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Hermantown junior running back Martin Sleen delivered one of Minnesota high school football's most dominant rushing performances this fall, powering the Hawks to a 41-21 Northeast Red road victory over Cloquet on Friday night.
Sleen ran 20 times for 369 yards and scored all six of Hermantown’s touchdowns, averaging 18.5 yards per carry. His longest run was a 70-yard sprint, part of a relentless ground game that piled up 440 rushing yards on just 29 attempts.
Sleen shares the state lead with 952 rushing yards.
Hermantown (4-0, 3-0 conference) scored twice in the first quarter, led 21-7 at halftime, and added 13 more points in the third to seize control. Cloquet managed two late touchdowns in the fourth but never closed the gap after falling behind early.
The Hawks finished with 482 yards of total offense on only 36 plays, averaging more than 13 yards per snap. Quarterback Sawyer Senst complemented the rushing attack by completing 6 of 9 passes for 42 yards without a turnover.
Cloquet kept pace statistically, recording 364 total yards and 17 first downs, but struggled to sustain drives. Running back Jack Horvat led the Lumberjacks with 122 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries, including a 64-yard burst. Aiden Nelson added 102 yards on 13 carries, and Adeolu Banjo scored once on a short run.
Hermantown’s defense limited Cloquet to 3-for-11 on third downs and produced two sacks. The Hawks committed just two penalties for 23 yards and did not turn the ball over.
Hermantown will host Grand Rapids (3-1, 3-0) at 7 p.m. Friday.
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
9:27 — Hermantown, Martin Sleen 6 run (Bode Madill kick)
4:08 — Cloquet, Jack Horvat 64 run (Benjamin Frerich kick)
:58 — Hermantown, Sleen 65 run (Madill kick)
2nd Quarter
5:46 — Hermantown, Sleen 31 run (Madill kick)
3rd Quarter
12:00 — Hermantown, Sleen 70 run (Madill kick)
4:30 — Hermantown, Sleen 22 run (kick failed)
4th Quarter
12:00 — Cloquet, Horvat 16 run (rush failed)
6:26 — Hermantown, Sleen 53 run (Madill kick)
5:16 — Cloquet, Adeolu Banjo 8 run (Jacob Parks rush)
