sports ECHO JOURNAL'S
PEQUOT LAKES PINE RIVER-BACKUS
PREVIEW
| | B1
FALL 2024
pineandlakes.com ECHO JOURNAL | Wednesday, August 28, 2024
FOOTBALL
Contributed / Kelli Engstrom Photography
The Pequot Lakes football team includes: first row from left, Coach Scott Ebnet, Nolan Hall, Hakan Hall, Gunner Peters, Joe Lendway, Griffen Hannah, Wyatt Verville, Kyle Kotaska, Colton Barnes, Jobey Tvedt, Tade Magnuson, Wyatt Huser, Roman Grecco, Jake Olsen, Cash Nivarel and Manager Dane Olsen; second row from left, Coach Adam Buffington, Manager Coy Gist, Sam Afagwu, Elijah Buffington, Michael Haar, Trevor Holmerding, Brayden McAllister, Elliott Stone, Nick Beier, Nic Wallin, Jaxon Woodman, Emmett Welle, Grant Schlagel, Henry Aldridge, Becker Lipke, Justin Sievert, Ben Westerman, Tyler Mulholland and Coach Bill Magnuson; third row from left, Coach Preston Peters, Coach Brian Homan, Broc Ackerman, Mason Jackson, Blake Spiczka, Jackson Olsen, Bryce Scully, Kamrin Hulke, Aaron Clark, Micah Loukota, Samson Rothwell, Nic Foster, Sutton Sullivan, Toby Hoffard, Logan Happke, Carter Erickson, Braden Wallin, Justin Sievert, Jackson Wait Learned, Jack Haar, Coach Blaine Kriesel, Coach Justin Franke, Coach Kirk Loge; fourth row from left, Aaron Barnes, Luke Schlagel, Ethan Arellano, Jerome Martin, Michael Oseland, Wyatt Brown, Connor Welle, Ben Broskovetz, Harrison Kennen, Jacob Lane, Jackson Jorgens, Tristan Schoeb, Colten Christophersen, Bryar Nordby, Dane Mudgett, Landen Brill, John Paul Elsenpeter and Bryson Berg.
PATRIOTS ARE SEEKING 3RD STRAIGHT SECTION FINAL
BY PETE MOHS Echo Journal
T
PEQUOT LAKES
he Pequot Lakes football team hopes a roster of 25 seniors will help the Patriots earn a third straight trip to the Section 7-3A title game. “We have nine starters returning (five on offense and six on defense) as well as other players who saw extensive playing time last year,” said Pequot Lakes coach Bill Magnuson. “Our junior varsity team also went 6-1 last year, and those players will add important depth as we navigate the tough Northeast White District and section playoffs,” he said. Returning starters, from a squad that finished 8-2 overall, include Jacob Lane, Dane Mudgett, Bryar Nordby, JP Elsenpeter, Landen Brill, Jackson Jorgens, Aaron Clark, Byson
Berg and Kamrin Hulke. Nordby led the Patriots in rushing with 920 yards and 17 touchdowns while Elsenpeter carried for 295 yards and four scores. Nordby also had 20 catches for 380 yards and six touchdowns. On defense, Mudgett was second on the team with 17 solo tackles and 31 assisted tackles; Jorgens had 18 solo tackles and 26 assists; and Nordby had 13 solo tackles and 20 assists. Other players to watch are seniors Ethan Arellano and Micah Loukota; juniors Samson Rothwell, Ben Westerman, Carter Erickson, Blake Spiczka and Jacob Sievert; and sophomores Kyle Kotaska, Jobey Tvedt, Michael Haar, Tade Magnuson, Nic Wallin and Wyatt Huser. Magnuson said Esko and Two Harbors are district favorites while Esko, Two Harbors and Pierz are top teams in the section. The Patriots were
defeated by Esko in the past two section finals. Magnuson, who has compiled a 130132 career coaching record, is starting his 26th season as a head football coach. His assistant coaches are Justin Franke, Brian Homan, Kirk Loge, Preston Peters, Blaine Kreisel, Adam Buffington, Nate DeChaine, James Brennan, Cale Wolf and Scott Ebnet. Some Pequot Lakes alumni are playing football in college — Grant Loge (Concordia of Moorhead), Tristen Hoffard (North Dakota State School of Science in Wahpeton), Riggs Magnuson (Gustavus Adolphus in St. Peter), Riley Peters (Mankato State University) and Riley Larson and Tommy Blomer (Central Lakes College in Brainerd). The Patriots are scheduled to open the season at home against North Branch at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29. Pete Mohs is the Northern Lakes Group
August
29 - North Branch at Pequot Lakes 7 p.m.
