FIELD TWP – Travis Hooper scrambled for 271 yards and four touchdowns as North Woods trounced Bigfork 50-30 in Friday’s Homecoming game.

The junior running back averaged nearly 11 yards per carry and accounted for 59 percent of the Grizzlies’ 458 yards on the ground, with sophomore Justin Nelson tallying 85 yards and one TD on 10 carries while quarterback Cole Martin rushed for 56 yards and two touchdowns.

The Huskies and Grizzlies matched each other touchdown for touchdown in the first half with North Woods clinging to a slim 28-24 lead at halftime.

“The entire game neither was able to stop the other,” said Grizzlies Head Coach John Jirik. “The only time anyone got stopped is when they made a mistake.”

The Grizzlies stopped the Huskies’ opening drive, and scored on their first drive when Hooper broke free for a 37-yard run into the end zone. But the Huskies answered with a successful drive that concluded with nine-yard run into the end zone by Zach Gilbert.

The Huskies took the lead at the top of the second quarter when quarterback Ethan Beckman and Andrew Anderson connected on a 37-yard passing play. North Woods pulled ahead after Nelson barreled 29 yards for a touchdown and the run by Hooper for extra points was good. The Grizzlies padded their lead with Hooper’s second TD run of the night, but the Huskies narrowed the gap with a rushing TD by Patrick Kobel.

The two teams traded touchdowns once again late in the quarter when Hooper burst free on a 47-yard TD run. Nelson’s run for the extra points was good, giving the Grizzlies a 28-18 lead. But the Huskies came back once again with a 16-yard TD rush by Beckman.

“Their linemen dominated our line, but our backs beat theirs,” said Jirik. “That was the story for most of the game.”

Hooper scored his fourth TD of the night on a one-yard push into the end zone and the Grizzlies extended their lead when Cole Martin’s pass to Jaylen Strong for the extra points was good.

The Huskies responded with a TD run by Zach Gilbert at the top of the fourth quarter, but were kept out of the end zone for the remainder of the game. Quarterback Martin helped secure the win with a pair of rushing touchdowns, including a 54-yard sprint down the sideline into the end zone.

“That was the turning point of the game, “ said Jirik.

The junior quarterback added the frosting on the cake with an eight-yard TD run and as pass to Strong for extra points.

Martin completed two of three passing attempts for 73 yards with Strong the receiver on both successful passes.

Defensively, the Grizzlies were led by Eddie Watt, who racked up 23 tackles, including five solo tackles. Matt Koch and Srong were both credited with 13 tackles apiece, while Tahner Killoran finished the game with 12 tackles.

The Grizzles wrapped up the regular season on Wednesday against the Tigers at Cherry. Results of that game were not available by the Timberjay’s deadline. The playoffs begin on Tuesday.

Jirik expects the Grizzlies to be seeded third or fourth, which would likely mean a home game. Check the Timberjay website later for an update on the standings and playoff schedule.