Making a move

Jace Carey finished the 2016 high school football season with his most productive game, rushing 11 times for 61 yards.

That earned the senior a starting spot at offensive guard for Grand Forks Central in today's annual Cushman Classic, matching Central (1-2) against Grand Forks Red River (0-3), at 7 p.m.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pounder, a running back all of his life and Central's starting fullback as a junior, was moved to the line two weeks into the 2017 preseason and is starting his third game there.

"We were thin numbers-wise and experience-wise on the offensive line and we were a little deeper at running back,'' Central coach Bill Lorenz said. "We asked Jace to make the shift.

"The tricky part is how the athlete reacts. The running back position is more glorified. But when we asked Jace, he said, 'Coach, whatever will help the team.' You don't always get that.''

The only Central experienced linemen back from a year ago are Dom Otto and Griffin Rosell.

"I was a little surprised when they asked,'' Carey said. "But I was happy to do it. It was a lot more fun (playing running back), especially when I was able to run through people. But I don't mind the line. I enjoy it as much as I enjoyed running back.''

Carey has held his own. In Central's 35-13 victory over Dickinson, coaches named him offensive lineman of the game.

Carey admits that, given the choice, he'd switch back to the backfield. "I like carrying the ball rather than standing there and trying to push guys around,'' he said.

Both Grand Forks teams are trying to develop offenses. Central was shut out in both of its losses.

"We're trying to find consistency,'' Lorenz said. "It was there against Dickinson. Against Williston (a 13-0 loss last Friday), we moved the ball at times. But then we made mistakes-interceptions, fumbles, penalties. The nice part is most of those mistakes are fixable.''

Red River, winner of eight straight in the Cushman Classic, has totaled 15 points this season.

"We've done OK offensively in some games,'' Red River coach Vyrn Muir said. "We're trying to cut down our menu, to get better at some things and build off that.

"We've been able to move the ball. But a penalty or a negative-yardage play always seems to hurt us and stop drives.''

In other local prep football games today, both starting at 7 p.m.:

Red Lake County (2-0)
at Polk Co. West (1-1)

After rushing for less than 100 yards in its opening loss, Polk County West rushed for 429 yards last week in a 41-6 win against Badger-Greenbush-Middle River.

"We're hoping that will be more the norm,'' PCW coach Darrin Byklum said. "We got some things situated better up front.''

It will be run-oriented offenses in Climax tonight, with Matt Vettleson leading RLC's balanced ground game. "They're a ball-control, time-control offense,'' Byklum said. "When you do get the ball, you have to capitalize.''

Park Rapids (0-2)
At EGF Senior High (0-2)

Ryan Kasowski is 0-3 against Park Rapids in three seasons as Senior High coach. All three losses were close-13-6, 29-13 and, last season, 7-0.

Likewise, this season's two losses have been close. Opponents' big plays have been the difference.

"It comes down to execution,'' Kasowski said. "We can't keep shooting ourselves in the foot- whenever we do, it always seems to wind up giving up a big play.''