(Jason Juno photo) Norway’s Chase Carlson (9) celebrates with Tyler Neuens, who had caught a touchdown pass on the play, in a Great Lakes 8 Conference West Division game Friday night at Longyear Field in Ironwood.

IRONWOOD — Ironwood football was back at Longyear Field Friday night for the first time since 2016.

“It was awesome. It was amazing,” Ironwood coach Kevin Lane said. “I expected a big crowd, but I didn’t expect what we had today and how loud and excited they were.”

The result didn’t go their way, though, as a seasoned Norway team won the non-conference contest 40-0.

Knights senior Chase Carlson scored twice, including a 93-yard reception, as he ended the game with 125 receiving yards.

Both teams are new to 8-player, but the similarities end there. Norway had been its own 11-player team up until this season and has a roster of nearly all upperclassmen, while Ironwood restarted its own program after a handful of their kids played with Gogebic Miners co-op for four seasons.

“We’re starting young guys, playing experienced guys and we’re proud of the way they’re fighting,” Lane said. “They have room for improvement, but it’s the heart that makes us proud, they’re trying their best.”

The Knights’ defense had another impressive showing, shutting out a Red Devil team that had scored 64 points combined in its first two games. Ironwood made it to the red zone several times but just couldn’t punch it in and they were out-gained 467-204 thanks to Norway’s success through the air. The Knights were able to hit four pass plays of over 30 yards for a total of 228 yards.

Norway gave up just eight points last week at Lake Linden-Hubbell. A good defense seems to be a rarity in 8-player football, but the Knights have one.

“We switched up some things on defense, we just want to confuse other teams,” Norway coach Scott Popp said. “And we really come to play, I’ve got some physical kids that want to hit and I think that wears down a team.”

The defense showed up early for both teams as they traded interceptions to start the game with Norway’s Michael Peterson picking off a pass on the second play of the game and Ironwood’s Drew Dabb returning the favor.

But Ironwood couldn’t cash in and the Knights did on their ensuing possession. Gabe Hautamaki put Norway on the board with a six-yard touchdown run and his conversion run made it 8-0 Norway.

Norway forced an Ironwood punt on the next possession and the Knights scored another first-quarter touchdown, this one on a 43-yard pass from Michael Peterson to Tyler Neuens.

The Knights made it 20-0 in the second quarter on a nine-yard run by Carlson. Carlson hit another long pass, a 45-yard toss to Aiden Richards into Ironwood territory, but Ironwood’s Gavin Delich came up with the interception to end the drive and keep it 20-0 at the half.

On their first possession of the second half, Peterson threw 32 yards to Carlson on fourth down. That put Norway at the Ironwood 10 and Peterson scored on a one-yard run for a 28-0 lead.

Dabb intercepted another Norway pass late in the third, giving Ironwood the ball at the Norway 10, but they were again stopped short of the end zone.

The Norway defense always seemed to be up to the challenge. Penalties also hurt Ironwood’s offense, but not as much as the Knights’ defense did.

“I thought our offense would move the ball well on them, but we just couldn’t,” Lane said.

Norway scored twice in the fourth, on a 93-yard pass from Peterson to Carlson and a 19-yard run by Cole Baij.

Peterson ended up with 228 passing yards on just five completions in his first start as the original starter missed the game with COVID-19. He was 5 of 11 with three interceptions.

“He’s got good vision of the field,” Popp said.

Norway hosts Crystal Falls Forest Park on Friday.

Norway 14 6 8 12 — 40

Ironwood 0 0 0 0 — 0