Jacks Turns the Tables on International Falls

Wes Vork-NSO

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Sept 24

Kerry Rodd-NSO

CLOQUET – The Cloquet football team held a two touchdown lead with eight minutes to go in their opening game of the season against International Falls and could not hang on for the win. That game was played a month ago in International Falls. On Friday night the Bronco’s traveled to play in Cloquet and the Lumberjacks came away victorious as they picked up a 27-14 win and turned the tables on International Falls.

Trailing at halftime 14-7, the Lumberjacks came out and dominated the second half right from the opening drive. Playing on a windy night the Jacks took the opening drive of the second half the length of the field and pounded the ball on the ground at the Bronco’s who had trouble finding answers for the Cloquet running game. With 8:19 remaining in the third quarter Jacks running back Stefan Pease crashed in for a 1-yard score and after Trent Moe made the extra point kick the game was deadlocked at 14-14.

The Cloquet defense then stood stout against the Bronco’s and before the third quarter ended the Lumberjacks scored once again as Pease plowed in from the five-yard line making it 20-14 with just 21 seconds remaining in the third stanza.

In the fourth quarter the Lumberjacks had numerous drives against the Bronco’s that appeared to be headed to scores, but were stalled out due to fumbles or badly timed penalties. The Jacks finally got on the board on a magnificent pass from quarterback Joey Singpiel to running back Kaleb Kadelbach with 4:03 remaining in the fourth quarter. Singpiel found Kadelbach in the deep corner of the end zone and lofted a pass that traveled over the top of the outstretched defender into Kadelbach’s arms. Moe added the extra point for the 27-14 lead.

The game started as if the Lumberjacks were going to pound the Bronco’s into submission when Moe intercepted Gunnar Anderson’s pass and took it 20 yards for a score with just 6:40 remaining in the first quarter. Moe then tacked on the extra point making it 7-0 Cloquet.

However, the Bronco’s answered with back-to-back scores on a punt return for a touchdown and an 18-yard touchdown pass as they took a 14-7 lead entering intermission.

Wind wreaked havoc on the kicking game for both teams as punts were knocked down due to winds that were blowing at over 30-miles per hour at times during the game.

Pease led the Jacks with 107 yards on the ground, while Kadelbach added 51 yards on the ground.

Cody Stevens, a linebacker, led the Jacks defense with nine tackles while Owen Wilton and Jim Northrup added 6 and 5 tackles respectively.

Kerry Rodd can be reached at kerry@northlandsportsonline.com