By Ron Rop
LocalSportsJournal.com

NORTH MUSKEGON – The North Muskegon Norsemen have enough offensive weapons that you just never know who is going to rise to the top of the stat sheet on any given night.

Some nights it has been receiver Landon Christiansen, one of the area’s leading pass receivers. Or, it could be speedster Alec Newville.

However, on Friday night, it was TJ Byard who had a breakout night and led the Norsemen to a 34-7 conference victory over the visiting Montague Wildcats.

Byard caught eight passes for 163 yards and one touchdown (49 yards) and helped the Norsemen stay perfect on the season at 6-0.

“We’ve had big games out of all kinds of kids,” NM coach Larry Witham said. “TJ has been a little quiet, but he erupted tonight. They gave us a lot of room on the outside.”

Photo/David Reid

While Byard was pleased with his performance, he knows he’s just one of many weapons on this team.

“Some of the drives, I’m going to get targeted and some of the drives Landon (Christiansen) is going to get targeted,” Byard said. “All of our receivers can get targeted and do something with the ball. None of us really care who gets the credit or the receptions. As long as we win, we’re all happy.”

Of course, you also need an accurate quarterback to deliver those passes and North Muskegon has that too with junior James Young, who completed 11-of-19 passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns, one to Byard and one to Christiansen.

Both teams came into the game a bit banged up, but neither was using that as an excuse. Young, who did not put on pads all week, is banged up along with several other players. Montague’s top running back Adam Baird was one of about a half dozen players that did not play. In Baird’s place stepped Ryver Jarka, who rushed 28 times for 110 yards and a touchdown.

“We’re pretty banged up right now,” said Montague coach Justin Dennert. And to make matters worse, several others were injured on Friday night.”We’re playing a lot of young guys and they are doing their best and playing hard,” Dennert said. “Just a young team making some young mistakes.”

Photo/David Reid

North Muskegon got off to a strong start on its very first possession of the Homecoming game. It took just five plays to cover 59 yards in 1:52 of the opening quarter and it was 7-0. Tristan Thomas scored from 6 yards out.

The second quarter saw the Norsemen hit pay dirt two more times. An interception by AJ Larkin set up the Norsemen on a drive that culminated with Thomas darting into the end zone from 11 yards out. Before the half, Young launched a long pass that dropped into the hands of Byard from 49 yards out.

North Muskegon led 21-0 at the half.

“We had some things we thought we could do offensively,” Witham said. “We came out and executed well and did a nice job defensively getting some stops when we needed to. That’s a good football team. I know they are 2-4, but I’ll tell you, they come out and hit you.”

Montague made a statement of its own early in the third quarter with a long, time-consuming drive that ended when workhorse back Jarka scored on a 1-yard touchdown run. That drive ate up the first 9:43 of the third quarter and lasted 17 plays.

North Muskegon’s next drive started at its own 5 and ended up with a punt from the 2.  A Montague penalty on the punt return cost the Wildcats 25 yards and that drive fizzled out with a 15-yard loss on a sack.

North Muskegon proceeded to drive right down the field and ended when Young fired a bullet into the end zone into the hands of a wide-open Christiansen from 11 yards out. North Muskegon led 27-7.

The Norsemen’s final drive, led by sophomore backup quarterback Bryce Colbert, also produced a touchdown. Colbert hit Chuck Meyers on a key third down for 23 yards and that set up a 10-yard run by freshman Cullen Bartos.

Montague’s defense was led by Jarka and Fletcher Thommen with eight tackles each.

North Muskegon travels to Ravenna next week.”

Ravenna always gives us fits and plays us hard,” Witham said.

Montague travels to Fremont.

Photos David Reid