Eskomos Open The Season With A Win

Wes Vork-NSO

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Aug 30, 2012

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

ESKO- As fans entered the sports complex and the Les Knuti field in Esko they were treated to no bleachers, no press box, and very limited seating Thursday night; but that didn’t stop the Eskomo football team from knocking off conference and section rival Deer River by a score of 22-12.

Click here to view our April 27 article about the Esko field’s lights and bleachers being condemned.

Esko’s victory on Thursday was revenge for the 50-22 score that Deer River handed the Eskomos on homecoming a season ago. The Warriors scored first when on the first play from scrimmage, August Marleau scampered 77 yards for the game’s first score and a 6-0 Deer River lead.

Esko responded on their first drive of the game as Esko marched 75 yards on 7 plays and took the lead when Riley Mudek scored on a 5 yard touchdown run. Mudek also added the two point conversion and Esko led 8-6 after one quarter.

Esko added to their lead in the second quarter when Marc Peterson connected with Ryan Holte on a 13 yard touchdown pass and a Mudek two point conversion made it a 16-6 lead for the Eskomos. Esko scored one more touchdown with: 41 seconds remaining in the half when Earl Brinkley scored on a 2 yard plunge into the end zone.

Esko, who built a 22-6 lead at the break saw several drives come up short in the second half as the Eskomos would finish with 15 penalties on the night. “We have some areas we need to work on” Head coach Bill Hudspith told Northland Sports Online, “We were fortunate to come away with a win with all those mistakes.”

The only scoring of the second half came when Deer River’s Jess Miller took a ball floating in midair into the end zone on a 42 yards touchdown return. Esko’s quarterback Marc Peterson had his arm hit as he was about to deliver his pass and the ball went up into the air where Miller grabbed it and ran untouched into the end zone with 3:09 remaining in the game.

Esko’s Peterson finished 11-18 with 112 yards passing and one touchdown. Wyatt Begay led Esko in rushing as he finished with 128 yards rushing and Riley Mudek chipped in with 108. Ryan Holte finished with 6 receptions for 72 yards and a touchdown.

Esko opens the season 1-0 and they will play in Eveleth next Friday as they will face the Golden Bears. Deer River starts the season 0-1 and they will be on the road again next week as they will face Braham.

Because of the lack of lighting Esko’s home games will be played at 4:00pm with the exception of the final home game, that October 17 game against Crosby-Ironton will be played at Bromberg Field in Cloquet with a 6:00pm start time.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com