Section Football Tonight

Brian Hey-NSO

SECTION 5  9-MAN

#1 Floodwood (8-0) vs. #8 Cherry (2-6)

10/22/13 7p.m. @Floodwood

Cherry will have their hands full against a Polar Bears team that averaged 37 points and gave up only 9 a game this season.  Strong performances from the Tigers 3 seniors Tim Bukovich, Caleb Melnotte and Tyler Addison will be needed to complete this 8 vs. 1 upset.

 Floodwood  will look to tough defense and a number of talented runners as they try to stay unbeaten this season and continue a quest for a state tournament appearance. 

The winner will play either Hill City or McGregor on 10/26.

#2 South Ridge (7-1) vs. #7 Cromwell (3-5)

10/22/13 7 p.m. @ South Ridge

The Panthers will be without their star quarterback Kody Karppinen, who is out 4-6 weeks with a broken collar bone.   Karppinen passed for 1,500 yds and 23 TD’s this season, and will be greatly missed as they head into the playoffs.  Spencer Otis took over for the injured Karppinen last week and threw for 160 yds and 4 TD’s, and with receiver Drew Janke’s 59 receptions  for 800 yds this season,  the Cards defensive backs better be ready for some action.

 With Cromwell freshman quarter back Zion Smith throwing for 600 yds and 7 TD’s, fans of a high flying football game should be in for a treat. 

The winner plays on 10/26 against either Silver Bay or Wrenshall.

#3 Wrenshall (4-4) vs. #6 Silver Bay

10/22/13 7p.m. @Wrenshall

While no one wants to lose their last game heading into the playoffs, a 4OT 28-22 loss to the #3 ranked nine man team in the state Kelliher/Northhome should still be a confidence booster for the Wrens as they host Silver Bay next week.

 The Mariners will need a big night from senior running back Jonah Koehler as they look to upset #3 Wrenshall on Tuesday. 

The winner will take on the winner of the South Ridge and Cromwell game next Saturday.

#4 McGregor (4-4) vs. #5 Hill City  (4-4)

10/22/13 7 p.m. @ McGregor

It doesn’t always happen this way but these two teams will meet for the second time in less than a week, this time the winner goes on and the loser goes home.  Last Wednesday saw a great game between these two with McGregor winning 38-34 in Hill City.  This time the Hornets travel to McGregor where they will have to deal with one of the top players in the northland, senior Andrew DeMenge.  DeMenge is both an offensive and defensive leader with 1,200 rushing yards and 100+ tackles this season.

 The winner will play either Cherry or Floodwood on Saturday 26^th.

SECTION 7A

#1 Braham (8-0) vs. #8 Cook County (0-8)

10/22/13 6 p.m. @ Braham

As the #2 ranked Class A team in the state, the Braham Bombers look to keep their unbeaten streak alive this Tuesday in against the Cook County Vikings.  They will have to stay focused as they play an 0-8 Vikings team that despite being winless, have played in some close games against  a couple AA and AAA teams.

 Cook County can play relaxed and have some fun in a game where all the pressure is on Braham to win a game everyone expects them to.

 The winner plays East Central or Blackduck on 10/26.

#2 Barnum (7-1) vs. #7 Walker-Hackensack-Akeley (1-7)

10/22/13 7 p.m. @ Barnum

Barnum will begin there run to a state tournament appearance by putting the ball in the hands of their all-purpose junior Brandon Newman.  Newman has 12 TD’s and another 5 TD passes to go along with his 700 All Purpose Yards. 

The Walker-Hackensack-Akeley Wolves won’t be a push over for Barnum however, playing in some close games at the end of their season and winning their final game over 8AA Bagley. 

The winner takes on Deer River or Ogilvie on Saturday 26tth.

#3 Deer River (4-4) vs. #6 Ogilvie (2-6)

10/22/13 7 p.m. @ Deer River

The Warriors 4-4 record might not show it, but this is a good football team that played 2A and 3A schools this year, getting a win or two against both.  While they can’t look past Ogilvie, this is a team that could make a serious run at a section title. 

Despite going 2-6, the Ogilvie Lions are another team that played a bunch of 2A and 3A teams this year.  Coming of a big win over #4 seed East Central last week, the Lions should have some confidence going into the game on Tuesday.

 The winner plays either Barnum or Walker-Hackensack-Akeley on 10/26.

