Perham Bounces Esko From State Football Tournament

Wes Vork-NSO

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Nov 10, 2012

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

DULUTH- The Esko Eskomos entered the 2012 state football playoffs with the Perham Yellowjackets as underdogs to the state’s fifth ranked team. Esko was only one of two teams in the state quarterfinals that were unranked in the state football polls. The Eskomos were looking for the huge upset Saturday, but that was not going to be the case as they were stung by the Yellowjackets by a final score of 42-8.

The Yellowjackets took the opening kickoff and set the tempo as they marched down the field. It was a Perham 7-0 lead when quarterback Jordan Hein connected with Perham fullback Payton Jordahl on a pass in the flat and Jordahl raced into the end zone for the first score of the game.

Hein made it 14-0 in the second quarter as he ran in from 9 yards out to make it a 14 point lead at the 9:52 mark. The Yellowjackets made it 21-0 when Jordahl scored his second touchdown following a turnover of the Eskomos; this time from 2 yards out. Perham added one more score in the first half as with 5 second remaining Hein scored his second touchdown of the game on a 5 yard run to make it 28-0 at halftime.

With Esko trailing at the start of the second half, the Eskomos were looking to make a scoring drive to start the third quarter; but after a drive that picked up one first down the Eskomos were forced to punt and Marc Peterson placed the Esko punt out of bounds at the Perham 8 yard line.

The huge punt by Peterson was short lived as Perham scored on a 92 yard 4 play drive to put themselves in front 35-0 when Luke Sailer scored on a 39 yard touchdown run. Perham added one more touchdown in the fourth quarter to make it a 42-0 Perham lead and the game was never in doubt. Esko scored their only touchdown of the game when Earl Brinkley scored on a 22 yard touchdown run with 1:18 to play to make the final margin 42-8.

The win for the Yellowjackets improves their record to 10-1 overall on the season. The Yellowjackets will advance to the state semi-finals next Saturday afternoon when they will play against Blue Earth Area. Esko’s season comes to an end Saturday as the Eskomos finish with an overall record of 8-3 on the season.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com