Forest Park sophomore Dax Huuki (13) breaks up a Morrice pass during the fourth quarter Saurday of the MHSAA 8-player Division 2 state title game at the Superior Dome in Marquette. (Sean Chase/Daily News photo)

MARQUETTE — Since its first practice in August, the 2024 Forest Park 8-player varsity football team has had one goal for the season: to win a state title.

On Saturday, the Trojans accomplished that mission, rolling past Morrice, 42-20, at the Superior Dome for a Michigan High School Athletic Association 8-player Division 2 state title.

“It feels insane,” Forest Park senior Nik Stephens said. “I haven’t comprehended it yet. I know that we’re state champions, but it hasn’t fully set in yet. My whole body has like a tingling feeling right now.”

After holding off the Orioles’ attack in the fourth quarter to pick up the win, Trojans’ head coach Brian Fabbri was in awe of how the community showed up for his team.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” Fabbri said. “It’s still a whirlwind. I’m excited and dehydrated. … I couldn’t be happier for the players and the community. They came out in a full force at our send-off. We had three fire trucks bringing us down — the sheriff’s department, the state police, and EMS. We had the horse behind us with the cheerleaders. It’s just unbelievable what an outpouring of support from the community. I wouldn’t have had it any other way.”

Forest Park senior Nik Stephens (22) carries the ball during the MHSAA 8-player Division 2 state title game Saurday at the Superior Dome. (Sean Chase/Daily News photo)

For Fabbri, the state title win is even sweeter after reaching the finale twice as a player at Forest Park in 2004 and 2005.

“I know that feeling, as a player, to walk off that field on the other end of this as the runner-up,” Fabbri said. “I did it twice, and it’s not a good feeling. Yeah, you accomplished a lot.

“But for these kids to walk off the field as winners, I don’t know the feeling as a player. I know it feels really good to be a coach. I’m glad they didn’t follow in my footsteps and lay an egg today. I’m really happy with our execution.”

Saturday’s win makes five state titles for Forest Park. The Trojans won back-to-back titles under Dick Mettlach, whom their home field is named after, in 1975 and 1976.

Bill Santilli made it to seven title games and won the 2007 championship. Dave Graff was the head coach of the 2017 champion. Fabbri was an assistant on that team.

Forest Park senior Grayson Sundell (9) leaps over the pile during the fourth quarter of the MHSAA 8-player Division 2 state title game at the Superior Dome on Saturday. (Sean Chase/Daily News photo)

“We had coach Santilli in the locker room before the game, just saying his two cents, which goes a long way,” Fabbri said. “In 1975, he was a player (that was on) the first ever state championship team. To have him come into the locker room before the game was amazing.”

The Trojans opened the game with the ball and went right to work. However, quickly, they found themselves facing a fourth and five on the Morrice 35-yard line.

“It’s a trust between the coaches, making a play call on fourth and five early in the game; we trusted each other,” Fabbri said. “And obviously, the kids trust the coaching staff. I can’t explain how, as a young adult out here, when the coach tells you to run a play up the middle on fourth and five, it’s a trust.”

Forest Park converted on the play, then senior Grayson Sundell capped off the 12-play drive with a 3-yard touchdown run. Sophomore Dietrich Rasner connected on the extra point, and Forest Park led 7-0.

“It felt great,” Sundell said. “It’s a great feeling even to be here and to punch that first one in.”

Forest Park sophomore Dax Huuki (13) shakes off a Morrice defender while carrying the ball during the MHSAA 8-player Division 2 state title game at the Superior Dome in Marquette on Saturday. (Sean Chase/Daily News photo)

With momentum on their side, The Trojans applied more pressure on Morrice with an onside kick. They recovered, with Noah Starr falling on the ball, but couldn’t score on the drive, returning the ball to the Orioles. Morrice’s offense couldn’t find footing, and its first drive ended in a punt.

Forest Park added to its lead on the very next play when sophomore Dax Huuki broke through the Orioles’ defense and scored a 58-yard TD.

Another successful extra-point kick from Rasner put the Trojans ahead 14-0.

