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Overcoming a disastrous start on Friday, September 29, the North Branch football team knocked Duluth Denfeld out of the undefeated ranks with a commanding 33-14 win over the Hunters, knocking them from the top 10 rankings and earning themselves some consideration among the state’s elite in Class AAAA.

That start was on the second play of the game when the Hunters, on their home field, got a shifty run from their halfback, and after he changed directions abruptly in the backfield, he was off to the races for a 44 yard touchdown to put Denfeld up 7-0.

On North Branch’s ensuing drive, they were moving the ball with success, including a 22 yard run by quarterback Jacob Robillard near midfield that put the Vikings down near the redzone. But, two plays later, North Branch coughed the ball up on a fumble and the Hunter defense tracked the ball down and recovered it to turn the Vikings over.

The NB defense came through on the next drive, though. They allowed a quick first down before stiffening up and forcing a punt from Denfeld. This time, North Branch held on to the ball and finished off their scoring drive. 

They used their typical grinding rushing attack to do the damage, including 13 and 10 yard runs by Robillard and a 16 yard run by Carter Drill. The drive was capped off on a six yard rushing score by junior Tyler Minke. The Vikings missed a rare extra point, leaving Denfeld in the lead at 7-6.

 North Branch’s defense had another good drive, forcing the Hunters to punt near midfield, and then one of the most crucial sequences happened in the game over the next few plays.

On Denfeld’s ensuing point, the Vikings muffed it and Denfeld scooped it up and ran untouched into the endzone for what looked like an easy score. But, in high school muffed punts can’t be advanced, so Denfeld took over on North Branch’s 10 yard line, and it seemed inevitable that they’d score to extend their lead. But, the Hunter quarterback mishandled a snap two plays later and the Vikings pounced out it, taking back possession and swinging momentum their way.

The NB offense wouldn’t be stopped once they got that ball back. They marched 88 yards in 11 plays, with the highlights a 24 and 20 yard run from Robillard, before Nolan Volner paid the drive off with a 12 yard rushing touchdown. Their two point try was good, and the Vikings, who were staring at a potential eight point deficit just minutes early, suddenly led by seven at 14-7.

The two teams traded possessions at the end of the half, with North Branch threatening, getting the ball all the way down to the two yard line before they were stopped short as the half came to a close.

To open the second half, North Branch, who over the years has had some great special teams play, but hasn’t flashed as much this year, finally sparked. They got a big kickoff return that brought them all the way down to Denfeld’s 34 yard line to start the half. Three plays later, a 24 yard touchdown scamper by Minke put the Vikings up 20-7. They again missed the extra point and the score remained.

Denfled, though, returned the favor on their kick return. Their returner seemed bottled up down the right sideline, but he somehow wriggled free and went all the way back across the field and got in a footrace, eventually being caught by a North Branch defender at NB’s 30 yard line. Four plays later, the Hunters scored and booted the extra point through to cut the deficit to 20-14.

The Vikings, though, went back to work on offense. As long as they held on to the ball, they seemed to be running at will against the Hunter defense. They marched down the field in 12 plays – only facing two short third downs on the way – and scored on a three yard Volner plunge. Their two point attempt was no good, and NB led 26-14.

Denfeld was forced to get out of their comfort zone a bit, throwing the ball on the next drive as the game was well into the fourth quarter, and that backfired when their quarterback chucked a ball downfield from the 50 yard line that was picked off by the Vikings.

Although the Vikes didn’t score on the ensuing drive, they did get two first downs, which allowed them to bleed even more time off the clock, which put Denfeld in precarious positions when they did get the ball back. They had to go completely to the air, and that resulted in a couple penalties that eventually put them in fourth and 25 from their own 18. On the play, Drill and a host of other Vikings put pressure on the quarterback and got him for a vicious sack. Drill suplexed the passer as the Denfeld sideline erupted for a penalty call, but the refs didn’t throw the flag, and the Vikings got the ball back on a very short field.

It didn’t take long for NB to cash in, with Robillard scoring from 14 yards out to put NB up 32-14. The extra point was good and the Vikes essentially iced the game. Denfeld had one last gasp, but a sack and scramble and two incompletions ended their night as North Branch kneeled the clock out.

The win moved the Vikings to 3-1 on the year, with this their signature win so far. Denfeld was unbeaten and ranked in the top 10 of Class AAAA, and the Vikings had their way with them outside of a few unfortunate turnovers.

The Vikings will look to continue their winning ways with two straight home games coming up. They take on Grand Rapids this Friday, October 6. Although the Thunderhawks are a little down this year, the two teams always seem to play tight, rugged games. Then, the Vikings will host a struggling Duluth East team on Friday, October 13.

    

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