Junior running back Martin Sleen powered unbeaten Hermantown into the Section 7, Class 4A championship game Friday night, rushing for 270 yards and three touchdowns as the Hawks held off North Branch 35-28 in a semifinal matchup at Corey Veech Field in Hermantown.
Sleen’s explosive 55-yard touchdown run in the second quarter jump-started Hermantown after a slow start, erasing an early 8-0 deficit and igniting a 28-point surge that gave the Hawks control. Quarterback Sawyer Senst added two touchdown passes to Grant Johnson and ran for 31 yards as Hermantown (8-0) averaged an eye-popping 11.0 yards per carry.
North Branch (6-3) relied heavily on Logan Hammel, who carried 34 times for 200 yards and a score, while quarterback Eathan Thorsen threw a short touchdown to Hammel among his 3-for-7, 39-yard performance. The Vikings out-snapped Hermantown 66-32 but struggled to finish drives, converting just one of 10 third-down chances.
Hermantown led 14-8 at halftime and 28-16 after three quarters before Sleen’s third touchdown in the fourth extended the margin to 35-20. North Branch added a late score, but the Hawks’ balanced offense and perfect 5-for-5 mark on third down proved the difference.
The Hawks totaled 349 yards of offense to North Branch’s 356 but did it with ruthless efficiency and no punts.
Hermantown advances to face top-seed Grand Rapids (9-0) in the Section 7, Class 4A championship game Friday at 7 p.m. at Duluth Public Schools Stadium, with a state-tournament berth on the line.