Homeless 'Jacks are in a 0-2 hole

When does a high school home opening football game not feel like a home game? When your home game is played 12 miles away in another town, that's when.

Such was the case last Friday night when Cloquet opened its home season at Proctor playing against the Hermantown Hawks. The game was moved because the new Members Cooperative Credit Union Stadium is not quite ready for a home game.

"Anytime you get to play football under the lights on a Friday night is special," said Lumberjacks head coach Jeff Ojanen.

In the end, the Lumberjacks dropped a 41-7 decision despite a fun and raucous atmosphere.

"Proctor is unique because there is no track between the stands and the fields, so it feels like the fans are right on top of you," Ojanen said. "As far as the game goes, we didn't execute the way we should, and we will continue to work on getting better each practice and each game."

Things turned south quickly in the first quarter when the Hawks scored on an 8-yard touchdown pass and then added the extra point kick to make it 7-0. A few minutes later, Hermantown place kicker, Bode Madill, booted a 32-yard field goal to give the Hawks a 10-0 lead.

In the second quarter, the Hawks exploded for 28 points to push the lead to 38-0 as they put the game away early.

"Despite the final score, we still try to find a way to be consistent in the game," said Ojanen. "When we break down on both sides of the ball, it causes you to be inconsistent, and things just snowballed on us in that second quarter."

Jake Peterson led the 'Jacks offense with 60 rushing yards while quarterback James Wilmot scored the team's only touchdown on a quarterback sneak and Cooper Ellena booted the lone extra point. Ellena also caught five passes for 60 yards.

Defensively, Carter Horvat led the Lumberjacks with six tackles, including three tackles for loss.

The loss dropped the Lumberjacks to 0-2 on the season. Cloquet plays tonight on the road at Duluth East.