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GRAND RAPIDS — Grand Rapids answered one of the biggest questions of the northeastern Minnesota high school football season Friday night.
Grand Rapids won a battle of unbeaten Section 7, Class 4A contenders, defeating Hermantown 24-15 at Noble Hall Field and improving to 5-0. The Hawks, who had overwhelmed their first four opponents behind one of the region’s most explosive offenses, fell to 4-1.
Senior Mason Johnson again played a prominent role for Grand Rapids. His 1-yard touchdown run late in the first half put the Thunderhawks back in front, and Grand Rapids finished the job against a Hermantown team that had entered the night averaging more than 45 points per game. The 15 points were easily a season low for the Hawks, who had scored 48, 50, 48 and 35 in their first four victories.
The significance extended well beyond another regular-season victory. Grand Rapids has now defeated Hermantown three consecutive times, following a 34-20 regular-season victory last fall and a 41-0 victory over the Hawks in the 2025 Section 7AAAA championship game. Hermantown entered Friday hoping to show how much the gap had narrowed. The Hawks were considerably more competitive this time, but the result again belonged to Grand Rapids.
Hermantown entered the matchup with considerable momentum. Senior running back Martin Sleen had rushed for 248 yards on only 15 carries in a 35-6 victory over Cloquet a week earlier, adding a 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and finishing with four scores. The Hawks had outscored their first four opponents 181-54. Grand Rapids, however, again found a way to keep Hermantown’s big-play offense under control when it mattered most.
The victory leaves Grand Rapids alone among the unbeaten teams at the top of the Northeast Red race and strengthens the Thunderhawks’ position entering the final three weeks of the regular season. Grand Rapids hosts North Branch next Friday, while Hermantown returns home for a difficult nonconference matchup against Esko.
The Grand Rapids-Hermantown showdown headlined a busy night across northeastern Minnesota in which several teams delivered some of their strongest performances of the season.
Mountain Iron-Buhl 66, Chisholm 8
Mountain Iron-Buhl continued its remarkable start, rolling past Chisholm 66-8 and improving to 5-0.
The Rangers have turned their schedule into a weekly display of offensive power. Friday marked their second consecutive 66-point performance after a 66-7 victory over East Central, and every Mountain Iron-Buhl game this season has been decided by at least 20 points. The Rangers travel to Barnum next Friday in another important northern Minnesota matchup.
Deer River 60, Ely/Northeast Range/Vermilion Country 0
Deer River remained perfect with one of Friday night’s most decisive victories, shutting out Ely/Northeast Range/Vermilion Country 60-0.
The Warriors improved to 5-0 while handing Ely its first shutout loss of the season. Deer River has established itself as another legitimate small-school contender from the region and will face Braham next week.
Cook County 50, Northome/Kelliher 6
Cook County’s unbeaten run continued in Grand Marais as the Vikings dominated Northome/Kelliher 50-6.
Cook County improved to 4-0 and has won every game this season by at least 20 points. The Vikings have scored 46, 48 and 50 points in their past three games while allowing only 22 combined. They host Bigfork next Friday.
Esko 61, Proctor/Stella Maris 14
Esko produced one of the night’s biggest offensive explosions, rolling past Proctor/Stella Maris 61-14.
The Eskomos improved to 3-2 and now turn immediately toward one of their biggest tests of the regular season, a trip to Hermantown next Friday. Proctor/Stella Maris fell to 0-5, although its 14 points were a season high.
Two Harbors/Marshall/Kelley 40, Hibbing 8
Two Harbors/Marshall/Kelley continued its strong season with a 40-8 victory over Hibbing.
The Agates improved to 4-1 and posted a season-high point total while winning for the second consecutive week. Hibbing, which had routed Proctor/Stella Maris 61-0 a week earlier, fell to 3-2. Two Harbors visits Proctor next Friday, while Hibbing hosts Pequot Lakes.
Cloquet 24, Mora 16
Cloquet responded to its loss at Hermantown by defeating Mora 24-16 and moving above .500 at 3-2.
The Lumberjacks have been particularly effective at home, winning three straight there against Duluth East, North Branch and Mora. Cloquet travels to Rock Ridge next Friday in another Northeast Red matchup.
Barnum 48, East Central 7
Barnum generated a season-high offensive output in a 48-7 road victory over East Central.
The Bombers improved to 3-2 and now face one of their most difficult assignments of the season when unbeaten Mountain Iron-Buhl comes to Barnum next Friday.
Cromwell 34, Ogilvie 18
Cromwell stayed unbeaten with a 34-18 road victory at Ogilvie. The Cardinals have also defeated Sebeka, Mille Lacs and McGregor during their strong start and will host Bertha-Hewitt next Friday.
Elsewhere, International Falls edged Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin 3-0 in a defensive struggle, North Branch defeated Duluth East 36-13, Braham beat Cherry 12-6 and Northwestern continued its dominant season on the Wisconsin side of the border with a 42-0 victory over Spooner. Superior lost to Chippewa Falls 31-9.
But Friday belonged principally to Grand Rapids.
Five weeks into the season, Hermantown remains one of northeastern Minnesota’s strongest teams and still has plenty of football ahead. Grand Rapids simply supplied another reminder that until somebody takes the section away from the Thunderhawks, the road through Section 7AAAA continues to run through Noble Hall Field.
