Lumberjacks football just keeps getting better as playoffs loom

Another impressive rushing game for the Cloquet football team gave the 'Jacks their sixth win of the season Friday night as they steamed past Proctor 42-8.

"We are running the ball really well and the passing game has developed enough to give us some balance," said Cloquet head coach Tom Lenarz. "We are playing very good defense as well."

Cloquet averaged 8.2 yards per play from the line of scrimmage against the Rails while giving up just 3.8 yards per play on defense.

The Lumberjacks opened the scoring just 52 seconds into the game when quarterback Dalton Bottila floated a pass to Markus Pokornowski, who went in for a 10-yard touchdown. Three minutes after the opening touchdown the Lumberjacks scored again on a 16-yard touchdown run by Cole Ketola and it was 14-0.

Before the first quarter ended, Pokornowski rumbled in from 41 yards and a 21-0 lead after he tacked on another extra point.

"Our offensive line has really developed a sense of pride in how well we run the ball," Lenarz said. "Obviously having talented running backs helps, but in the end the line has become a real strength for us. We are able to make adjustments in the game based on what the other team is doing because they understand our offense and how plays are put together. This is high-level stuff that not every group is able to master."

The Lumberjacks had another 300-plus yard night on the ground with 306 yards. Trey Harkins carried just five times in the game, but led with 98 yards. Cole Ketola added 89 yards and Markus Pokornowski had 10 carries for 85 yards.

"I am very happy with where we are, even with a lot of adversity this year with injuries," Lenarz said. "The kids have never used that as an excuse and we have been pretty successful in overcoming those issues. The result is we have a lot of players with game experience at this point in the year that might not have had it otherwise. Kids have accepted and embraced their roles on the team and I think the kids are having fun and that is what this is supposed to be about."

The Lumberjacks exploded for three more touchdowns in the third quarter. First it was a three-yard run and extra point kick by Pokornowski making it 28-0. That was followed by a 24-yard touchdown scamper by Harkins. The two-point conversion run failed, putting the 'Jacks up 34-0. Cloquet's final score came with 2:37 remaining in the third quarter when Pokornowski threw a three-yard pass to Conrad Kiehn for a score. Bottlia followed that score with a conversion run, pushing the lead to 42-0.

"We have a lot of guys that are playing better than they were projected to coming into the season," Lenarz said. "One guy who doesn't get enough credit is Dalton Bottila. He doesn't have great stats and isn't going to throw the ball 30 times in a game, but he has done a tremendous job for us at quarterback this year. He is a quiet leader, but a fierce competitor. He gets us in the right spot and makes the correct calls at the line to allow us to run the way we do. When he is asked to throw he has been very efficient and is developing a great sense of timing and I think he will surprise some people in the playoffs."

Proctor added a score in the fourth quarter after the 'Jacks had taken out most of their starters to make the final 42-8.

Cloquet was scheduled to play its final regular season game Wednesday at Duluth East as this issue of the Pine Knot News went to press. The Lumberjacks will likely open the playoffs as the top seed in Section 7AAAA and host a game at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26.

"The addition of Chisago Lakes into the section causes some problems that we haven't dealt with before," Lenarz said. "It looks like we could end up playing them in the semifinals. With them being such a big team - both size-wise and enrollment-wise - we will have our work cut out for us. They have been a Class AAAAA school for a long time, so for them to get bumped down into AAAA this year will be interesting into how their game translates. Because of the tougher schedule they play, we have to assume they are much better than their record would indicate."