GRAND FORKS – Grand Forks Central did its best to simulate Fargo North’s defensive line during the week of practice.
On Friday night, the Knights found out there’s no simulating Morgan Birchem.
The Fargo North senior nose tackle was in Central’s backfield all night long, disrupting the Knights offense and leading the Spartans to a 21-0 win at Cushman Field.
Fargo North racked up seven sacks and held the Knights to just 16 yards on the ground and 71 total in earning its first win of the season (1-2).
Central (0-3) failed to get a first down in either the first or third quarters as North took control.
Birchem was the leader for the Spartans. He had three sacks in the second half, twice tackling Knight quarterback Zach Murphy before he finished his drop back.
“He wreaked havoc on us all night,” Central coach Bill Lorenz said. “They were doing some moving before the snap, which we worked on in practice this week, but it’s tough to simulate a player like that and his ability. He caused a lot of problems for us.”
Fargo North coach Adam Roland said Birchem is a team captain.
“He has a lot at stake,” Roland said. “He doesn’t want to be denied success. He really led the team tonight, like a senior captain who has put the work in should.
“It makes it easier on our linebackers and our defensive backs. Morgan had a great effort, but I think all around, they all played well.”
Offensively, the Spartans didn’t have to put together any long drives.
They turned a fumble recovery at the Central 31 into a 1-yard Adam Hummel touchdown run early in the second quarter. Hummel and Josh Baer scored on 50-yard runs in the third and fourth quarters, capping off drives of two plays and one play, respectively.
The lead seemed insurmountable for a Knights team that lost starting quarterback Ryan Erickson late in the first half. Erickson had a headache after being hit high while playing defense. He’ll be re-evaluated Monday, Lorenz said.
Regardless of who is playing quarterback for Central, changes may be in order for a team that has been blanked in back-to-back weeks.
“We never got any going on offense,” Lorenz said. “We had too many three-and-outs. We couldn’t get any consistency. We have to go back to the drawing board and find a way to move the ball and have some consistency.
“Our offensive line … we have to do a better job. They had too many run-throughs tonight. They were in our backfield too much. We have to get all five guys up front on the same page.”
FN 0 7 7 7-21
GFC 0 0 0 0-0
FN–Hummel 1 run (Fuglseth kick)
FN–Hummel 50 run (Fuglseth kick)
FN–Baer 50 run (Fuglseth kick)
Individual leaders
RUSHING - FN: Hummel 17-109, Baer 14-106; GFC: Reller 9-26, Morin 6-12
PASSING - FN: McGregor 5-9-1, 48 yards, Martineau 2-5-0, 38 yards; GFC: Erickson 4-9-1, 50 yards, Murphy 2-7-0, 5 yards
RECEIVING - FN: Gunderson 2-35, Santos 1-26, Gunderson 1-12; GFC: Knutson 1-27, Reller 2-9
Schlossman writes for the Grand Forks Herald
