Football Roundup: Evans eases into football form

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One-tenth of a second away from advancing to the state track meet in the 100-meter dash last spring, Marquez Evans is a fast runner. Yet, it's football the speedy senior has picked up the quickest since moving to Cloquet over the summer.

Migrating north to live with his father, Evans relocated from his former St. Paul residence to Cloquet just before the season began. Despite not playing since 2008, the shifty 5-foot-5, 155-pound running back has carried the load for the Lumberjacks (4-2) this season.

“It’s my first year playing since eighth grade,” said Evans, who led Cloquet with 116 yards on 19 carries and two rushing touchdowns in a 16-14 Sea-Range Conference loss to Proctor at Terry Egerdahl Memorial Field last Friday. “But since the first practice of two-a-days, I knew I fit in right away.”

Arch rival Proctor ran away with the final touchdown when quarterback Brodie Nordquist scored from 8 yards out with 4:31 left. Nordquist finished with 72 yards on 11 attempts and two scores in an option offense that was difficult to defend. On a frigid night which included four lead changes, the Rails snapped the Lumberjacks’ previous four-game win streak.

“We played poorly in the first half and certainly didn’t match their intensity,” Cloquet Coach Tom Lenarz said about their first league loss. “The second half we were better, but so was Proctor. We just didn’t get a stop. It’s very frustrating because it’s a game that we wanted to win.”

Evans, who was mentored by the Indianapolis Colts’ Cassius Vaughn when he began playing football, said win or lose, it’s good to be back. He plans on playing basketball this winter and, of course, running track next spring.

“I think we have a good chance in the [football] playoffs,” said Evans. “For me to play my final year here, I just want to thank my teammates and coaches. It’s been incredible. Everyone has opened up to me.”

Cloquet will host Hermantown at 7 p.m. Friday at Bromberg Field.

AREA ROUNDUP:

Barnum (4-2) breezed past Mesabi East 62-6 in a Great Polar Alliance Red Conference yawner last Friday in Aurora. The Bombers, winners of four straight, ran to a 48-point lead by halftime behind 308 combined rushing yards and seven scores, all from Danny Warpula, Colton Selix and Zach Peterson.

Carlton (1-1) remained idle this week as the Bulldogs are taking part in just a three-game varsity schedule to compete in the Section 5 9-Man postseason. Carlton has defeated Red Lake and fallen at Hillcrest Lutheran Academy. They will host West Lutheran/Southwest Christian Friday night at Jim Erickson Field at 7 p.m.

Cromwell-Wright (3-3) evened their record with a 14-6 defeat to Isle in a Great Northern Conference 9-Man matchup last Friday in Isle. The Cardinals, which snapped back-to-back league wins on Northland-Remer and McGregor, were carried by Hunter Rauvola’s lone receiving score from Joe Couture.

Esko (5-1) eased past Pine City 38-18 for a Great Polar Alliance Blue Conference win last Friday at Bromberg Field in Cloquet. In a game honoring the late Zak Gamache, a former captain, the state-recognized Eskomos marked the opening four touchdowns. Marc Peterson threw for 113 yards and scored twice to go with Garrett Iverson’s pair of touchdowns and Riley Mudek’s 112 yards rushing and touchdown in another victory.

Moose Lake-Willow River (6-0) mauled Rush City 61-20 last Friday in a Great Polar Alliance Blue Conference win on the road. The Rebels, ranked second in Class AA, were carried by Michael Pender’s 133 yards and one touchdown, while Jake Disterhaupt added 116 yards and two scores in ML-WR’s 52nd consecutive regular season victory and 35th straight on the road.

Wrenshall (1-5) was shut out 20-0 against Kelliher-Northome in a Great Northern Conference 9-Man blanking last Friday on the road. The Wrens, which have lost four straight, have been held scoreless twice this season and stymied on six occasions since returning to the varsity field in 2011.

Tags: sports, cloquet, football