MARQUETTE — Felch North Dickinson didn’t get the start it wanted in the eight-player, Division 2 state championship football game here Saturday afternoon.

The end result also didn’t go in its favor as the Nordics dropped a 53-0 decision to the Portland St. Patrick Shamrocks inside Northern Michigan University’s Superior Dome.

Junior Aiden Fandel grabbed the opening kickoff and dashed to the Nordics’ 3-yard line.

Classmate Jerryd Scheurer did the rest, running the last three yards for a 8-0 lead just 20 seconds into the contest.

“That was a fun way to start,” Shamrocks’ coach Patrick Russman said. “Our special teams have been very solid. We have a good, strong football tradition at St. Patrick. Our kids were ready. This was a great job by them.”

This marked the first state title since 1992 for the Shamrocks and their first as an eight-player program. They finished 13-0 and the Nordics ended 12-1 after their first state finals appearance in 27 years.

North Dickinson’s second possession ended with a blocked up by junior defensive end Tyler Thelen, enabling the Shamrocks to set up shop on the Nordics’ nine.

Scheuer’s four-yard pass to senior tight end Charlie Thelen ended that possession and suddenly the Shamrocks had a 14-0 lead only 3:14 into the game.

On their third possession the Nordics gambled on a fourth-and-one situation from their own 29, but failed to convert and the Shamrocks again enjoyed great field position.

Senior Brady Leonard finished that drive on an eight-yard run for a 20-point cushion slightly more than halfway through the opening frame.

“Their long kickoff return set the tone,” Nordics’ coach Mike Christian said. “Up front they’re bigger, stronger and faster. They were right on everything we tried. We’re going to miss our seniors. The guys did a great job fighting back all year.”

Senior running back Hudson King added TD runs of 30 and 21 yards in the second stanza and St. Patrick enjoyed a 33-0 halftime advantage.

The Shamrocks continued to take advantage of favorable field position in the third quarter, resulting in two-yard TD runs by junior Caleb Pline and senior Logan Kreiger for a 46-0 cushion.

St. Patrick scored one more time in the fourth on a one-yard run by senior offensive lineman Nick Pung.

North Dickinson’s best scoring chance came shortly before halftime when it reached the St. Patrick 24 prior to turning the ball over on downs.

The Nordics’ deepest penetration took place on the final play of the game when senior quarterback Brady Jungwirth dashed 31 yards to the 19.

North Dickinson finished with 164 yards in total offense. Jungwirth rushed 11 times for 46 and senior fullback Jason Graham added 32 in 12 attempts.

Jungwirth, under constant duress, finished 9-of-27 passing for 69 yards on a day which the Nordics had a hard time getting receivers open. Junior tight end Trenton Kramer caught five aerials for 53.

“Their quarterback is fast,” Russman said. “He’s a very good player and number 12 (Graham) is a real good runner as well. He’s very slippery. We tried to take away their running lanes. Their coach is also really good. Our guys worked really hard.”

The Shamrocks finished with 262 yards, including 228 on the ground. King led the way with 120 yards on 10 carries.