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GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. — Ethan Morgan scored four touchdowns and Grand Rapids erupted for 42 first-half points Thursday night, overwhelming Cloquet 56-14 in the Northeast Red high school football season opener for both teams at Noble Hall Field.
Morgan scored twice on the ground and caught two touchdown passes from quarterback Logan McNear as the Thunderhawks built a 21-0 first-quarter lead and extended it to 42-0 by halftime. Grand Rapids scored eight touchdowns overall, getting production from its running game, passing attack and defense in a dominant opening-night performance.
Morgan opened the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run before Mason Johnson added a 5-yard scoring run. McNear then connected with Morgan for a 24-yard touchdown as Grand Rapids quickly took command.
The Thunderhawks continued to break open the game in the second quarter.
Sam Arlt scored on a 55-yard run, Morgan broke loose for a 42-yard touchdown and McNear found Morgan again, this time for a 59-yard scoring pass. Those explosive plays pushed the Grand Rapids advantage to six touchdowns before halftime.
Morgan’s four touchdowns came in four different ways offensively — two rushing scores and two receptions — while McNear supplied the vertical passing threat that prevented Cloquet from concentrating solely on the Thunderhawks’ running game.
Grand Rapids also scored on defense when Brandon Brula returned an interception 55 yards for a touchdown. Jack Johnson completed the Thunderhawks’ scoring with a 6-yard touchdown run, and Fynn Schlicht converted all eight extra-point attempts.
Cloquet was unable to generate an offensive answer during the decisive first half. The Lumberjacks were shut out through two quarters before scoring touchdowns on runs of 9 and 3 yards after halftime.
