North Branch hosted Duluth Denfeld on Friday night.
The Vikings played in an important section game against the Hunters. Both teams were ranked in the top 10 in Class AAAA, with Denfeld sitting in first place in their section. The winner of this game would take sole possession of first place.
The Hunters started the game with the ball, and it only took them three plays to score, taking a 6-0 lead.
The Vikings didn't take much time to score themselves. They drove 75 yards in 5 plays and scored on a Tyler Minke 45 yard touchdown. With the PAT kicked through the uprights they took a 7-6 lead. The Vikings defense forced a punt and the offense quickly got back to work. North Branch once again didn't take long to score, this time is was Jacob Robillard from 27 yards out to give them a 14-6 lead.
The Vikings defense continued to hold the Hunters out of the endzone for the remainder of the 1st half. While their offense simply couldn't be stopped. They scored twice more before the half, one from Tyler Minke on a 4 yard dive. Their final score before came after a Bo Pedersen interception. Denfeld had finally found some rhythm on offense and drove all the way down the field and looked destined to score. But a late throw from the QB into the endzone led to Pedersen easily grabbing the pick. Then one play later Brody Mitchell, like an Olympic sprinter got the handoff and was off to the races. A race in which he easily won, scoring from 80 yards out! The Vikings would go into halftime leading 28-6.
North Branch started with the ball in the 2nd half and used that to their advantage. They methodically marched down the field 90 yards and Minke scored once again to increase their lead 34-6 after the missed PAT. Denfeld's next possession lead to an explosive run from star RB Taye Manns, as he rumbled his way into the endzone on a 53 yard touchdown.
But this would be the last time the Hunters were able to get close to scoring. The Vikings defense continued to clamp down and force turnovers and missed 4th down conversions.
North Branch added to more scores before the final whistle, a 27 yard pass from Robillard to Carter Drill for one of the scores. The last touchdown was a thing a beauty. Backed up deep in their own territory the Vikes were hoping to take some time off the clock, but one carry from Dooley Beaver picked up 46 yards to put them into Denfeld territory. His next carry would bring him into the endzone from 36 yards out to make it a 47-12 final.
With the win the Vikings move first in the section and will certainly push themselves into the top 5 in rankings in Class AAAA.
They travel to Grand Rapids next Friday.
Player of the game: Tyler Minke 10-97 yards 3 TDs
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