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A Homecoming hijacked Deer River piles up points early, spoils Wolves’ home matchup
Fall Homecoming could not have come with a more difficult opponent.
Deer River, one of the leading contenders for the Section 7A title, was in town for Ely High School’s Oct. 4 Fall Homecoming matchup, and the visiting Warriors put things away early.
Despite some initial success by the Wolves, including an opening drive that was foiled by Ely’s defense, Deer River soon took control of the high school football contest.
By halftime, Deer River had five touchdowns and a big lead and the Warriors ran away with a 37-6 victory.
The Ely School Stadium audience cheered the Wolves on before the game and saluted the seniors and their parents as part of late-season tradition, and the high school marching band put on a rousing performance at halftime on a beautiful night for football.
The contest, however, was anything but beautiful for the host Wolves.
Ely was hampered by first-half penalties and a potent Deer River ground game.
The Warriors also went to the air, connecting on a 60-yard touchdown pass late in the second quarter as the visitors bolted out to an insurmountable lead.
Ely’s TD came in the second half, with senior Garrett Rohr scoring the Wolves’ only touchdown and sophomore quarterback Max Brandriet running in the twopoint conversion.
Brandriet completed two passes for 29 yards in the contest while senior running back Alex Merriman completed a halfback option pass for 27 yards to junior Jesse Oelke.
Oelke had 37 yards receiving in the game for the Wolves and senior Tory Hughley finished with 19.
On defense, Oelke paced the Wolves with seven tackles and Jenry Lenz finished with four.
Leo McKrahl, Rohr and Jayden Zemke were all in on three stops, while Hughley had two tackles a fumble recovery and a pass break-up.
Brady Eaton, Makana Bodas and Sean Merriman all finished with two tackles for the Wolves, who finish the regular season with an Oct. 16 contest at Mille Lacs.
It could very well be the first of two consecutive trips for the Wolves to Mille Lacs, who loom as a potential 7A playoff foe on Tuesday, Oct. 23. Braham is another possible first-round opponent.
