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Hermantown and North Branch have had some epic battles on the gridiron over the past few years and Friday, September 15 was no different.

The Vikings used a late Jacob Robillard 25 yard touchdown run to take the lead 28-21, and then an interception in the endzone by Brody Beaver at the end of the game sealed the win for North Branch and moved them to 2-1 on the year.

The Hawks started with the ball first and after eight plays have moved down to North Branch’s 30 yard line, but that’s when the Viking defense stood tall, forcing a turnover on downs when they stuffed the Hawk quarterback on fourth and two.

When the Vikings took over, they ripped a 14 yard gain off on their first play, but unfortunately, they lost a fumble on the very next play.

Their defense, which hadn’t even caught their breath yet, was forced back out on the field, and Hermantown proceeded to go on a 10 play drive that ended in a touchdown on an 18 yard pass on third and 15, putting the Hawks up 7-0.

Luckily for the ‘Cats, they held onto the ball on their next drive, and sandwiched a couple of short gains in between a 32 yard rush from Robillard and a 47 yard touchdown scamper from Carter Drill in which the junior broke a nice tackle attempt downfield to finish the run off. The extra point was good and NB was tied 7-7.

Hermantown answered right back, though, finding success through the air. The Hawks had completions of 19, 23 and 13 yards, including the last one for a touchdown, putting the Hawks up 14-7.

North Branch went back to their bread and butter on the next drive though, plodding down the field on a 13 play drive that sucked up most of the second quarter. They eventually found the endzone, with Nolan Volner weaving through the Hermantown interior defense from four yards out for a score. The extra point was nailed and the game was tied back up at 14-14.

Both teams traded an empty possession at the end of the second quarter, leaving the game knotted at half.

North Branch started with the ball in the third quarter, and they got moving quickly, with an early 24 yard run from Robillard. On a third and six, they got another scamper from Robillard for 16 yards, bringing them down to the 12 yard line. Two plays later, Robillard called his own number again and raced around the left side of the defense for an eight yard touchdown as Hermantown struggled to defend when the quarterback kept the ball. The extra point was good and NB had their first lead of the night at 21-14.

The North Branch defense came up with a big play on the next drive. On second and 15 for Hermantown, the center snapped the ball to the quarterback, who was in the shotgun formation, but he wasn’t ready. The ball bounced off his helmet and backwards. The QB initially recovered the ball, but a North Branch defender caught him and whipped him to the ground and the ball came squirting out again, and North Branch jumped on it at Hermantown’s 17 yard line, setting the offense up in prime position.

North Branch’s ugliest drive on offense ensued, though, as they went backwards and were eventually stuck in a fourth and 19 from Hermantown’s 26 yardline. Head coach Justin Voss decided to go for it, figuring the worst that would happen was the Hawks would be stuck deep in their own territory, but Robillard fumbled on a keeper to the left side and the Hermantown defense picked up a convoy and returned the ball all the way down to North Branch’s 35 yard line for a 45 yard return.

Seven plays later, the Hawks tied it up at 21-21 with a five yard touchdown run and a converted extra point.

But, North Branch’s offense knew they could move the ball well, and they went to work. They methodically moved down the field and into Hermantown’s territory.  Once there, Drill had a 14 yard rush to get NB down near the 25 yard line, and two plays later, on third and eight, is when Robillard converted from 25 out to take the late lead, 28-21.

The Vikings forced Hermantown into a third and eight on their next and last drive, but on a little swing screen to the left side, the Hawks running back found a seam and looked like he was off to the races, but Volner and Jacob Tiegen made what ended up being a huge play by tracking him down from behind and tackling the back at the 12 yard line and saving the tying touchdown.

On the next play, Hermantown committed and holding penalty, and that gave them first and 20 at the 22 yard line, forcing them into a passing scenario.

The Vikings took advantage of that, pressuring the H’Town quarterback for a big 12 yard sack, pushing the Hawks all the way back to the 34 yard line for a third and 32 try. They did get 19 on the play, but were still in desperation mode when they threw the pick to Beaver in the endzone.

Three kneel downs later, and the Vikings escaped the north with a win to move to 2-1.

Robillard ended with 158 yards and two scores on the ground and Drill had 99 yards and a score on 11 carries. The defense stood tall as well, holding the normally tough-nosed Hawks to just 47 yards rushing on 20 attempts.

North Branch will travel to a reeling Mora squad, who is fresh off of a 66-8 loss to Esko and is 0-3 on the year.

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