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DULUTH — Five unbeaten teams, an important northeastern Minnesota rivalry and several matchups with significant postseason implications headline Friday night's 18-game northern Minnesota high school football schedule.
Grand Rapids (5-0), Pierz (5-0), Aitkin (5-0), Deer River (5-0) and Mountain Iron-Buhl (5-0) will attempt to preserve their perfect records, while Hermantown (4-1) looks to rebound from its first defeat when it entertains Esko (3-2) at Centricity Stadium.
The regular season is entering its decisive stretch, with section tournament seedings, home-field opportunities and momentum becoming increasingly important. Several teams face another game Wednesday, Oct. 14, leaving little time to recover from Friday's results.
Grand Rapids is coming off one of the region's most consequential victories, a 24-15 decision over previously unbeaten Hermantown. The Thunderhawks have established themselves as a leading contender in Section 7AAAA, while Pierz has emerged as one of Minnesota's strongest Class AAA programs.
Here is a game-by-game preview of Friday's schedule. Records are through Oct. 8, according to Minnesota-Scores.net.
Friday's games
Pierz (5-0) at St. Cloud Apollo (0-5), 4:30 p.m. — Pierz brings one of the state's most impressive unbeaten records into its meeting with Apollo, which continues searching for its first victory. The Pioneers, coached by Leo Pohlkamp, are coming off a 42-0 victory over Little Falls and have established themselves as a serious Class AAA contender. Apollo faces the challenge of matching Pierz's physical play and avoiding early turnovers. The Pioneers' offensive backfield and defensive front will be important units to watch.
Duluth Denfeld (1-4) at Duluth East (1-4), 6 p.m. — The annual Duluth rivalry brings together two struggling teams with an opportunity to finish the regular season strongly. East will celebrate homecoming, while Denfeld seeks its second victory after facing a difficult early schedule. Denfeld senior quarterback Elijah Opack and receivers Ty'von Murriel and Zach Lahti are players to watch. East's roster includes quarterbacks Brennan Labelle and Isaac Emerson, along with running back Dane Ahrens and tight end-linebacker Kaden Meyer. The outcome could depend on which team establishes its running game and limits mistakes.
Cook County (4-0) at Bigfork (2-3), 6 p.m. — Cook County takes its unbeaten record on the road in a nine-player matchup against a Bigfork team looking to climb back to .500. The Vikings have been among the North Shore's most successful teams this fall, but Bigfork has an opportunity to disrupt their momentum at home. Both teams will need dependable offensive line play and strong tackling in space, where one missed assignment can produce a long touchdown. Cook County's primary ball carriers and Bigfork's defensive leaders will be particularly important.
Cambridge-Isanti (2-3) at St. Francis (1-4), 6 p.m. — Cambridge-Isanti enters as the more successful team through five games, but St. Francis has an opportunity to revive its season in front of its home crowd. The Bluejackets will attempt to establish field position and sustain drives, while St. Francis needs better consistency on both sides of the ball. The quarterback play, rushing attacks and turnover margin will be significant in a matchup between teams looking to improve their postseason positioning.
Pequot Lakes (3-2) at Hibbing (3-2), 7 p.m. — Two Class AAA teams with identical records meet in one of Friday's more competitive matchups. Pequot Lakes has won three consecutive games, including a 55-6 victory over Pine City, while Hibbing looks to rebound from a 40-8 loss at Two Harbors. The Bluejackets previously defeated Proctor 61-0 and North Branch 25-8, demonstrating the ability to generate offense against familiar opponents. Pequot Lakes quarterback Eli Martini and running backs Noah Stewart and Jobey Tvedt are among the Patriots' rostered offensive players to watch. Hibbing's defense must limit explosive plays.
Esko (3-2) at Hermantown (4-1), 7 p.m. — Hermantown returns home for senior night after Grand Rapids ended its four-game winning streak with a 24-15 victory. Coach Mike Zagelmeyer's Hawks had scored at least 35 points in each of their first four games before the Thunderhawks limited their offense. Senior running back Martin Sleen remains Hermantown's most dangerous offensive weapon, with Owen Simonson providing another physical rushing threat. Ethan McCubbin, Jordan Wilcox and Fletcher Wrazidlo are additional players to watch. Esko comes off a 61-14 victory over Proctor and previously defeated Hibbing 22-21. The Eskomos will need to limit Sleen's explosive runs and sustain possession to keep Hermantown's offense off the field.
Mesabi East (1-4) at Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin (0-4), 7 p.m. — Mesabi East travels to face a Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin program still looking for its first win. Both teams have struggled to establish consistency, making this an important opportunity to build confidence before the postseason. Mesabi East will attempt to take advantage of its greater game experience this fall, while the Titans need stronger offensive execution and improved tackling. The running backs and interior defensive players on both sides could determine whether the game becomes a physical, low-scoring contest.
North Branch (2-3) at Grand Rapids (5-0), 7 p.m. — Grand Rapids looks to extend its unbeaten start following its impressive victory over Hermantown. The Thunderhawks' defense held a previously explosive Hawks offense to 15 points and positioned Grand Rapids as the team to beat in the Northeast Red. North Branch has won two consecutive games, defeating Rock Ridge 12-6 and Duluth East 36-13, and enters with momentum despite its losing record. Grand Rapids will look to control the line of scrimmage, while North Branch must protect the football and generate sustained offensive possessions to threaten the Thunderhawks at Noble Hall Field.