The Orioles’ woes continued in the second quarter as their next drive ended with a fumble. They would lose another fumble later in the frame, setting up a Trojans’ touchdown.

This time, Forest Park only needed two plays to score as senior Stephens scored on an 8-yard run, stretching the lead to 21-0.

Forest Park senior Nik Stephens (22) carries the ball during the MHSAA 8-player Division 2 state title game at the Superior Dome. (Sean Chase/Daily News photo)

“I’ve got to give it all to my offensive line,” Stephens added. “Without them blocking, I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere. The blocking on the play was perfect. I could ask for better blocking.”

With time running out before halftime, Huuki punched in his second rushing TD, and the Trojans took a 28-0 advantage into the break.

“Momentum is a real thing,” Fabbri said. “We saw that last week (against Onekama) when we gave up a score before halftime in the semifinal. We gave them the momentum and it got us a little worried. So when we were able to shut them down and get that score right before half, that was huge for us. I knew they’d move the ball.”

Whatever was plaguing Morrice’s offense in the first half was sorted out by the third quarter as the Orioles’ offense went to work.

They put together a 10-play drive and capped it off with a 5-yard rushing TD from junior running back Joel Fischer.

Forest Park sophomores Vic Giuliani (12), at left, and Dax Huuki (13) embrace after Saturday’s state title game at the Superior Dome. (Sean Chase/Daily News photo)

Morrice’s 2-point attempt was stuffed at the goal line, and FP held a 28-6 advantage as its offense took the field.

A 22-yard scamper from junior Trent Kannich set up the Trojans’ offense in the Orioles’ territory. Then Stephens punched in another rushing TD, this time from 5 yards out. Rasner connected on the extra point to put FP ahead 35-6.

Despite facing a large deficit, Morrice wasn’t backing down.

On their next drive, the Orioles found the end zone when Wyatt Cartier punched in a 1-yard run. They converted their two-point attempt this time, cutting the Trojans’ lead down to 21.

While Forest Park seemed to have the game in hand, things took a turn when Fischer returned a Trojans’ punt 80 yards for a TD. Suddenly, the Orioles trailed 35-20.

Although they were reeling, the Trojans never panicked.

“We just have to find a way and keep pushing through,” Stephens said. “We know that we can do it. We did it in the first half. So they knew we could do it. We just had to find a way, and we did.”

Stephens scored on a 49-yard run on Forest Park’s next drive, putting it back ahead by 22 points. It was over from there as the Trojans took home the MHSAA 8-player Division 2 state title by a score of 42-20 and the celebration ensued.

“It’s what we’ve been working for these past four years,” Stephens said. “We’ve gone through everything together, and finally, we were able to get it all out and win a state championship.”

Huuki led Forest Park’s rushing attack with 136 rushing yards and two TDs on 19 carries. Kannich (9 carries, 68 yards), Stephens (6 carries, 67 yards, 3 TDs) and Sundell (10 carries, 19 yards, 1 TD) all contributed to the ground game in the win.

Vic Giuliani was perfect in the passing game, racking up 60 passing yards while going 4 for 4. Senior Kevin Giuliani, named the 2024 Mitchell Snyder Lineman of the Year by the UPSSA, caught one pass for 12 yards. Huuki hauled in a pass for 15 yards and Kannich added 33 receiving yards off of two catches.

Brody Starr and Kevin Giuliani led the Forest Park defense with eight tackles apiece. Matthew Showers and Stephens each added seven tackles. Rasner was 6 for 6 on extra point kicks.

While the Trojans will need time to fully grasp the victory, Fabbri couldn’t help but thank his seniors, Kevin Giuliani, Stephens, Showers, Sundell, Brody Starr, Gabe Quevedo and Nathaniel Bradish.

“I grew up as a coach with those guys,” Fabbri said. “Taking over with this group as freshmen, you have good feelings about what they’re going to produce as seniors. Then, we came into this year, and expectations were very high. … To me, the pressure was on to get it done this year.”

Mission accomplished.