Flivvers run past Eskymos on Homecoming

 By Matt “Sweets” McCarthy

For Flivver Football

KINGSFORD — Three first-quarter touchdowns in a span of three minutes, late in the opening quarter for host Kingsford, while adding two more early second stanza scores to take a 35-0 lead, proved to be far to much to overcome for the visiting Escanaba Eskymos.

Kingsford went on to win the Great Northern Conference matchup, 49-8 on Homecoming Friday night at Flivver Field. 

The majority of the Flivvers' offense in the contest was in the running game where they grinded out 333 yards on 39 carries. Junior Alex Rittenhouse led the way with 87 yards on 11 carries; he reached paydirt in the second half from 27 years out. Senior Cole Myllyla rushed for 80 yards and a first-half touchdown. 

The Flivvers' offensive and defensive lines controlled the line of scrimmage throughout the football game. The
offensive line and split ends did a great job opening up holes and making downfield blocks for the running game. 

“Our running game was a key tonight, our line and everyone else did a great job blocking downfield,” said Flivvers head coach Mark Novara. “Rittenhouse was fantastic tonight, he and (Elizen) Rouse both, when we have the two of them in there it’s a 1-2 punch.”

Sophomore quarterback Nic Novara of the Flivvers played the game nursing his injured leg, but he was effective in the passing game, completing all but one of the handful of passes he attempted, with one going for a 16-yard touchdown to Myllyla. 

Kingsford’s defense kept pressure on Escanaba quarterback Casey Bray all evening, recording eight tackles for a loss on either Bray or the Eskymos backfield. Bryce Wenzel and Connor Quick each recorded four tackles to lead Kingsford. 

“Our defense is right about where we want it to be as of now,” Coach Novara said. “We need to clean up our penalties going forward, that’s something we are going to address.”

An opening quarter punt return for a touchdown by senior Nic Nora was wiped out by a block in the back penalty by the Flivvers. 

“Everyone, Nic (Nora) included is trying to make a play or a block on those (returns). The kids are busting their butt trying to clear the way for Nic and he’s so dynamic in the return game, that we don’t always know which way he’s going to go to try to make a play,” said Coach Novara. “I call those effort penalties and we can live with those because the kids are trying.”

Senior Josh Peterson scored a first-half touchdown for Kingsford, as well as kicking a successful extra point in the second half after an Eli Wallis 24-yard touchdown run. Peterson also blocked an Escanaba punt on the Eskymos' fifth drive of the first half — junior Noah Johnson recovered the football for the Flivvers on the blocked punt. 

Junior split end Michael Floriano showed of his speed with two end-around reverses with one going for a 20-yard touchdown early in the the second quarter. Kicker Nolan White kicked five successful extra points for the Flivvers in the contest.    

The Flivvers now enter the downstate stretch in their schedule in which they will make three consecutive trips below the Mackinac Bridge for non-conference games. Saturday Kingsford will play Detroit Old Redford at Gaylord High School, with a 1 p.m. Central kickoff. 

Coach Novara said Old Redford has the same record as the Flivvers, 3-2, having won Thursday night, defeating Lincoln King, 14-12. Kingsford improves to 2-1 in the GNC with their final conference matchup being on Oct. 21 when they host Menominee. 

Seniors Zane Cahee and Elaina Bortolini were Homecoming named king and a queen at halftime.  

Box Score

Escanaba 0 0 8 0 - 8

Kingsford 21 14 7 7 – 49

1st Quarter

K: Nic Novara 16 yard pass to Cole Myllyla (Nolan White PAT), 4:40, 7-0

K: Myllyla 50 yard Run, (White PAT), 3:29, 14-0

K: Josh Peterson 17 yard Run, (White PAT), 1:41, 21-0

2nd Quarter

K: Michael Floriano 20 yard Run, (White PAT), 11:52, 28-0

K: Alex Rittenhouse 27 yard Run, (White PAT), 9:14, 35-0

3rd Quarter

K: Eli Wallis 24 yard Run, (Peterson PAT), 42-0

E: Casey Bray 11 yard Pass to Kaiden Brown, (Bray to Ben Johnson), 42-8

K: Andres Finley 2 yard Run, (White PAT), 4:22, 49-8