Kedrowski Figures In On Three Lumberjack Touchdowns in 26-20 win

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Sept 21

Kerry Rodd-NSO

The skies appeared ominous above Rol Bromberg Field on Friday night when the Cloquet Lumberjacks squared off with International Falls in a high school football matchup. After one quarter of play the Bronco’s appeared just as foreboding as the weather after they staked themselves to a one touchdown lead. However, the Lumberjacks offense opened up at about the same time Mother Nature decided to do the same by sending a driving rain down on the field as Cloquet stormed to a 26-12 victory.

Nick Jantti, who carried the bulk of the rushing load for the Bronco’s, scored the only touchdown of the first quarter on a three-yard run. The Bronco’s were unable to convert their extra point kick as they took a 6-0 lead.

On the very first play of the second quarter the Lumberjacks answered when Sean Kedrowski scored on a quarterback keeper and after Nick Niemi booted the extra point the Jacks were up 7-6. After Cloquet stopped the Bronco’s on the ensuing drive they struck like a bolt of lightning on a daring play by Kedrowski. It appeared as if the Jacks were going to throw a roll out pass to the right flat when Kedrowski pulled the ball back and looked up field to find a streaking Kaleb Kadelbach racing down the right sideline for a 34 yard touchdown bomb. After the extra point sailed wide the Jacks held a 14-6 lead and that’s how things stood at halftime.

The halftime show, which featured the Cloquet Dance Line and the Cloquet Majorettes, took place in a driving rain. Despite the deluge the halftime performers did their job and so did the Jacks offense in the third quarter. After punishing running back Henry Backus left the game with an injury the Lumberjacks relied on the quick feet of diminutive waterbug Marquez Evans. Evans responded by slipping and shaking past the Bronco defenders who continually came up empty handed in trying to tackle the running back. Evans finished with 96 yards and added a third quarter touchdown run of 23 yards when he scooted around the end of the Jacks line to paydirt. However, Niemi’s extra point kick was not good and the Jacks lead was 20-6.

International Falls bounced right back early in the fourth quarter when quarterback Gunnar Anderson executed a quarterback draw to perfection by dashing 19-yards for the touchdown cutting the Jacks lead to 20-12. As the Bronco’s lined up to run a two point conversion the Jacks called time out and defended the play keeping the eight point lead.

At times it looked like that eight point lead would not be enough because both teams struggled to hold onto the ball in the wet conditions. Eventually the Jacks stopped the Bronco’s on downs and on a fourth and one play with time winding down it was Kedrowski who slammed into the end zone for the final score of the game making it 26-12.

Kedrowski scored a pair of touchdowns and passed for a touchdown in helping his team take the win. On defense Ryan Lind had six solo tackles to lead the team, but the Jacks defensive line kept Anderson running all night long and allowed the secondary to come up with some big pass break ups.

The Jacks are now 3-1 on the season and 2-0 in the Sea-Range Conference, while International Falls fell to 0-4 overall and 0-3 in conference play.

Kerry Rodd can be reached at kerry@northlandsportsonline.com