When my BFF mentioned she was coming up to watch her eighth grader’s football game against Two Harbors, I felt a bit of a dilemma. Do I cheer for my alma mater, Cloquet, and my “nephew”, a Lumberjack, or for my new hometown team? In the end, even though I sat with the visitors and caught up with a friend I rarely see in real life, I rooted for both and was proud of the effort on the field from every player.
Watching the younger athletes, I was struck by how little age, size, or experience seemed to matter. Pride, effort, and heart showed through in every play. Some of the smallest players made the biggest noise that Thursday evening, September 11.
The game came to a tense pause after a tough hit on Agate #24, who remained on the field for several anxious minutes while teammates and spectators held their breath. The sigh of relief when he got to his feet was nearly as loud as the clapping that followed. Cloquet took the win 14-0, but Two Harbors put up a strong fight throughout the night.
Meanwhile, varsity football was in full swing the next day. The Two Harbors Agates traveled to Mora and posted a 40- 14 victory over the Mustangs. After a scoreless first quarter, the Agates exploded in the second. Axel Morsette found Cameron Poe-Johnson for an 18-yard touchdown pass, followed by a two-point conversion run by fellow sophomore Junior Lucero.
Tommy DeChantal added a 6-yard touchdown run, and fellow senior Cooper Nelson scored on a 4-yard plunge. Before halftime, DeChantal broke free for a 58-yard touchdown, sending Two Harbors into the 2nd half with 26-0 lead.
Poe-Johnson added a 33-yard touchdown in the third quarter before Mora finally got on the board. In the fourth, senior Austin Maas capped the scoring with a 29-yard touchdown run. Mora managed one more score before the game ended. The Agates return home to face Pine City on September 19.
Elsewhere for the North Shore, the Silver Bay Mariners traveled 3.5 hours to Blackduck to take on the Drakes. After giving up an early touchdown, the Mariners answered with a drive capped by running back Macoy Williams’ 10-yard touchdown rush, followed by sophomore Bryce Meeks’ successful extra point.
Blackduck responded before the first quarter ended and extended their lead, but Silver Bay fought back with Williams breaking free for a 50-yard touchdown run. Quarterback Grady Hoff, also a sophomore, connected with him on a 2-point conversion pass, narrowing the score to 20-15.
The Drakes scored again, but Williams wasn’t done, punching in a 20-yard touchdown run to close the first half with Silver Bay trailing 26-21.
Williams added a fourth touchdown in the third quarter on a short dump screen from Hoff, weaving through 75 yards of traffic. The Drakes responded, and the quarter ended 32- 27. A challenging fourth quarter saw Silver Bay unable to answer, and the game finished 58-27 in favor of Blackduck.
Williams, a sophomore, finished with four touchdowns, totaling 173 rushing yards and 78 receiving yards on the night.
Coach Kaiser commented, “I think we’ve come a long way with this young team over the past 5 weeks. Not having an independent high school team and most players not ever having any varsity experience, each game has been a great learning experience, and the guys have never given up. I think they’re motivated to keep moving forward and we’re all very proud of them. The community support has been fantastic. To see so many people in the stands at our first home game in 3 years and to have so many behind our bench in the visitor stands at Blackduck was amazing.”
Cook County, meanwhile, is planning to remain undefeated as they take on Blackduck on September 19 after a postponement against South Ridge on September 12. The team comes off a strong start to the season, including a 69-6 opening win over Carlton/Wrenshall and a September 4 victory against Silver Bay.
From eighth graders giving everything on the field to varsity squads finding success in both small and big ways, it was a weekend of pride, perseverance, and the love of football on the North Shore. Best of luck to all teams as you head into the second half of September!
