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On a night packed with pageantry, history and a homecoming crowd that filled Corey Veech Field, Hermantown stumbled early and never fully recovered.
Grand Rapids spoiled the celebration Friday, handing the Hawks their first loss of the season in a 34-20 Northeast Red high school football game.
“It was just a tremendous night for high school football,” Hermantown coach Mike Zagelmeyer said. “Excellent weather, a huge crowd, the 1997 Hermantown Football Team Hall of Fame induction, flag football at half, homecoming. But unfortunately, we didn’t do our part and win the game.”
The Hawks (4-1, 3-1) fell into a 13-0 hole before their fans had even settled in. A turnover on the first offensive play set up Grand Rapids (4-1, 3-0), and the Thunderhawks capitalized with two quick scores.
“As for us, we were terrible coming out of the gate,” Zagelmeyer said. “Missing tackles and assignments, turnover on our first offensive play, and we were down 13 before the crowd had a chance to warm up their seats. Just a terrible way to start.”
He didn’t spare himself in the postgame assessment.
“I am also frustrated at myself in that maybe our defensive scheme was flawed at the beginning,” Zagelmeyer said. “We got out of it eventually but it was already 13-0 and a tough road ahead.”
Hermantown fought back behind senior running back Martin Sleen, who carried 21 times for 135 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Sawyer Senst added a 37-yard touchdown strike to Grant Johnson, helping the Hawks edge ahead 20-19 in the third quarter.
“One of the positives was that I loved that our guys battled their tails off,” Zagelmeyer said. “I feel we got more and more physical as the game progressed. I also think that when we took the lead 20-19, the momentum was heavily in our favor.”
But the Hawks couldn’t build on the advantage.
“We had the ball and we did nothing with the ensuing series, which was really needed for us to maybe go up two scores and make it really difficult on Grand Rapids,” Zagelmeyer said. “Instead, we punt and they score, and you could immediately feel the momentum swing on the sidelines.”
Grand Rapids dominated the trenches, rushing for 297 yards on 46 attempts. Mason Johnson scored twice on short runs, and quarterback Oliver Spahn added a 10-yard touchdown. Hermantown managed just 208 total yards and only seven points after halftime.
“Credit to Grand Rapids,” Zagelmeyer said. “They held Martin to 135 and two TDs, which is a great night for every back in the state but not what Martin expects of himself. They eliminated the 50, 60, 70-yard TD runs by Martin which are so explosive and demoralizing for the opponent. Grand Rapids is a very good football team so credit to them.”
Hermantown players were visibly emotional after the loss, Zagelmeyer said, but he emphasized the bigger picture.
“Our guys were visibly upset in the aftermath of that game, but we have a ton of football to play,” he said. “I truly believe if we are going to get where we want to go we will eventually have to see that team again.”
That journey continues with a nonconference matchup at Esko on Friday at 5 p.m.
“We need to respond and play a little salty on Friday,” Zagelmeyer said. “I really believe that this team will not feel sorry for itself and prove to everyone their mental toughness.”
He added that the Esko trip, which starts a two-game road stretch, offers another challenge.
“The Esko game starts our back-to-back series of road games with a 5 p.m. start in Esko, so we have to make sure we don’t get out of our pregame rhythm and just focus this week on how we can get better,” Zagelmeyer said. “I am truly excited to see how we respond to this past week’s adversity. Because adversity just doesn’t happen in football — it happens in life. So we will talk about big picture ideas this week also.”
