TWO HARBORS -- As a former quarterback and a high school coach known for an innovative passing game, Esko's Bill Hudspith has never been afraid to fill the air with footballs.
So when informed that his team completed only one pass in a 24-7 Great Polar Alliance White win over Two Harbors on Friday night, Hudspith paused and reflected.
"I don't think we've ever done that," said Hudspith, in his 21st year as Esko coach. "The fewest we've ever had is probably five, six or seven."
The Eskomos (2-1 overall, 1-0 conference) didn't need to pass, considering how well the running game was working. Jacob Anderson rushed for 104 yards on 12 carries, including a 37-yard scoring run in the third quarter that sealed the victory at Halsted Field.
Overall, Esko totaled 227 yards on the ground and completed just 1 of 5 passes for 15 yards.
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"We have to get our running game going; I think we have our passing game," Hudspith said. "We have a lot of young guys on the offensive line and we've been trying to find some kind of run scheme that works."
It worked from the outset Friday. The Eskomos drove 65 yards on their first drive, culminating in Connor Tollerud's 26-yard scoring burst on a counter to the left side of the offensive line. Quarterback Max Reinertsen ran in the two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead that stood until halftime.
Esko started the second half with good field position after the Agates (2-1, 0-1) tried a pooch kick, and moved the ball 59 yards in six carries. Anderson, a senior halfback, went up the middle for the final 37 yards for a 16-0 lead.
"I was expecting a little more passing, but I expected us to run the ball more overall," Anderson said. "We could have passed it a little more but decided to stick with the run."
That was something the Eskomos failed to do in a 28-6 loss to Braham a week ago.
"We weren't able to run the ball last week, and you have to run the ball to win," Hudspith acknowledged. "We decided to get something going with the run."
That wasn't a surprise, according to Two Harbors coach Tom Nelson, who said the Agates were prepared for a running attack but couldn't stop it.
"We played poorly," Nelson said. "From what we saw on tape and the information we had, Esko definitely got after it tonight. My guess is this was the best game they've played so far ... but at the same time I am very disappointed.
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"Everything they did, we hammered on all week in practice. They just outexecuted us."
Esko added a Reinertsen 3-yard sneak after the defense recovered a fumble at the 12-yard line. The Agates' only score came in the final 1:38 on a Devin Nelson 4-yard run.
Esko 8-0-8-8--24
Two Harbors 0-0-0-7--7
E -- Connor Tollerud 26 run (Max Reinertsen run)
E -- Jacob Anderson 37 run (Corey Lonetto run)
E -- Reinertsen 3 run (Reinertsen run)
TH -- Devin Nelson 4 run (Jon McDannold kick)
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