Experience trumps youth as Knights top Nordics 60-6

FELCH TWP. -- The 8-player varsity football matchup between Norway and host North Dickinson on Friday turned out to be a battle between experience and youth.

And, it was Norway's experience that came out on top in a 60-6 victory.

"They start seven seniors. That's a big difference," said Nordics head coach Mike Christian. "They just outmuscled us."

North Dickinson has just three seniors on its roster.

Norway got contributions from a plethora of players, including quarterback Cole Baij, who finished the night hitting on 7 of 10 passing attempts for 108 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 17 yards and a TD.

Knights featured back Tyler Neuens, who missed half of the 2021 season with an injury, returned to the gridiron with a vengeance, tallying 126 yards and two touchdowns on just four carries.

"His cuts are phenomenal," said Norway coach Scott Popp. "We're excited to have him back."

Ian Popp added 128 yards on five carries for the Knights, while also scoring twice, and Michael Peterson had two catches for 38 yards.

Defensively, the Knights were led by linebacker Kyle Napientek with 13 tackles, including seven solo hits.

Popp said it was hard, at times, to pick out who should have received credit for a tackle. He was happy with how the defense was swarming to the ball and gang tackling.

"Our kids played aggressive," Popp said. "They went to the ball."

He was also pleased with the performance of his entire defensive line, especially ends Blake Dishaw and Peterson, for not letting Nordic players get outside of containment.

That's not to say the host Nordics didn't provide their fans with something to cheer about, including what may have been the play of the game. While already trailing in the first half, quarterback Antonio Inglese heaved the ball downfield to teammate Spencer Kramer and it was nearly picked off by Neuens. But, the football then seemingly turned into a pinball, ricochetting off of Neuens, his fellow Knight Ian Popp and Kramer twice before Kramer hauled it in and raced down the sideline for a 71-yard score.

Kramer finished the game catching 166 of the Nordics' 169 passing yards thrown by Inglese. Running back Wyatt Glasheen added 38 yards rushing, with the Knights holding North Dickinson to less than 100 yards on the ground overall.

While unhappy with the loss, Christian said he was happy with what he saw as the game progressed.

"I thought we improved as the game went on," he said. "They performed better in the second half."

The Knights next host Ironwood (0-1) on Thursday at 6 p.m., while North Dickinson will travel to play Lake Linden-Hubbell (1-0) on Friday at 5 p.m.