As October rolls in, the only thing failing on the North Shore football-wise is my NFL pick board. Apparently, I’m not much of a picker. Week one, I ran out of time and just circled the first column on the sheet, essentially betting on all the away teams. Week two, I tried a new strategy: imagining the mascots in a fight. Who would win? Turns out, that wasn’t much better. I guess I’m not enough of an NFL fan to make an educated guess.
But truth be told, I’m a much bigger fan of our local teams than the pros any day. And October 3 offers a perfect chance to cheer for your favorite hometown squad because Cook County, Two Harbors, and Silver Bay are all playing at home.
Cook County Vikings: Dominating the North
The Vikings have been on a tear this season. On September 19, they rolled past Blackduck with a 24–6 win. The following week, they shut out Northome/Kelliher 27–0, pushing their record to a perfect 4–0. They’ll look to keep the streak alive when they host Bigfork on October 3. Last year’s matchup against the Huskies ended in a lopsided 50–2 victory for Cook County.
Two Harbors Agates: Riding High into Homecoming
The Agates are also riding a four-game winning streak, most recently defeating Hibbing 28–12 on September 26. That followed a gritty 7–0 win over Pine City the week before. Their October 3 matchup against Proctor is extra special, as it’s Homecoming. After a forfeit kept the teams apart last season, both sides are eager to settle things on the field.
Silver Bay Mariners: Battling Back
Silver Bay ran into a tough opponent September 26, falling to Littlefork-Big Falls. The Raiders are now on a four-game winning streak after dropping their opener to Cromwell-Wright. The Mariners will regroup and aim to bounce back when they host Northome/Kelliher on October 3.
Junior High Football in Two Harbors
A few weeks ago, we covered an eighth-grade game in Two Harbors. I followed up with Head Coach Ryan Endicott, who leads the junior high program alongside assistants Mike Loiselle, Troy Carlson, and Mark Otterblad.
“We have 22 seventh graders and 9 eighth graders,” Endicott said. “The seventh-grade boys are playing up in the eighth-grade games, so we have enough to field a team. I commend every kid that steps up to make this happen.”
The team draws players from Two Harbors, Silver Bay, Duluth Marshall, and Lakeview Christian Academy. For those wondering about #24—Isaiah Warren, an eighth grader from Lakeview—he’s doing well after taking a tough hit.
“This is his first year of tackle football,” Endicott said. “He took a rough hit but was back at practice the next day.”
The seventh-grade squad is undefeated at 4–0, while the eighth-grade team is still searching for their first win. But Endicott sees something deeper than the scoreboard.
“They practice together every day, travel together as a team, and have created a nice brotherhood,” he said. “Regardless of records, they work hard every day and I can’t wait to see them grow together. They will be a force in the near future.”
Best of luck to all our home teams this weekend!
