gorzinski 23 yard reception from L. Gorzinski (Pass failed), 6:40, 28-0

NC- L. Gorzinski 8 yard run, (Wyatt Raab run), 1:04, 36-0

3rd Quarter

NC- Naser 9 yard run (Pass failed), 6:53, 42-0

NC-Raab 44 yard run (Luke Kleiman reception from I. Gorzinski), 9:25, 50-0

S- Spencer Coldren 48 yard run (James Coldren reception from S. Coldren), 4:06, 50-8

Total Offense

NC- 372 yards; Stephenson- 80 yards

North Central Stats

Luke Gorzinski: 13 carries, 189 yards, 4 TD; 5-7 passing for 48 yards and a touchdown.

Ian Gorzinski: 3 receptions, 35 yards and a touchdown

Fumble Recoveries

NC- Alex Naser, Fabian Chartier, Luke Kleiman

S- Spencer Coldren, Tristan Kacynski