Kingsford’s Scott Wyatt (24) tries to bat down a Hancock passing attempt during Friday night’s varsity football contest at Flivver Field. (Sean Chase/Daily News photo)

KINGSFORD — With the stands of Flivvers Field packed for homecoming, the Kingsford varsity football team put on a show against West PAC-Copper Division foe Hancock.

The Flivvers (5-1, 4-1) shellacked the Bulldogs (1-5, 0-) en route to a 42-0 shutout win on Friday.

“Overall, we did what we probably should have done,” said Flivvers coach Mark Novara. “Give those guys credit. They came out here and played hard. They were just a little overmatched. But they went out there each play and strapped it up and played as hard as they could.”

Elizin Rouse kicked off the Kingsford scoring on the team’s first offensive snap taking a handoff 60 yards to paydirt. He finished with five carries for 199 yards and two touchdowns.

After the game, Rouse made sure to praise his line.

“My linemen getting up to the second level and being able to hold their blocks,” Rouse said. “They’re big and fast.”

Coach Novara echoed Rouse’s sentiments towards the offensive line.

“They’re a nice crew,” Novara said. “They’re a mix of some older guys and some younger guys, and we got to lean on those guys in the last three games here, for sure.”

For junior tackle Wyatt Shippy, the offensive line is looking to prove a point since losing to Negaunee.

“After Negaunee, we just didn’t play our best that game and we really wanted to get in there and prove who we are,” Shippy said.

On Kingsford’s second drive, it decided to give the Bulldogs a taste of its aerial attack, as junior quarterback Nic Novara dropped the ball perfectly into senior wide receiver Michael Floriano’s outstretched arms. Floriano never broke stride as he rolled in for a 45-yard TD to put the Flivvers ahead 14-0, two minutes into the first quarter.

Nic Novara finished the day 5-for-10 passing for 103 yards and a score.

Although it started fast, Kingsford’s offense began to sputter and that’s when the defense stepped up.

Five plays into Hancock’s fourth drive, senior quarterback Bryce Hanner lost control of the football and Flivvers senior Grayson Palmer exited the pile clutching the football.

“They’ve been great all year,” Novara said, “They’ve kept us in games. They’ve done all kinds of things where when our offense isn’t performing at a high level, they’re able to keep us in ball games.”

The Kingsford offense took that momentum and extended its advantage to 20 as senior running back Alex Rittenhouse scored a rushing touchdown. He finished with six carries for 86 yards and a TD.

A few moments later, the Flivvers’ ground attack extended the lead even more as junior Andres Finley punched in a 17-yard run. Rouse capped the drive with a 2-point conversion run, putting them ahead 28-0.

Rouse wasn’t done for the day either, adding a 59-yard touchdown run to his total 15 seconds into the third quarter as Kingsford pulled ahead 35-0.

Senior fullback Gage Gendron pushed the Flivvers lead to 42 on a 2-yard run midway through the third quarter. Neither team would score from then on.

Although he didn’t reach the end zone, Max Sundquist helped carry the load with eight rushes for 83 yards.

With postseason play just around the corner, Coach Novara’s message to the players has been simple.

“Just flat out get better, make plays, and get better,” Novara said. “That’s been the message since that (Negaunee) game. We have to make big plays offensively. Defensively, doing what we’re doing. And we saw a few of them tonight.”

Kingsford heads to Ishpeming on Friday to face off with the Westwood Patriots. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.