Flivvers stymie Marquette for first time since 2017

 By Matt "Sweets" McCarthy 

For Kingsford Flivvers Football 

KINGSFORD —  Behind the strong running of senior Cole Myllyla, a stout defense and the
playmaking of fellow senior Nic Nora, Kingsford got back on the winning track as they defeated Great Northern Conference foe Marquette 28-14 Friday night at Flivver Field in Kingsford.

Myllyla, who scored twice in the contest, weaved his way through Marquette defenders to the end zone on the Hamilton Avenue side of the field for a 63-yard touchdown run to put the game away late in the third quarter. Myllyla, who gave the Flivvers a two-touchdown lead on that run, finished the game with 182 total yards, with 173 of them coming on the ground on 19 carries. 

“Cole ran hard for us tonight,” said Kingsford head coach Mark Novara. “That hard running definitely put us in a position to come out with a win tonight. He’s a playmaker as well, and we’re glad to have him on our team.” 

The win was the first for the Flivvers versus Marquette since 2017, as Kingsford finished the game with 353 total yards of offense. 

The Flivvers defense was steady throughout the contest, keeping the pass-first Redmen from hurting them through the air, and limiting their run game on a rainy night in Southern Dickinson County. Marquette finished the night with 99 total yards. 

“The rain definitely gave us an advantage, with how much Marquette likes to pass the football,” Novara said. “It was enough to make it sloppy, but wasn’t terrible.” 

Marquette, who graduated 25 seniors from their 2021 squad, saw their first drive end in a three-and-out with Nora fielding Marquette’s punt at the Kingsford 45 yard line. 

With shifty running and a burst of speed down the home sidelines, Nora got down to the Redmen 1-yard line before being brought to the ground. 

“Nora is proof that at the end of the day, better players make plays, and he made a heck of a play to get them in position for their first score,” said fourth year Redmen head coach Eric Mason. 

One play later, Myllyla crashed across the goal line to put Kingsford ahead 6-0. Junior kicker Nolan White added his first of four successful extra points on the night, as the Flivvers took an early 7-0 lead, less than two minutes into the game. 

On Marquette’s ensuing drive, Nora intercepted a Jack Quinnell pass, which led to the Flivvers second scoring drive of the game. 

Sophomore quarterback Nic Novara, who was making his first start of the season as he returned to the lineup after sustaining a preseason leg injury, found Nora for a 10-yard touchdown pass to give the host Flivvers a 14-0 lead.

“Nora is a special player, we’ll definitely be brainstorming ways to get him involved in our offense,” coach Novara said. 

A 14-0 lead can certainly be overcome, however it took the wind out of the sails of the Redmen. 

“With our experience level this season, we can’t afford to get behind by two scores, and expect to crawl back in the game,” Mason said. “As the season goes along I hope that changes, but tonight we got behind to early.” 

Later in the second stanza, after a bad snap on a punt attempt by the Flivvers, the visiting Redmen got on the scoreboard on a 5-yard touchdown pass from Quinnell to senior Nate Benninger. 

Two key plays in that scoring drive for Marquette were a 20 yard screen pass on 4th and three from Quinnell to junior Tucker Welch. Another was a 13-yard quarterback keeper for a first down by Quinnell. 

Near the end on the first half and on their ensuing drive after Marquette’s lone score of the half, Kingsford took a 21-7 lead on a 3-yard touchdown run by junior running back Elizen Rouse.

Key plays on that drive were a pair of 24 yard gains, the first being on a run from Myllyla and the latter being a reception by Nora. 

Kingsford, who won the pregame coin toss and deferred to the second half, possessed the ball first. Less than a minute into the third quarter, Benninger stepped in front of a Nic Novara pass and returned the interception 33 yards for a Marquette touchdown. 

Quarterback Novara was blocked by a Marquette player as he was trying to make a play on the ball carrier, and sustained what Coach Novara says preliminarily appears to be that he re-injured his previous leg injury.  

Myllyla followed the Marquette pick-six with his 63-yard touchdown run that put the game away later in the third quarter.

Junior Eli Wallis entered the game at quarterback for the Flivvers, managing the offense and the Flivvers lead as effectively as he could. The rain fell hard on and off in the second half as well, making for a slippery track for both teams. 

A key play to seal the game and the win for the Flivvers, was a tackle for a loss made by senior Josh Peterson, in Marquette’s final possession of the game. 

Marquette quarterback, sophomore Jaxon Jurmu scrambled towards the Flivvers sideline on 4th and 12, being brought down by Peterson, who also intercepted Quinnell late in the first half. 

Kingsford junior Alex Rittenhouse and senior Bryce Wenzel led the team with five tackles apiece. Noah Johnson had the Flivvers lone quarterback sack to go along with four tackles.

“Our defense limited them, they didn’t really put together anything sustainable throughout the game. Hats off to our defensive players and coaches,” coach Novara said. 

Junior Adam Duvall recorded a sack of his own for the Redmen (1-3 0-1 GNC), who return home to host GNC foe, the No. 1 ranked team in the U.P., the undefeated Gladstone Braves. 

“Kingsford is a great program, Coach Novara and his kids, we have the utmost respect for them,” Mason said. “I hope they (Kingsford) do well the rest of the season.”

The Flivvers, who improve to 2-2 overall and 1-1 in the GNC, remain home next week as they’ll host Escanaba Friday night at 6 p.m.