Todd Rose | Daily Press Rapid River’s Nick Raspor (3) runs around the outside against Norway Thursday in Norway.

RAPID RIVER — The Norway Knights lanced the Rapid River Rockets 76-18 Thursday night in Rapid River in a Great Lakes Eight Conference match-up.

“Tonight was a good win for our kids,” said Norway coach Scott Popp. “They came out, and they fought. They wanted to win it.”

The night was a rough one for the Rockets as they continued to deal with injuries from weeks prior and new ones from the game against Norway.

Popp — having been in a similar situation not too long ago with the Knights — sympathized with the Rockets’ situation.

“We’ve had a ton of injuries the last couple weeks,” he said. “… It’s been non-stop. Knowing that Rapid River has the same thing going on. We know how that is, and it’s not fun to deal with.”

The Knights were first on the board with a four-yard effort from Eastyn Dwight 3:05 into the first quarter. Just under three minutes later, Norway found the endzone again on an 80-yard punt return from Austyn Dwight.

The Rockets scored on a unique — and unplanned — play to put six on the board on their next drive as, first, Blake Lundquist and Carter Johnson connected on a long pass. Then ball slipped from Johnson’s grasp and went tumbling toward the endzone. Connor Kee, with the heads-up move, fell on the fumbled ball in the endzone for the score.

For the Knights, there is one game left, and Popp says he hopes the team can improve their pass defense in preparation.

“We’ve got to work on our pass coverage. That is something we have lacked in the last couple weeks,” he said. “We’ve just got to get better for it. We have one game left of the year, and let’s just see what happens.

“Otherwise, our hitting, our physicality, have been there the whole time. I think that’s part of the reason we have so many injuries, too, because the kids just go all out.”

Despite what the scoreboard read, the Rockets never gave up throughout the game, supporting each other all 48 minutes on the sideline. For coach Steve Ostrenga, these are the qualities he loves to see in a team.

“You know, we tell them you can’t look at the scoreboard. You’ve got to give the effort. And that’s what we’re looking for,” Ostrenga commented. “Once you quit, you’re going to get in the habit of quitting. So, we’re trying to get these kids — a young team — trying to have our seniors lead, which they’ve done a great job. Just keep playing hard, don’t quit. Represent your team with pride. That’s what we try to do.”

The encouragement doesn’t stop with the coaching staff, Ostrenga added.

“Our seniors are leading us with great leadership,” he said. “I can’t be more proud of Joey Smith, Mason Lippold and Carter Johnson — and Damyn (Smith) who couldn’t play tonight — our four captains are encouraging playing hard. I can’t say enough about that group.”

The Rockets found the endzone on another pass from Lundquist to Johnson — this one a 10-yard connection — and an impressive kick return from deep in Rockets territory by Brad Taylor.

The Rockets finish up the regular season with homecoming next Friday against the Superior Central Cougars, while Norway hosts the North Dickinson Nordics.