Moose Lake -- Alex Schott threw for three touchdowns, on 14 of 19 passing for 134 yards, and Josh Muelbauer and Rocco Ericksen combined to rush for 125 yards to power Hermantown past Moose Lake-Willow River, 31-14, in both teams' high school football season opener Thursday night.
Schott connected with Blake Schmitz on a 42-yard scoring strike in the first quarter, and with Erickson for a six-yards passing touchdown in the second quarter.
Bode Madill also added a 35-yard field goal in the second quarter for the Hawks.
Hermantown led 17-14 halftime.
The Hawks scored 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, as Schott connected with Peyton Menzel on a six-yard touchdown and Zach Thorsten scored on a 34-yard run.
Menzel had a team-high nine receptions for 70 yards and scored one touchdown for Hermantown, and Ryder Wrazidlo had a team-high six tackles.
“The Moose Lake staff thought we were more the physical team, and I would agree with that,” said Hawks coach Mike Zagelmeyer afterwards. “I thought we played very well, other than the one big play we gave up on defense and the pick six. I was really impressed with our composure when we got behind – and then immediately answered that with a well-executed drive of our own.
“I thought out young guys grew up and our line controlled the line of scrimmage. The backbreaker for Moose Lake was the drive in the third quarter where we held the ball for the entire quarter and then scored early in the fourth. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a high school team hold the ball for an entire, but boy was that beautiful to watch.”
Hermantown (1-0) visits Grand Rapids at 7 p.m. Friday.
Photo credit: Shawna Jokinen | Freeway North Photography