.jpg)
Ely bounces back, holds on to beat East Central for first win
After a 54-0 drubbing in the opening game at International Falls, the Ely Timberwolves were looking for progress in their Sept. 6 home opener.
But the high school football team did more than make progress.
An opportunistic defense and an improved running game proved to be the difference, as the Wolves not only competed - but pulled out a 14-8 win over East Central at Ely School Stadium.
Brothers Alex and Sean Merriman both had touchdowns while Jesse Oelke recorded nine tackles with a sack and a fumble recovery in the Wolves’ first regular season win since mid-September of 2023. Yet the win did not come easily, nor was it for the faint of heart.
Twice in the final three minutes, Ely’s defense had to hold deep in its own territory after offensive miscues.
The first came after East Central picked off a pass near midfield with just over three minutes left.
After a pass interference penalty, the Eagles were driving but eventually stalled.
East Central used all its timeouts and forced the Wolves to punt with 35 seconds left, but Ely went with a fake and fumbled the ball, allowing the Eagles one last chance.
Again the defense came to the rescue stopping three consecutive pass attempts to secure the win.
The Ely defense kept East Central out of the end zone the entire night, except for the second quarter.
Oelke, a junior, finished as Ely’s top tackler for the night while senior Alex Merriman recorded eight tackles and fellow senior Brady Eaton finished with seven.
Another senior, Garrett Rohr, notched five tackles for the night while Sean Merriman contributed four while breaking up two passes Sophomore Leo McKrahl finished with four tackles while seniors Kohner Baltich and Tory Hughley and sophomore Palmer Tripp wound up with three each.
Alex Merriman was Ely’s plowhorse in the backfield, racking up 139 yards and the Wolves’ first touchdown.
It came in the first half as Ely marched down the field with a steady ground game.
The Eagles showed some flash in the second quarter and tied the game but the visitors struggled to find consistency against the Ely defense.
The Wolves put together a third-quarter scoring drive, breaking a halftime deadlock and taking the lead when Sean Merriman scored on a short run.
It would prove to be the final touchdown.
Sean Merriman passed for 20 yards on a completion to Oelke and had the scoring run.
The Wolves put their 1-1 record on the line Friday night against South Ridge. Ely beat the Panthers last year for their lone regular season win.
Next up is a Friday, Sept. 20, home clash with Chisholm and a 7 p.m. kickoff.
