Down 21 points in the third quarter, Hermantown mounted an epic comeback to defeat top-seeded North Branch 35-28 in the Class 4A, Section 7 prep football championship game on Friday night at Marv Heikkinen Field in West Duluth.
Hawks defeat North Branch, advance to state 4A prep football quarterfinals
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Howie: Will C.J. Ham retire after this season?
Ham will show up somewhere that needs someone dependable, respected, and comfortable doing the hard work without applause. Which, if we’re being honest, means he’ll still fit right in around here.
2026 Top-10 Not-Too-Early 50 Yard Football Rankings
1. Vegas Knight Hawks (IFL) 2. Albany Firebirds (AF1) 3. Green Bay Blizzard (IFL) 4. Nashville Kats (AF1) 5. Arizona Rattlers (IFL) 6. Minnesota Monsters (AF1) 7. Fishers Freight (IFL) 8. Orlando Pirates (IFL) 9. Quad City Steamwheelers (IFL) 10. Tulsa Oilers (IFL) "Vegas has to be considered the
Howie: Hughes trade, DECC to host World Junior Championship exhibitions
This is a bet that Hughes ages cleanly, that his body cooperates, that the cap continues to rise, and that the surrounding cast can be managed without suffocation. It’s a bet that Minnesota can finally pull off the superstar contract that doesn’t end in regret.
Monsters release 2026 schedule
Minnesota’s home schedule begins in Week 7, when Nashville visits. Kentucky comes to Minnesota in Week 8.
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Howie: Will C.J. Ham retire after this season?
Ham will show up somewhere that needs someone dependable, respected, and comfortable doing the hard work without applause. Which, if we’re being honest, means he’ll still fit right in around here.
2026 Top-10 Not-Too-Early 50 Yard Football Rankings
1. Vegas Knight Hawks (IFL) 2. Albany Firebirds (AF1) 3. Green Bay Blizzard (IFL) 4. Nashville Kats (AF1) 5. Arizona Rattlers (IFL) 6. Minnesota Monsters (AF1) 7. Fishers Freight (IFL) 8. Orlando Pirates (IFL) 9. Quad City Steamwheelers (IFL) 10. Tulsa Oilers (IFL) "Vegas has to be considered the
Howie: Hughes trade, DECC to host World Junior Championship exhibitions
This is a bet that Hughes ages cleanly, that his body cooperates, that the cap continues to rise, and that the surrounding cast can be managed without suffocation. It’s a bet that Minnesota can finally pull off the superstar contract that doesn’t end in regret.
Howie: The library isn’t the story. It never was.
This time, the leverage isn’t casino revenue. It’s downtown frustration — visible poverty, safety complaints, business dissatisfaction and the persistent sense that downtown Duluth has not lived up to decades of promises.