North Central senior Lane Gorzinski (6) drags Forest Park’s Dax Huuki (13) down the field on Oct. 25, 2024 at Dick Mettlach Field in Crystal Falls. (Sean Chase/Daily News)

CRYSTAL FALLS — Every time the North Central and Forest Park 8-player varsity football teams meet up, it’s guaranteed to be a slugfest.

Throw in the added pressure of an outright Great Lakes Eight Conference – West Division title, a perfect season and the Upper Peninsula Sportscasters and Sportswriters No. 1 rank and everyone in attendance at Dick Mettlach Field was on the edge of their seats expecting another classic on Friday.

With all that build up, the game didn’t disappoint either as the Jets escaped Crystal Falls with a 45-34 win over the No. 1 ranked Trojans.

“Before everyone gets too excited, we’re going to be facing each other again, when the game really matters in a couple weeks,” North Central head coach Leo Gorzinski said. “But, what a good football game. For the past couple of years, that was the most competitive game we’ve had in a long time. The fans got their money’s worth.”

After rolling to an 8-0 record, Forest Park’s head coach Brian Fabbri took the blame for the Trojans’ slow start.

“North Central is a very good football team, very well coached and they came ready to play,” Fabbri said. “I’ll take all the blame on this one. Our guys were not prepared. I think my ego got in the way a little bit. You know, telling them, ‘This is our year. This is our turn.’

“They came and hit us in the mouth and that’s the outcome.”

Despite that, Fabbri was proud to see his kids stand strong in the face of adversity.

“Our kids didn’t quit,” Fabbri said. “There were a lot of emotions out there after the game and as a coach, that shows they care. That’s what I strive for, to get these kids to buy into something and that’s our family atmosphere. This one should hurt. This one’s going to hurt. Until we get back on the field it’s going to sting.”

Both teams started slow in the face of a chilly October night and at halftime North Central held a 12-6 advantage. Senior running back Lane Gorzinski ran in both of the Jets’ touchdowns while sophomore Vic Giuliani scored on a quarterback keeper for the Trojans.

“We gave up a quick easy score before half on two plays and they ran the one play twice, so we were pretty critical with them,” coach Gorzinski said.

For Forest Park, the halftime message was all about looking forward.

“(Our) message at halftime was we didn’t play very well, we dropped a few interceptions, too many penalties and we held them to 12 points,” Fabbri said.

In the second half, both teams seemingly locked in and the points piled up.

Lane Gorzinksi picked off a Giuliani pass in the third quarter, setting up the Jets’ offense. After a Trojans’ false start, Lane Gorzinski connected with Austin Farley for a 26-yard TD pass. North Central led 19-6.

On the first play of Forest Park’s next drive, Giuliani broke through the line and scampered 48 yards for a TD.

North Central responded on the ensuing kickoff when Kaden Malone took the kickoff 80 yards to the house, giving the Jets a 25-12 advantage.

Giuliani added a 19-yard TD to cut into North Central’s lead, setting up an onside kick. Forest Park recovered and Dax Huuki took the ball 37 yards for the score. Suddenly, the Trojans held a 26-25 lead.

Prior to the game, coach Gorzinski wasn’t planning on using Lane Gorzinski in excess. However, once the game got interesting things changed.

“I’m mad at myself, because I told him, I’m only going to give him seven to 10 carries because this game wasn’t supposed to matter,” coach Gorzinski said. “But, once the competitive edge starts going, that’s how it goes. The boys didn’t want to let one go. It wasn’t just Lane (Gorzinski).