by Tim Kolehmainen
The BREAKDOWN
(posted 9/3/2008)
Photos of the games are available at http://photo21.dotphoto.com
DULUTH -- It was business as usual for Duluth East in their season opener Friday night at Public Schools Stadium. But for Duluth Denfeld, it was nice to have a fresh start.
The Greyhounds (1-0), coming off their first-ever state tournament bid, routed Cloquet 47-14 in the first game of a doubleheader.
In the second game, Denfeld (1-0) stopped a Hermantown 2-point conversion with 1:22 remaining to hang on for a 14-13 victory. Last year, the Hunters won just one game.
East rolled out to a 35-6 halftime lead behind an extremely high-powered and balanced offense, rushing for 325 yards on just 32 carries. But it was the giant offensive line of Mike Downing, Phil Norman and Hal Spott who led the way. The trio averages 6-3, 275 across the line.
 Skyler Murray, in his first game at quarterback in place of the graduated Matt Kilpo, rushed for 135 yards on eight carries and threw a touchdown pass. Connor Kolodge chipped in with 105 yards on nine carries. Each scored a touchdown (Kolodge's came on a 72-yard punt return right up the sideline in front of the East bench).
Duluth Denfeld didn't look as explosive, but was plenty powerful. In junior Ivan Dakovic (6-1, 200) and sophomore C.J. Ham (6-0, 245), the Hunters have a pair of strong and solid linebackers/fullbacks to build around.
The Hunters scored the first two touchdowns on a 3-yard Tyler Conito run and a 27-yard pass from junior Adam Scofield to Jimmy Waller. Hermantown scored with just 6 seconds remaining in the first half on a 9-yard pass from junior Michael Swartz to Derek Engseth. Then answered in the final minutes with a 1-yard Brandon Perrault run. Perrault tried to sneak in for the two-point conversion -- and the victory -- but was stopped just shy. |
