Esko Shuts-out Marshall

  On the opening drive of the game the Eskomos stopped the Hilltoppers without allowing a first down and took over after returning a punt just short of mid-field.  On their second play from scrimmage the Eskomos scored when quarterback Marc Peterson tossed a pass toward the right sideline that was caught by running back Brandt Hintsala who had come out of the backfield.  Hintsala raced down the right sideline 49-yards to pay dirt giving Esko a 7-0 lead following the John Carr extra point kick.

  That score held up until the final quarter when Esko managed another score on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Peterson to Nick Emanuel to make it 14-0 following the kick.  The drive featured a pair of first downs and a big play by Jaxson Turner on a 24-yard dash to a first down.

  It was what happened between those two Esko scores, and after the Esko final score that was most impressive in the win.  While the Hilltoppers stuck to their ground game and pounded the ball relentlessly at the Eskomo defense they continually came up short of scoring because of big plays by the Esko defense, or penalties.  Because of their ability to keep the ball out of Esko’s hands the Hilltoppers were very much in the game, but they surrendered the win because of their inability to cap off their drives with scores.

  The victory puts Esko right back in the Section 7AAA championship game against the same team they beat last year, Proctor.  Last year Esko executed a victory in the title game, but this year it was Proctor taking the regular season game about a month ago.  The game will be played Thursday night at Malosky Stadium at UMD at 7pm.