It took an amazing third quarter rally, but in the end the Esko football team pulled out a 27-22 Section 7AAA quarterfinal win over Crosby-Ironton on Tuesday night.
Things started well enough for Esko in the first quarter when quarterback Jake Olson plunged in for a 1-yard touchdown run, but the extra point was not good, leaving the Eskomos up just 6-0.
The Rangers showed they were not going to stand idly by and let Esko roll to an easy win. On their first possession of the game they put together a nine-minute drive that ended when Matthew Hudrilik bulled his way into the end zone from the 4-yard line. That drive was followed by another when Kevin Mazon latched onto a pass from Derek Midthun giving C-I a 12-6 lead, which went to 14-6 on the extra point pass from the same pair of players.
Trailing 14-6 entering the second half, the Eskomos stormed out of the gates with three scores of their own. The first was a 7-yard touchdown run from Ryan Eskuri with Olson hitting Scott Lindquist for the two-point conversion that tied the game. Then it was Alex Haapanen crashing in from the 1-yard line with Jeff Lindemood tacking on the extra point kick, and finally it was an Eskuri 18-yard touchdown scamper that gave the Eskomos a 27-14 lead.
The Rangers did manage another touchdown in the final stanza, but Esko was able to hang on for the win.
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Eskuri finished the day with 89 yards on the ground and a pair of touchdowns as Esko moves into the semifinals against Aitkin. The Gobblers defeated Virginia 38-16 on Tuesday night. Game time on Saturday in Esko is set for 2 p.m. Aitkin is 2-7 on the season while the Eskomos are 5-4.
