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North Branch’s football season came to a hard-fought end Saturday, October 25, as the Vikings got out to an early lead, but then struggled to contain star Hermantown running back Martin Sleen in the middle quarters and eventually fell short with an extremely late comeback bid.

Sleen, Hermantown’s big-play back, was the difference, powering the Hawks with three long touchdown runs to offset North Branch’s steady, grinding attack.

The Vikings actually struck first, taking an early 8–0 lead late in the first quarter when quarterback Ethan Thorsen barreled into the end zone on a three-yard keeper. Thorsen then found Jacob Knoespel for a two-point conversion to give North Branch early momentum.

Hermantown responded with a pair of second-quarter touchdowns — a 21-yard run by Sleen and a four-yard pass from quarterback Sawyer Senst to Grant Johnson — to take a 14-8 lead into halftime.

The Hawks continued to surge early in the third. Sleen broke loose on the first drive of the half, racing 55 yards untouched for his second score to extend the lead to 21-8. 

But North Branch refused to fold. Behind their tough offensive line, the Vikings pounded away on the ground, culminating in a two-yard touchdown run by Logan Raine midway through the third. Thorsen added the two-pointer to cut the deficit to 21-16.

Any momentum was short-lived, though, as Hermantown countered once again. Senst connected with Johnson for their second touchdown hookup — this one from 14 yards out — to make it 28-16 heading into the fourth quarter.

The Hawks looked to put the game away early in the final period when Sleen broke free for another long score, a 34-yard burst that pushed the lead to 35-16 with just over five minutes remaining.

But North Branch wasn’t quite done fighting as the clock wound down.

Senior running back Logan Hammel, who was unstoppable most of the night, capped an 80-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run in the final minute of the game. Thorsen’s two-point attempt failed, leaving the score at 35–22 with just 22 seconds left.

Then, after recovering an onside kick, the Vikings quickly moved down the field again and Thorsen rolled out and hit Hammel for a 20-yard touchdown pass with one second remaining, cutting the deficit to just seven. The extra-point attempt was no good, and althought extremely fast, the score wasn’t fast enough and Hermantown escaped with the 35–28 victory.

Hammel was the workhorse once again for North Branch, carrying the ball 34 times for 200 yards and a touchdown, while also adding a receiving score. Raine contributed 47 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, and Thorsen rushed 11 times for 40 yards and a score while completing 3-of-7 passes for 39 yards and a touchdown.

As a team, the Vikings piled up 317 rushing yards on 61 carries, staying true to their identity of physical, old-school football.

Defensively, however, they had no answer for Sleen, who proved that he’s in the running for the best back in the state of Minnesota, running for 270 yards and three touchdowns on just 18 carries — averaging 15 yards per rush. Senst was efficient through the air for the Hawks, completing 3-of-4 passes for 42 yards and two touchdowns, both to Johnson.

The loss ends another solid season for North Branch, which once again proved to be one of the top rushing teams under head coach Justin Voss. Hammel’s 200-yard performance was his fifth 100-plus-yard game of the year, and Thorsen’s dual-threat ability gave defenses fits throughout the fall.

Hermantown advanced to the Section 7AAAA championship, where they’ll take on Grand Rapids. The Thunderhawks clobbered Hermantown earlier this year, so they’ll host the game.

North Branch’s season concludes with a 7-3 record and plenty to continue to build on with a strong base. Unfortunately for them, though, Sleen who rushed for over 500 yards and seven touchdowns in two games against them, is only a junior and will be back next year.

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