Cook County continues its remarkable undefeated run in Class 9-P, Section 7, after a 54-6 semifinal victory over North Woods. The Grizzlies had reached the semifinals with a 30-8 win over Bigfork, but couldn’t match the Vikings. Having previously shut out North Woods 20-0 earlier this season, the Vikings now sit at 8-0 as they prepare for their section final at home on October 31.
The Silver Bay Mariners saw their season end in the quarterfinal round on October 21, falling to Littlefork-Big Falls. The (other) Vikings were defeated in the semifinal against South Ridge, sending the Panthers to face Cook County.
In Class 3A, Section 7, Two Harbors opened their quarterfinals with a 12-0 first-quarter lead, thanks to touchdowns from Junior Lucero and Tommy Dechantal. However, Hibbing rallied in the second half, scoring in both the third and fourth quarters to take the win. The Blue Jackets later fell to Pequot Lakes, 58-0, in the semifinals.
Head Coach Tom Nelson gave a shout-out to the Agates, praising how they “battled over this entire year.” The team had lost a strong group of seniors, and all eleven offensive starters were either new to their positions or had only one previous season of experience.
“These young men worked hard in the weight room, playing other sports, in the classroom, in the summer practices, and at the UMD Team Camp to put themselves in a position to compete,” Nelson posted. “In our playoff loss vs Hibbing, we suited a total of 8 upperclassmen (Juniors and Seniors). Love you boys!!!”
Nelson also expressed gratitude to the fans for their support throughout the season, stating, “Thank you to everyone who supported us through our fundraising efforts.” Those efforts helped cover equipment, bus trips, team dinners, banners, and more.
The coach also thanked Corey Hurst, who handles film, sound, and tech support, as well as Rick Ray and Kevin Pettis, who manage stats on the sidelines and assist wherever needed.
“These guys are as much a part of this program as anyone else is,” said Nelson. “Thanks guys for all of your work and support!”
Congratulations to all the local teams for their grit and determination throughout the season. Best of luck to Cook County as they head into their Halloween showdown!
