A small but satisfied grin crept across Orono senior linebacker Gage Kracht's face.
The Spartans had just completed a convincing 31-7 victory over Totino-Grace (5-2), a game in which Kracht had not only led No. 2, Class 4A Orono over the No. 4 team in 4A but helped the Spartans (7-0) do it in dominant fashion.
They held a 16-0 lead when the game was barely more than 12 minutes old, and to that point they hadn't allowed their opponent a single first down.
If there was any doubt that the Spartans were for real, that argument was settled decisively.
"We showed everybody what we're worth," Kracht said, his smile growing broader. "We let them know that we're around, we're here and we're coming for you."
The Spartans dominated on both sides of the ball — holding Totino-Grace to barely 100 yards of total offense and forcing four turnovers while moving the ball efficiently, if not always cleanly, on offense.
Orono senior Liam Rodgers rushed for 196 yards and two touchdowns. His first TD came on the Spartans' opening drive, on which he did all of the heavy lifting. He carried the ball on all four plays, weaving through the Totino-Grace defense for a 10-yard touchdown. He added a two-point conversion and Orono led 8-0.
The Spartans made it 16-0 on a quarterback sneak by junior Charlie Cordes early in the second quarter.