#4 East Central (3-5) vs. #5 Blackduck (3-5)

10/22/13 7 p.m. @ East Central

While only having a 3-5 record, the East Central Eagles have had a lot of close losses to good teams this season.  With holding AA Rush City, AAA Duluth Marshall and top ranked Braham to an average of 18 points, their defense will be something that Blackduck will have to deal with in order to get a win.

 With the exception of a tough loss to #9 ranked  Red Lake County,  all of Blackduck’s losses have been by 8 points or less.  They will look to keep it close and win one at the end. 

The winner plays Braham or Cook County on Saturday 26^th

SECTION 7AA

#3 Mesabi East (4-4) vs. #6 Hinckley-Finlayson (1-7)

10/22/13 7 p.m. @ Mesabi East

Coming of wins in their last two games of the season, Mesabi East will look to keep that momentum going as they host Hinckley-Finlayson in the first round of the section tournament.  The giants defense led by a 100 tackle season from  junior Zack Skelton, will try to stop a Jaguars team that has been in some close games this year, but has lost 6 in a row. 

The winner plays Saturday 26^th against #2 Crosby-Ironton who has a first round bye.

#4 Rush City (2-6) vs. #5 Eveleth-Gilbert (1-7)

10/22/13 7 p.m. @ Rush City

Rush City will try and turn a 2 game skid around as they take on Eveleth-Gilbert in the opening round of sections.  The Tigers will look to improve on their 12 point per game average as they go against a Golden Bears team that has given up 39 a game this year. 

                Even though Eveleth has given up a lot of points this year they have been averaging 20 a game on offense.  They will probably need every one of those 20 to get a win on Tuesday.

 The winner plays top ranked Mooselake/Willow River who had a bye.

SECTION 7AAA

#2 Esko (5-3) vs. #7 Virginia (0-8)

10/22/13 6 p.m. @ Esko

The Eskimos are probably one of the best 5-3 teams in the area.  Their 3 losses to #2 Cloquet, #1 MLWR and #1 Proctor were by a combined 5 points.  They will have to stay focused on this first round game versus Virginia, but they have to have their sights set on a section championship. 

                The Blue Devils have struggled to score points this year averaging only 5 a game.  They will have to work hard to turn that around this Tuesday, but if they catch the Eskimos looking past them, they just might get an upset. 

The winner will play either Duluth Marshall or Greenway-Nashwauk-Keewatin on 10/26.

#3 Duluth Marshall (6-2) vs. #6 Greenway-Nashwauk-Keewatin (2-6)

10/22/13 4 p.m. @ Duluth Marshall

With a tough loss to MLWR last week where the breaks just didn’t seem to go their way, and the only other loss coming to #2 Esko by 5 points, the Duluth Marshall Hilltoppers should still feel very confident going into this first round game against GNK.  They will need to rely on a defense that was top in the section giving up only 15 points per game.

                 While they only won 2 games this year, the Titans have still been putting up an average of 21 points per game this season.  If they can do that against a stout Marshall defense, they will have a good shot at coming out of Tuesday with a win.

 The winner will play either Esko or Virginia on Saturday, 26^th.

#4 Two Harbors (5-3) vs. #5 International Falls (4-4)

10/22/13 7 p.m. @ Two Harbors

These two teams played in great week 4 match up in International Falls that had Two Harbors coming out on top 30-28.  Look for another great game as the Broncos head to Two Harbors for the rematch.  These two teams match up statistically as well with the Agates averaging 25 per game and giving up 20, and I-Falls scoring 30 a game and allowing 22. 

The winner will play 10/26 in Proctor against the Rails who had a first round bye.

SECTION 7AAAA

# Princeton (5-3) vs. # 6 Grand Rapids (0-8)

10/22 7 p.m. @ Princeton

                Coming off a close loss to Cambridge-Isanti in the season finale last week, the Princeton Tigers will try to bounce back with a first round win over the Thunderhawks.   Grand Rapids has struggled to score this year averaging only 6 points a game, and will have to work hard to break into the end zone against the Tigers defense that has allowed only 16 a game this year.

                The winner travels to Cloquet on 10/26 at 2 p.m., to take on the #2 Lumberjacks

#4 Hibbing (2-6) vs. #5 Denfeld (1-7)

10/22 7 p.m. @ Hibbing

                This should be a good matchup between two teams that are statistically pretty even.  Hibbing has averaged 18.5 points/game and given up 28, while the Hunters have scored 19.5 and allowed 36 a game this season.  The winner will head to Hermantown next Saturday at 7 p.m., to play the #1 Hawks.