Duluth East senior running back Conner Kolodge grew up hearing tales about Cloquet football's success in the mid-1970s.
Kolodge's father, Greg, played on the Lumberjacks' 1976 Class AA state tournament runners-up, a team that lost by one point in overtime to White Bear Lake in the championship game.
Now the younger Kolodge hopes he can do what his father was unable to do: win a state title.
The Greyhounds earned another chance at that goal by defeating Cloquet 35-0 in the Section 7AAAA championship game Friday night at Public Schools Stadium. It's East's second section title after never winning one before in school history.
"[My dad's] told me the story so many times," said Kolodge, who rushed for 114 yards on 13 carries. "And to be able to be in the state tournament and to have a chance to do what he did -- except win in overtime -- is a blast."
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East (10-0) advances to play No. 1-ranked Orono (11-0) in a Class AAAA quarterfinal at 6 p.m. next Saturday at Macalester College in St. Paul. Orono beat Totino-Grace -- the team that knocked out East in last year's state quarterfinal -- 19-15 on a last-minute touchdown after a 90-yard drive in the Section 6AAAA final.
"With the experience from last year and with Totino eventually winning the state championship, we know that we can compete with the best," Kolodge said.
Kolodge, who also plays defensive back, helped make sure of that.
He scored on a 25-yard run on East's second possession and sealed the victory 10 seconds later by picking off Tyler Tollerud's flair pass and racing 52 yards for another score.
Cloquet (7-4) ran an identical pass pattern toward Kolodge's side on the first play of the game. He was ready the next time that play was called.
"When they came out in the same formation, I saw it coming," he said. "I read the quarterback and did what I've been trained to do."
Quarterback Skyler Murray led the Greyhounds with 136 yards on 17 attempts and completed 3 of 5 passes for 101 yards. But shortly before the half, Murray was tackled and left the game with a sprained ankle.
Thoughts immediately turned to last year's state quarterfinal when star quarterback Matt Kilpo left with a knee injury and East's hopes were dashed.
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"The first thing I thought was Kilpo," Murray said. "It scared me more than anything. After I got in the locker room it wasn't that bad, but that was the thought as soon as I went down."
East coach Joe Hietala admitted that thought crossed his mind, too.
"That might have been the second thing that went through my mind," he said.
Trainer Chrys Skog taped Murray's right ankle at halftime and he started the second half without incident.
"He said he was ready to go and I put the ball in his court," Hietala said. "He was able to step in there and not miss a beat."
Cloquet was held to 78 yards rushing and 78 yards passing as the Greyhounds recorded their third shutout this season.
Cloquet 0-0-0-0--0
Duluth East 21-7-0-7--35
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DE -- Skyler Murray 1 run (run failed)
DE -- Conner Kolodge 25 run (Murray run)
DE -- Kolodge 52 interception return (Henry Roningen kick)
DE -- Matt Cooper 58 pass from Murray (Roningen kick)
DE -- Nick Toscano 2 run (Roningen kick)