South Ridge (3-2) at Littlefork-Big Falls (0-5), 7 p.m. — South Ridge has an opportunity to move two games above .500 against a Littlefork-Big Falls team that has yet to win. The Panthers have demonstrated greater consistency this season, while the Vikings need an improved defensive performance and more productive offensive possessions. South Ridge's rushing game and defensive front will be important in controlling the contest. Littlefork-Big Falls must avoid giving up early touchdowns and create opportunities through field position and takeaways.
Deer River (5-0) at Braham (4-1), 7 p.m. — One of Friday's strongest small-school matchups features unbeaten Deer River against a Braham team with just one loss. Deer River has emerged as a leading Class A contender and already owns a hard-fought 22-16 victory over Barnum. Braham lost to Barnum 8-6, illustrating how competitive this group of teams has been. The Warriors will look to continue their physical approach, while Braham has an opportunity to make a significant statement at home. The battle between the offensive and defensive lines, particularly on third down, should help determine the outcome.
Ely (0-5) at Chisholm (1-4), 7 p.m. — Ely travels to Chisholm hoping to break into the victory column against a Bluestreaks team trying to recover from a 66-8 loss to Mountain Iron-Buhl. Both programs have experienced difficult seasons, but Friday offers a realistic opportunity for improvement. Chisholm will attempt to establish an early advantage through its rushing attack, while Ely needs to limit turnovers and improve defensive consistency. The game could provide a confidence-building performance for either team entering its final regular-season contests.
Cherry (1-4) at East Central (0-5), 7 p.m. — Cherry seeks its second victory when it visits winless East Central. The Tigers have faced difficult Class A competition this season, while East Central is coming off a 48-7 loss to Barnum. Both teams will emphasize improved defensive execution and avoiding the mistakes that have contributed to their records. Cherry's offensive backfield and East Central's defensive front are important areas to watch, particularly during the opening quarter.
Two Harbors (4-1) at Proctor (0-5), 7 p.m. — Two Harbors enters as a clear favorite after defeating Hibbing 40-8 and Pine City 37-0 in consecutive games. The Agates also own victories over North Branch and Denfeld, while Proctor continues searching for its first victory. The Rails have struggled defensively, allowing 61 points to Esko last week after earlier losses to Hibbing and Pequot Lakes by wide margins. Two Harbors will look to establish its running game and control the clock, while Proctor needs its strongest defensive performance of the season to remain competitive.
Cloquet (3-2) at Rock Ridge (2-3), 7 p.m. — Cloquet visits Rock Ridge in a matchup carrying significance for the Northeast Red standings and Class AAAA playoff positioning. The Lumberjacks have defeated Esko and North Branch this season but lost to Hermantown and Grand Rapids. Junior quarterback Keith Diver, running backs Jacob Parks and Milo Wilson, and defensive end Davis Snesrud are among Cloquet's players to watch. Rock Ridge has an opportunity to strengthen its postseason position at home, but the Wolverines will need to improve their offensive consistency against a Cloquet defense capable of controlling the line of scrimmage.
Aitkin (5-0) at Rush City (2-3), 7 p.m. — Unbeaten Aitkin seeks its sixth victory against a Rush City team looking for a significant upset. The Gobblers have defeated Crosby-Ironton 29-0, Mora 40-6, Moose Lake-Willow River 27-14 and International Falls 35-14, building their success around consistent scoring and defense. Aitkin enters with considerable momentum, while Rush City will need to control possession and limit big plays. The Gobblers' offensive line and primary rushers will be central to their effort to maintain their unbeaten record.
Brainerd (5-0) at Monticello (5-0), 7 p.m. — Two undefeated Class AAAAA teams meet in one of the state's most attractive Friday matchups. Brainerd and Monticello have navigated their first five games without a loss, and the winner will gain an important late-season victory against a quality opponent. Monticello enters with one of the state's highest quality-results rankings, while Brainerd has also established itself among Minnesota's leading large-school programs. The matchup figures to test both offensive lines, quarterback decision-making and defensive discipline. Neither team can afford a series of turnovers against an opponent capable of capitalizing.
Barnum (3-2) at Mountain Iron-Buhl (5-0), 7 p.m. — Mountain Iron-Buhl will attempt to remain unbeaten against a Barnum team that has already shown it can compete with strong Class A opponents. The Rangers are coming off a 66-8 victory over Chisholm and have scored at least 34 points in each of their documented victories. Barnum defeated East Central 48-7 last week and previously edged Braham 8-6. The Bombers also defeated Mountain Iron-Buhl 34-8 in last year's playoffs, providing an intriguing backdrop. Mountain Iron-Buhl's explosive offense will challenge Barnum's defense, while the Bombers must generate sustained drives and limit turnovers.
Silver Bay (1-4) at Northome/Kelliher (3-2), 7 p.m. — Silver Bay faces another road challenge against a Northome/Kelliher team seeking its fourth victory in nine-player football. The Mariners have struggled to produce consistent results but have an opportunity to improve before the postseason. Northome/Kelliher enters with the stronger record and will attempt to establish offensive control early. For Silver Bay, improved tackling, ball security and productive first-down plays will be especially important against an opponent that has been more successful throughout the season.
