Forest Park running back Dax Huuki (13) breaks away from North Central defenders during the second half at Dick Mettlach Field on Friday. (Sean Chase/Daily News photo)

CRYSTAL FALLS — For the second time in three weeks, the Forest Park and North Central 8-player varsity football teams faced off at Dick Mettlach Field in Crystal Falls on Friday.

This time, though, there was a MHSAA 8-player Division 2 regional title on the line.

After falling to the Jets in Week 9, the Trojans exacted their revenge and rolled to a 34-12 victory.

“Unbelievable,” Forest Park head coach Brian Fabbri said. “I’m more happy for the kids. I got to experience this as a player, and it’s fun. It’s something you’ll never forget. To me, they wrote their chapter in the Forest Park football lore. We’re not done yet, but that’s a good place to start.”

For the Jets, the mood after the game was somber as their seniors spoke to their teammates in the huddle.

“You don’t want to make excuses, but we weren’t able to show up here tonight with the best possible team that we could have,” Jets’ head coach Leo Gorzinski said. “When you’ve got evenly matched teams, you need to be at full-strength. We just simply weren’t. Hats off to Crystal Falls, I wish them the best of luck.

“To my team, what a great group of kids. Everybody knows we’re a family. Obviously, Lane is my son but I’ve watched every one of these seniors grow up. From first grade birthday parties to whatever it was. They fought right until the end. They’re true football players.”

Forest Park’s Nik Stephens scored the opening TD on a 10-yard pass from Vic Giuliani. The Trojans missed the extra point attempt and led 6-0.

The lead wouldn’t last for long as North Central scored two plays into its next drive when Lane Gorzinski broke away on a 36-yard TD run. The Jets missed their extra point try and the game was tied at six.

Forest Park immediately strung together a six-play drive in response with sophomore Dax Huuki punching in a 5-yard TD run. Dietrich Rasner drilled the extra point kick and the Trojans led 13-6.

A horse collar tackle call against Forest Park on the ensuing kickoff set up the Jets with favorable field position. However, a sack from the Trojans’ Trent Kannich forced North Central into a fourth and 18. That didn’t phase Lane Gorzinski, who carried the ball 29 yards for a TD.

The Jets went into halftime trailing the Trojans, 13-12.

Huuki extended Forest Park’s lead on its first drive of the second half, taking the ball 27 yards for a TD.

After stopping the Jets on their next drive, the Trojans once again turned to Huuki. He didn’t disappoint, breaking through North Central’s defense for a 65-yard TD run. Forest Park’s lead was now up to 27-13.

The Trojans forced the Jets to turn the ball over on downs during their next drive and went to work. Forest Park strung together 13 plays which Huuki capped off with an 8-yard TD run that sealed the game late in the fourth quarter, giving it a 34-12 advantage.

“That was awesome,” Fabbri said. “He broke a tackle from Lane Gorzinski in the backfield. That was, to me, the tipping point. Biggest play of the season so far.”

North Central senior Lane Gorzinski ended the game with two rushing TDs. For the Trojans, that was an improvement from their first meeting.

“We found a way,” Fabbri said. “He had a lot of guys injured, a lot of guys banged up. We had multiple looks in there and we found one that worked. Coach Dan Nocerini suggested a two-linebacker set and the rest is kind of history. We shut them down.

“Our theme is kind of, ‘Find a way,’ and we did that tonight.”

Huuki led the way for Forest Park with 247 rushing yards and four TDs.

The Trojans also received contributions from Vic Giuliani (7 for 10, 122 yards, 1 TD; 3 carries, 6 yards), Stephens (5 carries, 10 yards; 1 catch, 10 yards, 1 TD), Kannich (2 carries, 11 yards; 4 catches, 63 yards) and Kevin Giuliani (2 catches, 42 yards).

Forest Park will be back home for the MHSAA 8-player Division 2 state semifinals against Onekama on Saturday at noon in Crystal Falls.

“We have to come back Monday ready to work,” Fabbri said. “There’s another step in the process, but we’ve got to come back Monday and get better, heal up. That’s how we’re going to keep this train rolling.”