Harbor Monsters keep rolling, with Duluth daring to dream of a repeat

By HOWIE HANSON
DULUTH — Well, here we are again. A bunch of local toughs in shoulder pads are turning this iron-and-water town into a summer football hotbed, and wouldn’t you know it — your Harbor Monsters are sitting at 5-2, breathing heavy down the necks of the Iowa Woo and the rest of the Arena League.

If you’d told me back in May that we’d be talking about Duluth chasing another championship banner by mid-July, I’d have squinted over my coffee and mumbled something about pipe dreams. Turns out, these Monsters have more steel in them than the ore boats docked outside.

They’ve ripped off three straight wins, including that 54-26 mauling of Eau Claire that felt less like a game and more like a neighborly reminder of who owns this patch of turf. The Monsters’ defense was a swarm of hands, helmets and attitude — they forced fumbles, jumped routes, and generally played like a bunch of old dockworkers trying to clock out early for a cold one.

Quarterback Javonte Johnson has settled in beautifully, threading darts to Jamal Couch and anyone else who can get a step. This offense is starting to look downright surgical, which ought to make playoff opponents lose a little sleep.

Now if you’re asking why Duluth can absolutely win it all again, I’ll give it to you straight. First, they’ve got a defense that doesn’t just stop teams, it bullies them — they’re the kind of crew that can turn a playoff game with a tipped ball or strip sack at the worst possible moment for the other guys. Second, they’ve got big-game memory.

This roster is stocked with men who hoisted the trophy last season and still know exactly what it takes when everything’s on the line. They aren’t rattled by tight fourth quarters or goofy bounces; they’ve already danced on the biggest stage this league offers. And third, they’ve got this town.

The old Duluth Arena is as cozy and deafening as ever, and there’s no question teams come in here thinking it’ll be a fun road trip only to walk out with their ears ringing, their timing wrecked, and an L in the column. That home-field edge matters in a short sprint to a championship.

At 5-2, the Monsters are right where they need to be. Iowa Woo might still stake their claim to the top spot, with Ozarks and Hot Springs itching for upsets, but Duluth controls its own fate. If they take care of business, especially against Ozarks in a couple weeks, we’re probably looking at another playoff run that runs through Canal Park. And that means teams will have to try and pry a championship out of a barn that simply doesn’t take kindly to visitors this time of year.

So yeah, call it like I see it — these Monsters are tough, peaking at the right moment, and they’ve got the three big ingredients you need to go back-to-back: a defense that changes games, a locker room that’s been there before, and a community that can roar so loud the building shakes.

If they hang another banner, I’ll be the first one tipping my cap down by the harbor, already grinning at what next summer might bring. Because up here, we don’t do pretty. We do winning.

And right now, these boys look built for one more blue-collar celebration.

Editor's Note: Ben Sunne is a self-taught photographer from International Falls, and the owner of Up North Anything Photography. Known for his striking images of bald eagles, northern lights, and Northwoods landscapes, Ben also covers local sports and community events. A Nikon-certified and drone-accredited shooter, his work often appears in regional publications and galleries. Sunne describes his passion simply: capturing “God’s wonderful creation” through his lens.