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DULUTH — Northeastern Minnesota high school sports move into an important September stretch this week, with several undefeated football teams facing regional tests and conference races beginning to take shape in soccer and volleyball.
The largest stage comes Friday night, when Hermantown, Grand Rapids and Hibbing — each 2-0 — attempt to protect unbeaten starts in football.
Hermantown hosts Duluth East at 7 p.m. at Centricity Stadium after overpowering its first two opponents. The Hawks opened with a 48-13 victory at Duluth Denfeld and followed with a 50-8 win at Proctor on Friday, giving them 98 points through two games.
The matchup represents a significant change in degree of difficulty for Duluth East. The Greyhounds opened with a 36-25 victory over Rock Ridge before Brainerd shut them out 51-0 Friday.
Hermantown has established itself quickly as one of the teams to beat in northeastern Minnesota. Friday provides another opportunity to prove its early dominance can hold against a Northeast Red opponent with enough athleticism to challenge the Hawks on both sides of the ball.
Grand Rapids also brings a 2-0 record into Friday after defeating Bemidji 19-17 in one of last week's most significant northern Minnesota results. The Thunderhawks had opened with a 56-14 victory over Cloquet. Grand Rapids visits Duluth Denfeld at 6 p.m. Friday.
Denfeld is 0-2 but was considerably more competitive Friday in a 28-20 loss at Two Harbors after falling 48-13 to Hermantown in its opener.
Another Friday game worth close attention sends unbeaten Hibbing to Esko at 7 p.m.
Hibbing has allowed only 10 points in two games, defeating Pine City 14-2 and North Branch 25-8. The Bluejackets' 2-0 start gives Friday's game at Esko immediate significance as they move deeper into the regional schedule.
Esko is 1-1 after opening with a 19-13 victory over Pequot Lakes before losing 41-18 at Cloquet. Cloquet's victory was one of the stronger reversals of Week 2 after the Lumberjacks had lost 56-14 at Grand Rapids in their opener.
Elsewhere Friday, North Branch visits Cloquet, Pequot Lakes plays at Proctor, Pine City travels to Rock Ridge, Mora visits Two Harbors and Mountain Iron-Buhl plays at Ely.
Rock Ridge is particularly interesting after responding to its season-opening loss at Duluth East with a 50-6 victory over St. Cloud Apollo.
Football will own Friday night, but the week's soccer schedule may provide the best series of head-to-head regional tests.
Hermantown's girls enter the week 4-0-1 after playing Cloquet to a 2-2 draw Saturday. The Hawks have emerged as an early Section 7AA contender and face Duluth Denfeld at 6 p.m. Tuesday before traveling to Esko for a 7 p.m. match Thursday.
The Hermantown-Esko game should be one of the week's better girls soccer matchups. Hermantown has shown considerable scoring depth during its unbeaten start, including a 9-0 victory over Hibbing last week, but Esko represents another meaningful regional test before the Hawks return home Saturday to face Benilde-St. Margaret's.
Tuesday's boys soccer schedule also includes two games worth watching. Hermantown plays at Duluth Denfeld at 6:30 p.m., while Grand Rapids visits Duluth East at 7 p.m.
Thursday brings another substantial girls soccer schedule. In addition to Hermantown at Esko, Grand Rapids plays at Proctor at 7 p.m.
Volleyball provides its own northern Minnesota measuring sticks.
Hermantown travels to Greenway on Tuesday before playing at Hibbing at 7 p.m. Thursday. The Hawks' early schedule already has included a three-set loss to Esko, while Hibbing entered the week after defeating International Falls 3-1 Thursday.
Hibbing's volleyball team has shown early competitiveness, also defeating Mesabi East in five sets after an opening loss to Proctor. That makes Thursday's Hermantown-Hibbing match another useful test for two Lake Superior Conference programs still establishing where they fit in the regional hierarchy.
By the end of Friday night, the northern Minnesota football picture should be considerably clearer.
