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With an abundance of new faces in their lineup this year, the North Branch football team is in a year of transition.

But, unlike the last two years, they were able to secure a win in their first game of the season, giving their young players and new starters a confidence boost. The Vikings, whose non-district games shifted this season after two years, opened with Two Harbors instead of Pequot Lakes – the team that had started NB’s last seasons with a loss – and they beat the Agates 22-10 on Friday, August 29 in Two Harbors.

The Agates opened the season with a bang on offense, though, gaining a first down on their first play from scrimmage after a tough 11 yard run, and then later converting a fourth and five into a 40 yard touchdown after some missed tackles sprung their running back loose. Two Harbors hit the extra point and were up 7-0.

North Branch’s vaunted Power T offense, although being orchestrated by a new conductor after former quarterback Jacob Robillard’s graduation, was still very effective to start the game against Two Harbors. The Vikings ran for no gain on first down, but on the second play from scrimmage, junior Matthew Phillips took a handoff from new quarterback Ethan Thorsen and sprinted 65 yards before being tracked down from behind.

Five plays later, Logan Hammel punched NB’s first score in from four yards out to trim the lead to 7-6 after the Vikes fumbled the two point conversion attempt.

North Branch did have a quick opportunity to seize the lead when their ensuing kick off blasted off a Two Harbors front line player and ricocheted right back to the Vikings, who recovered the impromptu onside kick and went right back on offense. But, a negative play on first down set them behind the chains and they couldn’t recover and went three and out and punted.

Two Harbors next possession didn’t go well, as Jacob Knoespel blew up a sweep play in the backfield for a five yard loss, and that stalled the Agate offense and forced them to punt as well.

After another fruitless North Branch possession, Two Harbors put together a bit of a longer drive, but the Vikings were able to prevent them from breaking a big play, and eventually the drive stalled at North Branch 29. Facing a fourth and seven, the Two Harbors coaching staff trotted out their talented kicker and he absolutely blasted a 44 yard field goal through the uprights, splitting them in half with plenty of distance to spare. The impressive kick gave the Agates a 10-6 heading into halftime.

The halftime break is just what the North Branch offense needed, though. They came out in the second half and finally started to move the ball and look a bit more like the grinding Power T offense they’ve become known for the last half decade.

They eventually moved down to the 30 yard line but were facing a fourth and five. Offensive coordinator Kyle Kahl picked the perfect time to call a quarterback keep to the outside, as every player on Two Harbors’ defense followed the running backs up the middle while Thorsen masked the ball behind his hip and took off running to the left side of the field. A few seconds later, he cruised into the endzone untouched for a big 30 yard touchdown that gave NB the lead.

The two point conversion stuck with Thorsen and he made good on that as well, giving NB the 14-10 lead early in the third quarter.

The Viking defense stepped up on the next drive, bending for a few first downs, but not breaking and holding the Agates to the 40 yard line. Two Harbors was going to go for it on fourth and one, but a false start sent them back five yards and they punted away. Senior Bo Pederson fielded the punt inside his own 15 yard line, but a big return brought the Vikings back over midfield to the Agates’ 45 yard line.

Some big runs from Hammel set the Vikings up in prime position and Thorsen again got his own number called on a keep around the left edge and scored from 11 yards out, giving North Branch a 20-10 lead. Thorsen was again called upon for the two point conversion and made another good run, stretching the lead to 22-10.

With both North Branch scoring drives taking up a big chunk of time, it left Two Harbors in a precarious spot where they needed to make good on their possessions, but the Viking defense forced another punt on the next drive, and then proceeded to put together an 11 play drive that milked the clock inside of one minute left in the game, essentially sealing the victory for NB.

The Vikes rushed for 247 yards, with Phillips gaining 85, Thorsen and Logan Raine each going for 51 and Hammel rushing for 47 yards. Nolan Bahr and Reegan Dick led the Viking defense with seven tackles and Knoespel, Pederson and Paul Jackson each had six.

The win moves the Vikings to 1-0 on the year with Hibbing coming to town next week. Hibbing did win their season opener 27-6 over Pine City, but the Bluejackets are a combined 5-46 over the previous six years, and whenever they have stepped up to face competition the level of North Branch, it hasn’t gone well for them. It’s the start of three straight home games for the Vikings, as they’ll host Cloquet and Rock Ridge after Hibbing.

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