Semi-Final Saturday Preview

Brian Hey-NSO

Section 5 9-man

#1 Floodwood vs. #4 McGregor

10/26 1 p.m. @Floodwood HS

With a team that has a number of players that can score and a defense that gave up only 8 points a game this season, Floodwood will look to continue their quest for a section championship this Saturday against McGregor.  The Merc’s will undoubtedly put the ball in the hands of their talented senior Andrew DeMenge, who had 252 yards and two touchdowns last week in their win over Hill City. 

Floodwood won the first meeting Oct. 4^th, 48-8.

#2 South Ridge vs. #3 Wrenshall

10/26 3:30 p.m. @ South Ridge HS

South Ridge and Wrenshall will meet for the first time this year as both teams look to advance to the section title game next week.  The Panthers without their stand out quarterback Kody Karppinen will turn the controls over to senior Spencer Otis who went 15-28, 230 yards and two touchdowns  last week in a 26-0 win over Cromwell.  Wrenshall will look to Dustin Shelton and Luke Vine who combined for 247 yards and 3 scores in their victory over Silverbay last Tuesday.

The two winners will play for the section title Nov. 1^st @7 p.m. at Esko Stadium.

Section 7A

#1 Braham vs. #5 Blackduck

10/26 2 p.m. @ Braham HS

The Braham Bombers rolled over Cook County last week 32-6 and will stand behind a defense that has allowed a mere 10 points a game this season in this semifinal matchup.  Blackduck blanked East Central Tuesday 20-0 to earn them a trip to Braham for the first meeting of these two this year.

#2 Barnum vs. #3 Deer River

10/26 2 p.m. @ Barnum

Led by quarterback Brandon Newman, the Bombers high powered offense has outscored their opponent 142-36 in the last three games, including a 46-8 rout over Walker-Hackensack-Akeley last week.  They will host a Deer River team coming off an impressive 34-14 win over Ogilvie last Tuesday.

The two winners will play at Duluth Public School Stadium on Oct 31^st @ 4:45 p.m. for the section championship.

Section 7AA

#1 Mooselake/Willow River vs. #5 Eveleth-Gilbert

10/26 2 p.m. @ Willow River

Coming off a first round bye, the top ranked Rebels will start their run for a state title against the Golden Bears this week in a rematch of the Sept. 20^th game that had ML/WR cruising to a 55-15 win.  Coming off a hard fought 14-6 win over Rush City last week, Eveleth-Gilbert will have their hands full with a Rebels team that averaged 37 points a game this year and gave up only 9 a night.

#2 Crosby-Ironton vs. #3 Mesabi East

10/26 2 p.m. @ Crosby

While Crosby-Ironton only had three wins this season, one of them was a 31-0 shutout of Mesabi East in the first game of the year.    The Giants will get behind running back Neil Seibert who finished the season with 923 rushing yards, and added 202 in their 18-6 win over Hinckley-Finlayson last week. 

The two winners will meet 7 p.m. on Oct. 31^st at Duluth Public Schools Stadium for the section final game.

Section 7AAA

#1 Proctor vs. #4 Two Harbors

10/26 2 p.m. @ Proctor

With a first round bye last week, Proctor will start the post season against a tough 6-3 Two Harbors team.  The Rails gained the #1 seed with an impressive 6-2 season that had their only two losses coming from the top two 7AAAA schools Hermantown and Cloquet.  After a come from behind 20-12 win over International Falls last week, the Agates will look to senior quarterback Kyle Omtvedt and junior Lucas Kempffer to upset the Rails on Saturday.

#2 Esko vs. #3 Duluth Marshall

10/26 2 p.m. @ Esko

Esko quarterback Marc Peterson threw three touchdown passes in last week’s big 51-20 win over Virginia and will look to continue that in this rematch  of the Sept. 20^th game that the Eskimos won 33-28.  Coming off a 124 yard and two touchdown performance by Jeremy Stephan in the win over Greenway-Nashwauk-Keewatin last Tuesday, the Hilltoppers will try to avenge that earlier loss and earn a trip to the section finals.

The Section Final game will be on Oct. 31^st 7 p. m. @ Griggs Field at UMD’s Malosky Stadium.

Section 7AAAA

#1 Hermantown vs. #5 Denfeld

10/26 6 p.m. @ Hermantown

Hermantown comes into the game against the Hunters behind running back Zach Royer’s 1,018 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns on the season.  The hawks look to add to their 7 game winning streak to earn them a section finals game next week.  The Hunters will look to 1,000 rusher Ben Halverson who had a huge 290 yard and three touchdown night in their 25-0 playoff win over Hibbing last week.

#2 Cloquet vs. #3 Princeton

10/26 2 p.m. @ Cloquet

Cloquet comes off a bye to face Princeton led by senior quarterback Maxx Brenner who had 64 completions for 838 yards and 8 touchdowns this year.  The Tigers rolled Grand Rapids 33-0 in last week’s quarter final game, and with their only game within the section this season a 53-22 win over Denfeld, they will be looking to prove they are a real contender for the section 7 title.

The two winners will play Nov. 1^st at 7 p.m.  The game will be held at the higher seed’s home field.