Esko Opens Football Season With 28-18 Win

Wes Vork-NSO

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Sep 3

Wes Vork-NSO

HINCKLEY – Friday night football started a day early for the Esko Eskomos football team as they traveled to Hinckley to take on the Hinckley-Finlayson Jaguars. They got an early start to the game by scoring the first two touchdowns in the 28-18 win.

Making his first varsity start, sophomore quarterback Max Reinertson led the Eskomos on a 10-play 57 yard drive, capped off with a 30 yard touchdown to wide receiver Cody Townsend. After a Jake Steinbrook extra point, the Eskomos led 7-0. Esko would extend their lead to 14-0 when fullback Andrew Motzko capped a 17 play drive, powering his way in from the one yard line.

Hinckley-Finlayson answered back however, cutting the lead to 14-6 when Cody Bjornson scored from four yards out on a drive that saw the Jaguars convert two fourth downs. Hinckley-Finlayson then got within two, cutting the score to 14-12 when Bjornson got loose and scored from 39 yards out.

Esko would have one more chance to score in the first half when Richard Jubie intercepted a pass and returned it to the Jaguar 40 yard line. Working their two minute drill without the benefit of a working scoreboard clock, the Eskomos were able to get the ball to the Jaguar 1 yard line. With just four seconds left in the half, Reinertson got one final shot to the end zone. The pass, however, was incomplete and the Eskomos were forced to leave the ball on the 1 yard line as time expired.

The first drive of the second half saw the Jaguars put together a 75 yard series, culminating with a touchdown pass to Brandon Harth. As with the previous two tries, the two point conversion failed and Hinckley-Finlayson led 18-14.

Esko started their first drive of the second half in good field position with the ball on their own 39 yard line. They went back to work and put together a 10 play drive in which Jacob Anderson scored the first of his two touchdowns, scampering in from the four yard line.

The Eskomos finished off the scoring on their next drive when Anderson scored from six yards out. The touchdown was made possible when one play earlier, on fourth down, Jubie caught a 21 yard pass, bringing the ball down to the Jaguar’s six yard line. Steinbrook then notched his fourth extra point of the night, putting the final scored at 28-18 in favor of the Eskomos.

Jubie led the Eskomos with 151 total yards. Reinertson, looking poised in his varsity debut, was 8-13 passing for 100 yards with one interception. The interception, quite meaningless, came on a fourth down conversion attempt with only seconds remaining in the game.

Bjornson led the Jaguars on the ground with 87 yards rushing on 15 carries, while Harth led their receiving corps with 8 catches for 108 yards.

Esko will play their home opener on September 11th when they host the Braham Bombers. Hinckley-Finlayson will travel to Two Harbors on September 11th to take on the Agates, who also will be looking for their first win after losing to Aitkin by a score of 20-13.

Wes Vork can be reached at wes@northlandsportsonline.com