Thunder Fall to Norsemen

Oct 16

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

DULUTH – Friday night the Fond Du Lac Thunder football team need a win to stay alive in the hunt for a bid in the MCAC state football playoffs which begin in two weeks. Although the Thunder needed a win Friday night in a desperate way, mistakes and penalties would put the Thunder on the losing end, ending their chances at making the state tournament.

The first quarter saw both teams make mistakes and penalties on every series, and nothing seemed to go right for either team. The second quarter saw the best drive of the night by the Thunder as they moved the ball down to the Norsemen 5 yard line and with the Thunder threatening, mistakes and penalties would force the Thunder into a field goal attempt which was blocked so no points were earned by the Thunder.

The Norsemen then took over on their 20 yard line and went on a long scoring drive, and with 18 seconds remaining in the first half Avery Walker scored on a 4 yard touchdown run. The extra point was no good and Mesabi Range Technical College led 6-0 at halftime.

In the second half the Norsemen scored twice in the third quarter on two touchdown passes by Antonio Wyche to Willie Farley and to Allen Washington. The Norsemen built up a 19-0 lead heading into the final quarter. The Thunder finally got a drive put together and scored with four minutes left in the game but it was too little too late.

Quarterback Michael Davis scored on a 2 yard run and the extra point was good. The Thunder’s score would be the last of the game for either team as the Thunder fall by twelve points.

With the loss, the Thunder fall to 4-4 overall on the season and 1-2 in conference play, they will be in action on Thursday when they face Vermillion Technical College. Mesabi Range improves to 6-2 on the season and will face Northland Community College next week; the winner of that game will be the Northern Division Conference Champion.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com