---

North Branch made sure the homecoming crowd had plenty to celebrate Friday, Oct. 2, as the Vikings used a punishing rushing attack and some timely defensive plays to pull away from Duluth East for a 36-13 victory.

The Vikings struck first after Will Determan broke loose for a 26-yard run to get the offense moving. Nolan Bahr followed with a 33-yard touchdown run, and although the two-point conversion failed, North Branch had an early 6-0 lead. The Viking defense forced a quick three-and-out on East’s first possession, and although North Branch muffed the ensuing punt, the Vikings recovered it in the ensuing scramble to retain possession.

Duluth East eventually found its first big play through the air, scoring on a 25-yard touchdown pass in which the receiver bobbled the ball between two North Branch defenders before finally securing it and racing into the end zone. The extra point put the Greyhounds ahead 7-6.

North Branch looked ready to answer when it faced third-and-eight from its own 15. Cohen Baker broke through the East defense for a 65-yard run all the way to the Greyhound 20, but a botched exchange on the very next play resulted in a fumble and gave the ball right back to East.

The Greyhounds nearly turned that mistake into points when a 43-yard completion on a wheel route moved the ball all the way to the North Branch one-yard line. Lane Tomford had been beaten on the pass, but his hustle to chase down the runner before he reached the end zone proved to be huge. On first-and-goal, East elected to throw, and safety Eli Herron made a play on the ball just as the receiver tried to secure it. The ball popped high into the air and came down in the waiting arms of Dhaylen Backrodt for an interception, keeping the Greyhounds off the scoreboard.

North Branch took advantage of the reprieve. After a few solid gains moved the Vikings out to their own 35, Bahr found daylight down the left side and raced 65 yards for his second touchdown of the night. The Vikings converted the two-point try to retake the lead at 14-7.

That lead was quickly cut to one when East took the ensuing kickoff at its own 20 and ripped off an 80-yard touchdown run on its first play from scrimmage. North Branch missed several tackles on the play, but the Vikings blocked the extra point to maintain a 14-13 advantage.

North Branch responded with perhaps its most important drive of the first half. The Vikings methodically marched down the field on a 15-play possession that chewed nearly six minutes off the clock. Bahr finished the drive with a short touchdown run for his third score of the half, and the Vikings converted the two-pointer to take a 22-13 advantage into halftime.

The North Branch defense began to take control after the break. East moved to midfield on its opening possession before the Vikings stuffed the Greyhounds on fourth down. Determan opened North Branch’s next possession with a 34-yard run, but a couple of negative plays put the Vikings behind the chains and they eventually turned the ball over on downs at the East 26.

East took another gamble on its next possession, going for it on fourth-and-eight from its own 26. The pass fell incomplete, handing North Branch excellent field position, and the Vikings made the Greyhounds pay. North Branch needed eight plays to cover the 26 yards, chewing more time off the clock before finishing the drive with another touchdown and two-point conversion to stretch the advantage to 30-13.

The Greyhounds threatened to make things interesting on their next possession, quickly moving down the field and eventually facing fourth-and-goal from the North Branch four. East tried a fade into the back corner of the end zone, but the pass was badly underthrown and intercepted by the Vikings, who returned it out to the 30-yard line.

Baker then delivered another backbreaking run, ripping off 67 yards to immediately flip the field and put North Branch on the doorstep. Four plays later, Determan scored from 12 yards out on fourth down, putting the Vikings comfortably ahead 36-13 and essentially putting the game away.

North Branch’s defense had one more stop left, forcing East into a fourth-and-15 before the Greyhounds’ pass fell incomplete. The Vikings took possession from there and kneeled out the remaining time, putting the finishing touches on a homecoming victory.

The Vikings get no breaks though after winning two straight after starting the season 0-3.

They take on undefeated and top ranked Grand Rapids this week and then Duluth Denfeld before finsihing with another nasty opponent in Hermantown.

---