Standing at attention for the National Anthem before a recent home game, the Vikings completed their season with a loss to Ely in the Section 7 A championship game. The Vikings ended their season with a 7-4 record in their first year playing 9-man football. Although they lose a lot of talented seniors to graduation, the Viking program is on the upswing again with a lot of gifted younger players ready to assume starting roles next season.
Cook County knew its defense had improved since the last time it played Ely at home on September 11—a 50-21 loss to the unbeaten Timberwolves— but few took into account how much Ely’s defense had also improved. That was the story of the Section 7 nineman championship game played at Esko on Friday, October 23.
Ely recorded its sixth shutout of the season against a Viking team that could score in a hurry because of its passing attack. However, Ely’s defensive front line put a lot of pressure on quarterback Leo Johnson and its secondary gave Viking receivers little breathing room.
The Vikings got one first down in the first half on a passing play from Johnson to Andrew Lashinski and one first down in the second half on a penalty to Ely. But that was it.
When loss of yardage plays were factored in, Cook County ended up with one yard of total offense for the afternoon.
Meanwhile Ely’s speedy running back Josh Heiman rushed for 115 yards on 27 carries, scoring twice in the first half. On Ely’s second possession of the game, Spencer Gaulke rushed for 42 yards on two carries to set up Heiman, who ran for a 12-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Jacopo Mercanti’s extra point kick was good to give Ely a 7-0 lead.
Heiman scored a second touchdown in the second quarter on a two-yard run and Evan Omersa’s twopoint run was good to put the Vikings down 15-0 going into the half.
At that point, with Cook County’s passing attack always a factor, Viking Head Coach Mitch Dorr had to feel good about his team’s chances.
But Ely running back Spencer Gaulke, who rushed for 143 yards on 22 carries, scored on an 11-yard run in the third quarter and while the Vikings stopped the two-point conversion, 21 points was a lot to make up on a defensive unit that was stuffing the line and putting enormous pressure on Viking quarterback Leo Johnson who found it tough to throw a wet ball in the rain.
Late in the third quarter, as Johnson was going back to pass on a fourth and 7 play, the ball slipped out of his hand and was recovered by defensive end Braxton Casey who returned it 41 yards to make the score 27-0. That was the final nail in the proverbial coffin. Casey also ended with two quarterback sacks.
The Vikings didn’t allow a touchdown in the fourth quarter, but Ely could have maybe scored one last time, instead their quarterback took three straight knees to nearly run the clock out deep in Cook County territory.
Cook County ended its season with a 7-4 record. Coach Mitch Dorr and his staff will be sorry to see nine seniors go. They were the biggest reason the Vikings turned around a two-year 0-17 winless streak.
“This is a very special senior class that has endured a lot of adversity together, but stuck together,” said Coach Dorr. “We graduate nine quality young men from our program and we are proud of each and every one of them.
“They really bought into our team philosophy of: Fear No One, Love Each Other. They are a tight group and included everyone on the team in their success.”
Ely goes into the state tournament with an 11-0 record. It’s the third appearance at state in four years for the Timberwolves.
“Ely had a fine football team that was loaded with talent. I was impressed with their character and sportsmanship off the field as well,” Dorr said.
Viking senior quarterback Leo Johnson ended his afternoon going 3-for-14 for 21 yards and one interception. The Vikings rushed 29 times for minus 20 yards and had four penalties costing them 40 yards.
The Vikings lose nine seniors this year, Rory Bakke, Owen Anderson, Jack Wieben, Leo Johnson, Jerod Spry, Dylan Works, Colton Thompson, Andrew Lashinski, and Frankie Miller.
Ely moved on to face Section 8 champion Stephen-Argyle in the Class A quarterfinal at Bemidji State. The Timberwolves have held opponents to a 4.9 point per game average. For the season the Timberwolves averaged more than 50 points per game.
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