(Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette) Lake Linden-Hubbell’s Caleb Klein (33) dives to tackle North Central’s Luke Gorzinski (11) on Saturday in Lake Linden. The Jets won 34-22 as Gorzinski rushed for 187 yards.

LAKE LINDEN — Luke Gorzinski and the North Central Jets simply don’t know how to slow down. Even in a time when COVID-19 restrictions make it inevitable for idle times.

In the Jets’ first game after a two-week hiatus because of COVID-19, Gorzinski and the Jets showed why they’re the No. 2 team in the state. On a cold and soggy day characterized by a 31 degree temperature with snow at kickoff, that warmed just enough into rain in the second half, North Central and Lake Linden-Hubbell traded blows at Warner Field.

When the mud settled, the U.P. Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association No. 2 Jets were 34-22 victors over the No. 4 Lakes. But it wasn’t always so easy for the Jets, who at one point held a 20-point lead. The Lakes (2-3) later made it a six-point game.

It was the 18th meeting between the schools and the first since North Central’s 22-14 win in 2013. Gorzinski paced North Central’s offense with 187 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 38 carries. He also completed 5 of 10 passes for 108 yards.

The Jets put up 283 yards of total offense, while Lake Linden-Hubbell amassed 305 yards.

It was Gorzinski’s and the rest of North Central’s first time on the field in half a month.

“Hats off to Lake Linden. That was just a good physical football game,” said North Central head coach Leo Gorzinski. “We are missing six of our normal starters due to COVID-19. In fact, we have been off for two weeks without a practice. When the kids got on the bus today, it was our first football activity in two weeks.”

The Jets (5-0), who are also ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press poll, didn’t seem to have missed a step. Despite a few mishaps that could easily have been attributed to miserable weather conditions, North Central looked strong.

On their first possession in the first quarter, Gorzinski led a 53-yard drive that culminated in his 22-yard touchdown run. On the Lakes’ ensuing possession, North Central’s Carter Eichmeier intercepted a deflected pass on the line of scrimmage and returned it about 30 yards for the score and a 12-0 lead.

As the second quarter got under way, it became a 20-0 contest as the Jets put together a 91-yard drive which ended with a Gorzinski touchdown and a successful two-point conversion.

“We were having trouble today with some of the ball handling there in the first, so Luke became our go-to guy,” said the Jets coach.

Then it was the Lakes turn to get on the score board, and they did it in quick fashion. First it was a 61-yard run by Caleb Klein. Just a possession later, quarterback Brandon LaVigne one upped him with a 76-yard sprint down the sidelines. With the two-point conversion good it became a one-possession contest at 20-16.

But the Lakes’ luck ran out shortly after. With just under a minute to go in the first half, LaVigne squared up to punt and was blocked by the Jets. Three plays later Gorzinski worked his touchdown magic again to make it 28-16 at halftime.

Late in the third quarter, Klein cut to the outside on a 30-yard dash to make the score 28-22 headed into the fourth.

Gorzinski, however, ran for his fourth score with 16 seconds left in the third, the final points of the game.

North Central 12 16 6 0 –34

Lake Linden-Hubbell 0 16 6 0 — 22

First Quarter

NC — L. Gorzinski 22 run (2-point failed), 9:59.

NC — Eichmeier 30 interception return (2-point failed), 6:23.

Second Quarter

NC– L. Gorzinski 12 run (2-point conversion), 8:01.

LL-H — Klein 61 run (2-point conversion), 7:48.

LL-H– Lavigne 75 run (2-point conversion), 4:16.

NC — Gorzinski 2 run (2-point conversion), 0:19.

Third Quarter — Klein 31 run (2-point failed), 5:54.

NC– L. Gorzinski 8 run (2-point failed), 0:16.

Individual Statistics

RUSHING — North Central, L. Gorzinski 38-187, I. Gorzinski 5-(minus 12). Lake Linden-Hubbell, Klein 19-146, Lavigne 11-97, Brinkman 4-(minus 1).

PASSING –North Central, L. Gorzinski 5-10-0-108. Lake Linden-Hubbell, Lavigne 2-5-1-56, Brinkman 1-2-0-7, Klein 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVING — North Central, I. Gorzinski 4-95, Casperson 1-13. Lake Linden-Hubbell, Lyons 1-32, M. Codere 2-31.