Tyler Korby
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While combining for nearly 300 yards of total offense and eight touchdowns in last Friday's football game against arch-rival Wrenshall, Carlton brothers Jacob and Matt Santkuyl were asked who played better. "He took the first half and I took the second," said Jacob, a senior who had 153 yards receiving and three touchdowns, as well as two interceptions and a 74-yard kickoff return. Matt, a junior, was not to be outdone by his older bro.
While the Esko boys basketball team was trying to win their fifth-consecutive Coaches Classic crown at the conclusion of the Saturday, Dec. 30, annual holiday tournament, they were playing for much more than a trophy. Rather, it was for their trophy-winning coach. Well-decorated during his longtime tenure at Esko, Mike Devney was unfortunately absent from the sidelines due to a medical emergency regarding is health on the evening of his 60th birthday.
MINNEAPOLIS — Odds are, if you were to tell Tom Lenarz that his Cloquet football team would have created five turnovers in Friday’s Prep Bowl XXXVI against Holy Angels Academy, the coach would have liked his team’s chances.
MINNEAPOLIS — Playing in their first championship game in 41 years, the Cloquet football team has created three turnovers, yet trails Holy Angels Academy 7-0 at halftime of Prep Bowl XXXVI at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The Lumberjacks (12-0), seeking Northeastern Minnesota’s first prep title for large schools since Eveleth in 1973, has two interceptions via Riley Leslie, Alex Leuzzo and a fumble recovery by Bryce Turnbull, but hasn’t taken advantage against the Richfield, Minn.-based Stars (11-1).
MINNEAPOLIS — Having won five football games in a row, including four on the brink of elimination, Moose Lake-Willow River was riding a whirlwind of a turnaround and sat one win shy of a fourth Prep Bowl appearance. Then came along Tyl Woelber and Pipestone Area.
That balance has centered Cloquet to yet another undefeated fall, including their fourth state tournament appearance in five years and, finally, a breakthrough to get past the opening round. Historically, this is the farthest the Lumberjacks have gotten in 41 years, when they finished as state runners-up in 1976.
"He was really on fire," said Rebels coach Dave Louzek, now in his 19th season and owning a career record of 176-43. In fact, Little scored on ML-WR's first offensive play, scooting through the line of scrimmage and bursting 53 yards for a touchdown. Come the second quarter, he exploded on scoring runs of 81 and 43 yards as the Rebels led 28-0 at half.
The Cromwell-Wright Cardinals beat Wrenshall Nov. 3 to advance to the state tournament. The Cardinals (11-0) will take on Storm (10-1) Friday, Nov. 10 at 5:30 p.m. at Bemidji State University in a state quarterfinal.
Not only did the two-touchdown victory reignite the Rebels' reign on top of 7AA, but more importantly, it returned ML-WR to a place that has been become much their second home: the state tournament. The red-hot Rebels (6-5), winners of four straight, will face West Central Area (7-4) in a Class AA state quarterfinal Friday at 7 p.m. in Brainerd. <
Never once leaving the court, Sutton also added 25 digs and four blocks in the Vikings (22-5) 17th consecutive — and biggest — victory. Yet, combining with Cook County to win every 7A crown for the past five years — Carlton also won titles in 2013 and 2014 — the gritty Bulldogs (24-6) didn't go down quietly.