September
6 - Pine City at Pequot Lakes 6 p.m. 13 - Pequot Lakes at Two Harbors 7 p.m. 20 - Esko at Pequot Lakes 7 p.m. 27 - Pequot Lakes at Hibbing 7 p.m.
October
4 - Mora at Pequot Lakes 6 p.m. 11 - Pequot Lakes at Proctor 7 p.m. 16 - Pequot Lakes at Grand Rapids 7 p.m. publisher of eight Forum Communications newspapers, including the Echo Journal and Brainerd Dispatch. Contact him at 218-855-5855 or pete.mohs@ brainerddispatch.com.
FOOTBALL Tigers will have competition for starting jobs BY PETE MOHS Echo Journal
T
PINE RIVER
here will be plenty of competition for starting jobs on the Pine River-Backus Tigers football team this season with just five seniors on the roster from a squad that finished 2-7 overall last year. “We will have a new look with a young and inexperienced roster,” said PR-B head coach Nate Fischer. “There will be plenty of spots open for underclassmen to make an impact with only five seniors.” Fischer said the Tigers’ Eli Abraham, the leading tackler in the Mid-Northwest District last season, will lead the defense from his middle linebacker position. “In the trenches, Koal Oberfell and Dalten Meyers return as anchors on both the offensive and defense lines,” said
August
30 - Pine River-Backus at Upsala 7 p.m.
September
6 - New York Mills at Pine River-Backus 7 p.m. 13 - Pine River-Backus at Wadena-Deer Creek 7 p.m. 20 - Breckenridge at Pine River-Backus 7 p.m. 27 - Pine River-Backus at Staples-Motley 7 p.m.
October
4 - Pine River-Backus at Pillager 7 p.m. 11 - WalkerHackensack-Akeley at Pine River-Backus 7 p.m. 16 - Parkers Prairie at Pine River-Backus 7 p.m. Fischer, who is starting his second year as PR-B’s head coach. “Look for Shaunn Reyes and Owen
Travis Grimler / Echo Journal
The Pine River-Backus football team includes: back row from left, Tristan Johnson, Logan Haskett and Ashton Sunram; fourth row from left, Nathaniel Treague, Brody Mongan, Blake Hoplin, Noah Abraham, Shaunn Reyes, Scott Scovel and Logan Tymenski; third row from left, Koal Oberfell, Will Gould, Will Moore, Gabe Diers, Adrian Schrupp, Easton Wynn and Andrew Volk; second row from left, Beau Burrell, Karson Crawford, Kaleb Shamp, Owen Dabill, Logan Swiggart, Dawson Dabill, Dalton Tymenski and Landon Ashman; front row from left, Eli Abraham, Kolby Walters, Mac Reddick, Dalten Meyers and Dahlton Minion. Dabill to be the leading rushers on a team that lost its top two rushers from last year.” Returning letterwinners are Eli Abraham,
Meyers, Earl Stockman, Oberfell, Brody Mongan, Andrew Volk, Logan Tymenski and Dabill. Others who could contribute include Reyes,
Karson Crawford and Noah Abraham. The Tigers, who finished 2-5 in the conference last year, lost to Breckenridge in the first
round of the playoffs. PR-B assistant coaches are Mike Dinnel, Erik Vetsch, Rob Johnson, Mike Lupella and Neil Travis.