Kingsford senior quarterback Nic Novara (7) loads up a pass as Gladwin’s Preston Willert (14) tries to apply pressure on Saturday at Flivver Field. (Terry Raiche photo)

KINGSFORD — All season long, the Kingsford varsity football team has found a way to keep its winning streak alive. And on Saturday, as it opened the MHSAA Division 5 state football playoffs against Gladwin, it looked like the Flivvers were going to once again pull off a win.

However, the Flying G’s came to play and Kingsford ended up suffering an 18-15 defeat at Flivver Field.

“It was kind of how we thought it would be — we knew it was going to be a battle,” Flivvers head coach Mark Novara said. “Our district, I think it’s the toughest in the state. These guys had a couple losses, but they were really close games, against really good teams. They presented a lot of challenges for us right away and we just couldn’t get it done.”

Kingsford got the ball to open the ball game and looked to lean on its running game. Senior Gavin Trevillian racked up 11 rushing yards while Caleb Kleist added another 11 rushing yards. However, the Flivvers drive stalled forcing a punt.

The Flying G’s immediately took advantage, turning to its run game as senior Trace Corlew piled on the yards. But a holding call and a bad snap, stopped Gladwin’s momentum as it lined up looking to convert a third and 22.

As the play developed, Kingsford seemingly had the Flying G’s attack maintained as an errant pass headed directly into the hands of Flivvers’ junior Sid Olson. However, it squirted out of his grasp and into the outstretched hands of Corlew. He scampered 48-yards for the TD as Gladwin took a 7-0 advantage.

Both teams’ second drives ended similarly to the first. Kingsford was forced to punt and the Flying G’s added a three-yard TD on a quarterback draw by Colton Pfenninger. They converted the 2-point try and increased the lead to 15-0 with 28 seconds left in the first quarter.

Neither team would score again until the end of the second, where a pass interference penalty against the Flying G’s set up a 22-yard TD pass from Nic Novara to Gavin Grondin. Grondin was surrounded by Gladwin defenders and hauled in the ball after a tip. Kingsford entered the halftime break trailing 15-7.

However, for the first time all game the Flivvers held the momentum.

“It was a brand-new ball game,” coach Novara said. “We were kind of down and I think momentum swung a little bit there.

Coming out of the locker room, Kingsford’s defense seemed to have risen to the occasion.

“I think executing our gameplan, defensively,” coach Novara said. “They’ve been good all year and they were good again today.”

The Flivvers also made offensive adjustments, moving Nic Novara from the shotgun and putting him under center.

“Their nose tackle is really good,” coach Novara said. “Kaden Reid, he created a lot of problems for us and we know that coming in. We had a young sophomore at center, who battled his butt off today. He did. That kid is a three year guy for (Gladwin). He’s a good football player and he causes a lot of disruptions.”

The change worked and with its defense dominating, the Flivvers found a spark when Trevillian broke through the Gladwin defensive line and scampered 44-yards for a TD. Nic Novara found Brettin Rouse on the 2-point conversion and the game was suddenly tied at 15.

“We just had a hard time running the ball,” coach Novara said. “This is a tough game when you can’t run the ball.

“I know we got one long run but it was tough sledding for us all day.”

Gladwin added a field goal in the fourth quarter, forcing Kingsford to make a play to win the game. However, the Flivvers couldn’t crack the Flying G’s defense and ended up losing.

“It came down to making plays at the end,” coach Novara said. “They make a long throw and end up capitalizing with the field goal. We got it down here and I thought we were going to pull another one out, but we couldn’t get it done.”

The loss also means the end of the road for Kingsford’s senior class.

“These guys are gamers,” coach Novara said. “They always have been and it’s hard to see this group go because, if you look at their records they’ve won a lot of games compared to not a lot of losses. Unfortunately, this one happened. Like I told them after the game, ‘There’s only eight teams that don’t end the season with a loss.’ We worked hard to get a couple of home games and couldn’t capitalize.”