North Branch defeats Hunters

Photos by Rod Behm

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

Vikings Slip Past Hunters

The North Branch Vikings picked up their first won of the season Friday night at Public School Stadium as the Viking beat the Hunters by a final score of 26-14 as they win their first game of the year. The Hunters still seeking their first win of the season are winless in their last 18 games.

The Vikings got on the scoreboard first when Jack Tholen scored on a 57 yard touchdown run as the Vikings went ahead 8-0 following a two point conversion.

The Hunters tied the game last in the first quarter when Greg Gustafson scored on a 3 yard touchdown run and Gustafson connected with Connor Behm on the two point conversion and the contest was tied at 8-8 after one quarter play.

The Vikings went ahead in the second quarter when it was Tony Denn scoring on a 73 yard run and Tholen scored his second touchdown of the game which made it a 20-8 lead in favor of North Branch. The Hunters cut the Vikings lead when Ben Halverson ran in from 5 yards out which cut the lead to 20-14 at halftime.

The second half both teams battled but the contest turned into a defensive battle, and there was no more scoring until the fourth quarter when Eli Choinard punched one in from 1 yard away which made it a 26-14 lead and that’s how the game ended as the Vikings won by twelve points over the Hunters.

The Hunters defense had two interceptions on the night Carlin Powe and Ben Halverson each had picks for the Hunters, and Nick Malec had a forced fumble on the night.

Kevin Marshall led the defense with 9 solo tackles and he also assisted on 4 others for the Hunters.

The Hunters offense was led by Ben Halverson as he finished with 62 yards rushing while teammate Malec finished with 55 yards on the ground.

Greg Gustafson was 9-19 passing for 70 yards and it was Mike Benjamin who had 3 receptions for 32 yards, and Alex Larson also had 3 receptions for 25 yards.

The Hunters fall to 0-4 on the season and hey will be home again next Friday night when they will host St. Francis. The Fighting Saints are 2-2 and coming off a win over Cambridge-Isanti. The Vikings will host Duluth East next Friday night at home in a conference contest.

North Branch 8-12-0-6—26

Denfeld  8-6-0-0—14

NB — Jack Tholen 57 run (2pt good)

D — Greg Gustafson 3 run (Gustafson pass to Connor Behm)

NB — Tony Denn 73 run (conversion failed)

NB — Jack Tholen 19 run (conversion failed)

D — Ben Halverson 5 run (conversion failed)

NB — Eli Choinard 1 run (conversion failed)

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at Dwight@northlandsportsonline.com