PATRIOTS ARE SEEKING 3RD STRAIGHT SECTION FINAL

BY PETE MOHS Echo Journal

PEQUOT LAKES he Pequot Lakes football team

Thopes 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

publisher of eight Forum Communications newspapers, including the Echo Journal and Brainerd Dispatch. Contact him at 218-855-5855 or pete.mohs@ brainerddispatch.com.