North Dickinson’s Jason Graham (12) finds daylight as Lake Linden-Hubbell’s Lukas Axford (3) and Tyler Axford (8) pursue during Saturday’s MHSAA Division 2 eight-player regional final at James D. Priestap Memorial Field in Felch Township. The Nordics won 32-12 and will play Onekama in a state semifinal Saturday at the Superior Dome in Marquette. (Betsy Bloom/Daily News photo)

FELCH TOWNSHIP – Most of the year, the North Dickinson Nordics mainly depended on their explosive and diverse offense to stay unbeaten.

But in an MHSAA eight-player Division 2 regional against Lake Linden-Hubbell Saturday at NDHS, the Nordics’ defense took center stage.

Holding just a 16-12 lead early in the fourth quarter, North Dickinson kept the Lakes out of the end zone after they had a first down and goal from the 5-yard line.

The Nordics (11-0) scored two touchdowns after the defensive stand en route to a 32-12 victory over Lake Linden-Hubbell (8-3) to advance to a D2 semifinal game against Onekama on Saturday in Marquette.

“I’m so proud of my guys,” ND coach Mike Christian said. “Defensively they played their best game of the year. (The) huge goal line stand … turned the momentum to our favor.”

After the stop, North Dickinson added to its lead when Brady Jungwirth connected with Trent Kramer for a 41-yard touchdown strike. After Jungwirth ran in the 2-point conversion, the Nordics had some breathing room at 24-12.

Five minutes later, Jungwirth hit Ty King with an 18-yard TD pass and then threw the conversion pass to Kramer to lift ND to a 20-point advantage and salt the game away.

The Nordics scored their first touchdown of the contest with 1:07 to play in the opening quarter when Jason Graham scored on a 1-yard run. Jungwirth ran in the conversion for North Dickinson, which finished 4 for 4 on 2-point tries.

The Nordics added their second score with 7:26 left before halftime on a 16-yard pass from Jungwirth to Kramer. Jungwirth connected with Graham for the conversion and ND carried a 4-point lead into the break.

Jungwirth and Kramer put together big games for the Nordics again. Jungwirth completed 13 of 17 passes for 228 yards and the three scores, while Kramer posted nine receptions for 185 yards and two touchdowns.

Additionally, Ty King notched two catches for 38 yards and Graham paced the ND ground game with 64 yards on 10 carries.

The Nordics, which defeated the Lakes 38-34 in the season opener on Aug. 28, held LL-H to 35 points fewer than it had averaged coming into Saturday’s game.

Graham led ND in tackles with 14, Colten Roberts contributed 12 and Kramer added 10.

Tyler Fleming posted eight tackles and picked off two passes, while King forced a fumble, which Mason Florenski recovered.

Standing in front of the Nordics in their quest for a state title berth is an Onekama team that defeated Gaylord St. Mary 46-6 in its regional. The Portagers bring a 44.6 points per game average into the contest.

MHSAA Football

Friday, Nov. 7

ELEVEN PLAYER

Division 8

Bark River-Harris 41, Iron Mountain 20

EIGHT PLAYER

Division 1

Norway 58, Pickford 12

Blanchard Montabella 26, Merrill 0

Saturday, Nov. 8

ELEVEN PLAYER

Division 5

Ogemaw Heights 41, Kingsford 6

Division 7

Menominee 49, McBain 6

EIGHT PLAYER

Division 2

North Dickinson 32, Lake Linden-Hubbell 12

Saturday, Nov. 15

EIGHT PLAYER

Division 1

State semifinal

Norway vs. Blanchard Montabella at Thereby Field, Traverse City, 1 p.m. Eastern time

Division 2

State semifinal

North Dickinson vs. Onekama, 2 p.m. Eastern time, Superior Dome, Marquette