Eagles snap three-game skid with 20-6 homecoming win

The Northland Pines varsity football team felt a little extra juice last Friday, as the team and the school were celebrating homecoming all week, which concluded with the football game against Manawa on Friday evening. Pines ended up with the 20-6 victory after leading 10-0 at halftime.

It was a slow start for both teams on offense, as the defensive side of the ball for Pines and Manawa fueled the respective sides for much of the first half. After this game went final, the Eagles’ defensive unit has only allowed a combined 14 points in eight quarters of football.

“Between defense and special teams, they’ve done a great job. Credit where credit is due,” Northland Pines Head Coach Justin Nimsgern said after the Manawa win. “Defense has been putting in the work with hustle and pusuit to the ball. Overall, the guys really played hard. We had amazing energy, especially for a long day of activities and homecoming week.”

Pines kicked off first to open the game and had a good first defensive possession. The offense took some time to get going, but eventually lit the scoreboard first as sophomore running back Mason Nagy scampered into the north end zone from about five or so yards out to give the Eagles a 7-0 lead in the first half.

“We had a good drive there getting into our offense, just a little work that we need to do up front. Manawa kind of outmatched us by size; we get that week by week. We’ve got to dig deep and work on a couple things,” Nimsgern said about getting into an offensive groove.

Pines got the ball back late in the second quarter and got into field goal range for senior kicker Tyler Vojta, who split the uprights to extend the lead to 10-0 at halftime.

The Eagles came out better on offense and moved the ball, but the score remained 10-0 as the third quarter came to an end. Vojta was credited with another field goal, and the Eagles took even more control of the game with a fourth-quarter touchdown. Manawa got on the board late after one of its receivers beat the Pines secondary and caught a ball in stride for the touchdown to make it 20-6.

Coach Nimsgern said the message going into the second half was a simple one. He explained to the team that they’ve been in close games all season and against good teams, but they need to find a way to close the door in the second half. ‘“How bad do you want it?” he asked the team inside the locker room.

He went on to say they received the message and clearly wanted it more in the second half.

The Eagles, who are now 2-3 and 1-2 in the Northwoods Conference, will take this win into another road conference matchup with Crivitz this week Friday, Sept. 25, at 7 p.m. Pines will then be home for its next two games after that with Clintonville and Crandon coming to town on Friday, Oct. 2, and Friday, Oct. 9. Both of those games are scheduled for 7 p.m.