Hawks Roll to 72-6 Win Over North Star as Reserves Get Valuable Experience

Chad Smith

— 4 min read
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Hawks Roll to 72-6 Win Over North Star as Reserves Get Valuable Experience
Backup QB Brody Fossen crosses the goal line for a 35-yard touchdown run Saturday, shaking off a diving tackle attempt along the way. Fossen ran CJI's offense for much of the second half, part of a bench effort that outscored North Star 28-6 down the stretch. Photo by Chad Smith Photography.

By Chad Smith / HLSN Sports

A week after surviving a nail-biter against Jordan, the Chester-Joplin-Inverness Hawks put together a completely different kind of statement Saturday, overwhelming North Star from the opening snap in a 72-6 win at Sam Berge Field in Rudyard.

CJI's starters wasted no time, scoring six touchdowns in the first quarter and building a 44-0 lead early in the second before the mercy rule triggered a running clock. Quarterback Avery DeVries was nearly perfect in his time on the field, completing all four of his pass attempts for 71 yards and three touchdowns, adding a 10-yard rushing score of his own, and also handling CJI's only punt of the game, a 51-yard boot downed at the 1-yard line. Junior Levi Nelson was equally efficient, turning just five carries into 122 yards and three touchdowns on runs of 55, 36, and 12 yards, while also converting all three of his extra-point attempts.

Levi Nelson breaks away from a diving tackle attempt near the goal line Saturday on his way into the end zone. Nelson turned five carries into 122 yards and three touchdowns in CJI's 72-6 win over North Star. Photo by Chad Smith Photography

Junior Lex Wolery opened the scoring with a 38-yard touchdown catch, believed to be the first varsity touchdown of his career. Senior Dane Grammar caught three passes for 33 yards and two touchdowns on two-point conversion attempts, and split kickoff duties with Ivar Englund, going a perfect four-for-four on touchbacks. Englund handled the other six kickoffs of the day and also converted two extra points.

Senior Dane Grammar dives toward the goal line after a 29-yard reception, setting up a CJI touchdown on the next play. Photo by Chad Smith Photography.
Quarterback Avery DeVries dives into the end zone for a 10-yard rushing touchdown Saturday, part of a near-perfect day that also included three touchdown passes. Photo by Chad Smith Photography.

One of the highlights of the day belonged to the Ramberg brothers. Jace Ramberg intercepted a North Star pass and returned it 43 yards for a touchdown, then, on the very next Knights possession, his brother Ryan Ramberg did the same thing, picking off another pass and returning it 31 yards for a score. Ryan finished the day with two interceptions. Jace also led CJI in tackles with seven, adding two tackles for loss, two sacks, and a 47-yard rushing touchdown of his own, a complete two-way effort. Sophomores Shane Woods and Connor Mattson also kept the CJI defense humming, with Mattson adding an interception and a forced fumble of his own.

Jace Ramberg turns upfield during his 43-yard interception return for a touchdown Saturday, the first of back-to-back pick-sixes by the Ramberg brothers in CJI's 72-6 win over North Star. Photo by Chad Smith Photography
Jace Ramberg crosses into the end zone on his 43-yard interception return touchdown Saturday against North Star. Photo by Chad Smith Photography
Ryan Ramberg breaks into the open field on his own interception return for a touchdown Saturday, coming one play after his brother Jace scored on a pick-six of his own. Photo by Chad Smith Photography.

Once CJI built its commanding lead, the Hawks turned things over to their bench, and the results were hard to miss. Zach Jackson, Dylan Johnson, Owen Peterson, Ranveer Maan, Brody Fossen, and Ivar Englund took over on both sides of the ball for the remainder of the game, and CJI's reserves outscored North Star's offense 28-6 the rest of the way, a strong showing for a group that doesn't always get the spotlight. Brody Fossen ran the offense for much of the second half and capped his day with a 35-yard touchdown run, finishing with 56 yards on four carries. Ranveer Maan chipped in 29 yards on five carries and scored on a two-point conversion run.

Ranveer Maan looks for room to run Saturday. Maan finished with 29 yards on five carries and scored on a two-point conversion in CJI's rout of North Star. Photo by Chad Smith Photography.

North Star's lone score came in the fourth quarter, when junior Kage Peterson broke free for a 61-yard touchdown run, part of a day in which he accounted for the bulk of the Knights' offensive production across rushing, passing, and receiving.

The win pushes CJI's scoring output to 105 points over its last two games. The Hawks will look to keep the momentum going Saturday, September 18, when they host PDB at home for a 7 p.m. kickoff on their homecoming weekend.

Click the link below to see a full gallery of images from the game!
https://gallery.chadsmith.photography/?r=d179c0

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