11/09/2006

Defensive test for Norse

Suttons Bay has eight shutouts

By MARK URBAN

murban@record-eagle.com

Record-Eagle file photo/ Jan-Michael Stump
Suttons Bay's Erik Hernandez looks for room against Kingsley last week.

TRAVERSE CITY — It's always nice to have options and Calumet does.

The Copper Kings will put their option offense to the test against Suttons Bay's defensive wall on Friday in the Division 6 regional football final at the Superior Dome in Marquette. Kickoff is set for 9 p.m.

"They run the 'I' and run the option," Suttons Bay coach Joe Trudeau said of the Western Peninsula Athletic Conference champions. "They have the Dream Team quarterback so we have to play the best quarterback in the Upper Peninsula.

"They have a halfback that was the offensive MVP of the conference and their fullback had 100 yards in the playoffs. They have a lot of threats."

Suttons Bay (11-0) has just as many stoppers. Last Friday's 28-0 victory over Kingsley was the eighth shutout of the season for the Northwest Conference champions.

"I'm real impressed with their pursuit on defense and their team speed," Calumet coach John Croze said. "They play a good brand of defense.

The Norsemen didn't allow a point in games two through eight.

"We're well aware of that and that's part of the whole package that scares me," Croze said.

Calumet's offense is directed by junior quarterback Emmett Bjorn, who has passed for 1,016 yards and rushed for 902 more.

"Emmett's a great athlete," Croze said. "More than anything he has a great head for the game. He makes good decisions and we leave a lot of decisions up to him."

If Bjorn's giving up the ball, it's usually to tailback Phillip Helminen. He has rushed for 1,451 yards and 21 touchdowns.

In last week's 27-24 victory over Iron Mountain, fullback Nathan Lasanen rushed for 108 yards on 12 carries.

"He gets the ball when other teams take away the other two pieces of our game," Croze said. "It puts a lot of pressure on the defense.

"We're proud of our attack, especially when you add the pass into the mix. It's hard to key on one."

That's OK with Suttons Bay, which doesn't have a key defender either. The Norsemen have four defenders with at least 70 tackles.

Senior linebacker Casey Drow — who had 18 tackles against the Stags last week — leads the way with 101 tackles. Junior linebacker Andrew Bumgardner has 79 stops while senior safety Jordan Peplinski and senior nose guard Josh Feickert each have 75.

Trudeau said the defense will have to be disciplined against the Copper Kings.

"It's a matter of not breaking down," Trudeau said. "They have guys that can break tackles and they can score some points, obviously.

"We have to make sure we don't make mistakes."

It's not like the Suttons Bay defense has made a lot of them. And the Norsemen will continue to lean on that side of the ball.

"We've been counting on our defense all year, that's not going to change," Trudeau said. "We also know we have to put some points on the board."

That also hasn't been a problem for the Norsemen, who average 33 points a contest.

Suttons Bay's rushing attack centers around two players. Peplinski — who accounted for all four touchdowns against Kingsley — had 1,046 yards and 16 total touchdowns while junior Anthony Stewart has 931 yards and has found the end zone a total of 11 times.

Each has rushed for at least 10 touchdowns behind an experienced offensive line, led by senior Geromy White.

"They have a stable of backs," Croze said. "They have a lot of people that take carries and do a good job when they get those carries."

Calumet runs a base 5-2 defense, but brings the cornerbacks up tight for more of a 5-4 look.

Despite all the players near the line of scrimmage, Trudeau thinks the Norsemen can move the ball on the ground.

"We hope to," he said. "We've got our ground game established and one our strengths is our offensive line.

"But you get in games like this and you take whatever they give you."

Suttons Bay has an experienced quarterback in senior Jeff Ruthkowski.

He's completed 28 of his 58 throws for 561 yards. Ruthkowski has eight passing touchdowns and just one interception.

Ruthkowski's favorite target is senior Adam Konieczka, who has 10 receptions for 286 yards and four touchdowns. Senior Ray Freund has five catches for 125 yards.

This is the third time Suttons Bay has played a playoff game in the Superior Dome.

The Norsemen beat Negaunee 21-20 in the regional final in 2004 en route to a runner-up finish. Negaunee beat the Bay in Marquette in 2002 in a district final, 20-6.

Calumet is coming off the first district title in school history. Croze said the Copper Kings should have plenty of spectators make the short trip to the Superior Dome for what he thinks will be a great football game.

"We look forward to a battle," he said. "Our kids are excited and our whole town is excited."