Esko falls to Yellowjackets in Class AAA State quarterfinal

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DULUTH — Perham quarterback Jordan Hein ran for two touchdowns and threw for another in powering the Yellowjackets past Esko 42-8 in a Class AAA state quarterfinal football affair Saturday evening at a misty Public Schools Stadium in Duluth.

Hein, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound senior, found teammate Payton Jordahl on a 36-yard screen pass to cap the game’s opening drive. Hein, who finished with a game-best 131 yards rushing and 95 more through the air, later added a pair of 9- and 5-yard scores in the second quarter.

Perham (10-1) led 28-0 by halftime and never trailed, sending the contest into running time in the final quarter. The Yellowjackets will now face in the winner of St. Croix Lutheran and Blue Earth Area in a semifinal matchup Nov. 17 at the Metrodome in Minneapolis.

Junior fullback Earl Brinkley scored the only touchdown for the Eskomos on a 25-yard scamper late in the fourth quarter in the school’s first state appearance since 2005. Esko finished 8-3.

Class AAA State Quarterfinals:

Esko; 0 – 0 – 0 – 8 — 8

Perham; 7 – 21 – 7 – 7 — 42

P — Payton Jordahl 36 pass from Jordan Hein (Nick Bahls kick).

P — Hein 9 run (Bahls kick).

P — Jordahl 2 run (Bahls kick).

P — Hein 5 run (Bahls kick).

P — Luke Sailer 39 run (Bahls kick).

P — Eli Beachy 14 run (Bahls kick).

E — Earl Brinkley 25 run (Brandt Hintsala run).

Tags: sports, football, esko