Hornets Defeat Knights 53-13 in North Star's Home Opener

By Chad Smith / HLSN Sports

The North Star Knights hosted White Sulphur Springs on Friday at Sam Berge Field in their season opener, and the visiting Hornets left Rudyard with a 53-13 win to move to 2-0 on the year. North Star falls to 0-1. The Knights' originally scheduled season opener against Lincoln never happened after Lincoln's season was canceled.

North Star's first score came late in the second quarter, when Isreal Tavizon broke free for a 30-yard touchdown run, and Tavizon added the extra point on a pass from Kage Peterson to make it 13-7. The Knights' final points came late in the game on a rushing touchdown from Richter Knutson, but a PAT kick attempt in the closing seconds missed, setting the final score at 53-13.

North Star's offense managed 106 total yards, with 65 coming on the ground and 41 through the air. Tavizon led the rushing attack with 40 yards, while Micah Kinsella added 19. Peterson completed 5 of 15 passes for 42 yards. Khriz Rivas-Gonzalez and Kinsella each hauled in receptions, and Kinsella also chipped in 10 receiving yards. Tavizon added 76 return yards on the night as well.

Defensively, Peterson and Tavizon paced the Knights up front, with Peterson finishing with 6.5 tackles and Tavizon adding 5.5. Kinsella tallied four tackles, and Cooper Clawson recorded 2.5 tackles to go with a tackle for loss. Harley Mansfield's lone tackle resulted in a sack.

White Sulphur Springs piled up 391 total yards, with 213 rushing and 178 through the air on 10-of-18 passing. Penalties were a factor throughout, with the Hornets flagged for 70 yards to North Star's 5.

North Star was without a couple of key contributors Friday and will look to get healthier as the schedule continues.

The Knights host Chester-Joplin-Inverness at Sam Berge Field next Saturday, September 12, at 1:00 p.m. CJI enters at 1-1 after a 33-30 non-league win over Garfield County/Jordan.

View more game photos at https://gallery.chadsmith.photography/?r=67a7ef