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Cousin Connection
Let’s Play Football www.letsplayfootballmn.com October 10, 2019 7 Cousin connection
Hallin and Larson help turn Bronco program around in record-breaking style
byBRYAN ZOLLMAN Co-Publisher, Let’s Play Football
When Riley Larson moved to International Falls in second grade, it not only brought him closer to his cousin, Jace Hallin, it started what would one day would become known as the “Cousin Connection.” Almost 10 years later, the dynamic duo is leading the International Falls Broncos into a new era. They are doing so in record-breaking fashion. On Sept. 27, Hallin set the school record for completions and passing yards in a game, and Larson, his main connection, came two yards short of the record for receiving yards. “Every day we were outside in Jace’s backyard playing football,” said Larson, a junior on this year’s 4-2 Broncos team. “We would throw the ball back and forth for hours.” Hallin is a senior and remembers those backyard games. “It was funny because we would always try to set it up to where we were on the same team,” Hallin said. “We were always outside doing something, but we played football more than anything.” The connection they made as youngsters continues as they head into the final two weeks of the regular season. While their 4-2 record may seem somewhat modest to some, it’s been a long time coming for Broncos players, coaches and fans. From 2014-2017 they didn’t win a single game. “For the past two years we have been in the rebuilding phase,” said assistant coach Jakob Ettestad. “Jace and Riley have been a huge part of this along with the other team leaders and captains.” In an era where football programs are losing kids for a variety of reasons, the Broncos coaching staff and its players stuck together through thick and thin. Having one winless season puts pressure on a program. The Broncos suffered four straight. “Our players faced a lot of adversity and criticism yet they persevered, stuck with it and never quit,” said Ettestad. The Broncos went 3-6 last season and then started off this season with a double overtime 20-12 win over North Woods. They followed with a 34-14 win over Deer River before losing their next two to Moose Lake-Willow River (32-0) and Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin (56-14). They got back on the winning track against Mesabi East. That’s when the Cousin Connection was at its best.
Hallin broke the school record for
PHOTO SUBMITTED Jace hallin (left) and Riley Larson are cousins who have been playing football together since they were young kids. The QB/WR combination recently set several school records in their win over Mesabi East and have led the International Falls Broncos to a respectable 4-2 record. most passing yards in a game with 361, most passing attempts with 49, and most completions with 29. Of those 29 completions, 16 went to Larson, who finished the night just two yards shy of the school record for receiving yards in a game, finishing with 220. “The Mesabi game was so fun to be a part of,” said Larson. “I was able to get open with good route running and beating the corner to deep balls. I give a lot of credit to Jace for placing those balls perfectly.” Hallin said he could see early on in the game that Larson would be open a lot. “I knew he would be able to get open and I just tried to put the ball where I knew only Riley would be able to get it,” said Hallin. “He’s really good at going up and getting the ball and has good hands.” While the duo has shown tremendous ability on the field, Coach Ettestad said they are just as special off the field.
Ettestad said both players have the “It” factor that coaches look for in players. “They play with such pride and passion and that energy rubs off on the rest of the players,” he said. “They are constantly leading by example and are a great representation of our team’s culture on and off the field and in the classroom as well.” When asked what he loves most about the game of football, Hallin, who said he hopes to play college football next fall, said the camaraderie and the atmosphere. “Just the feeling of being underneath the lights,” he said. “You can’t get a better feeling than that…to be with your team and your coaches. We all have such a good connection as a team. They are all a big part of why I love the sport.” Larson echoed his older cousin’s sentiments. “I love the brotherhood in football…the football family we create and the life lessons you learn from playing the game,” he said. Hallin and Larson both said it felt good to learn their names would be in the school’s record book. But it’s a different record they are more concerned about. The team is currently 4-2 with two regular season games to play. “My goal is to win out the rest of the games and finish 6-2 and then make it to the section championship game and hopefully to state,” said Hallin. They are currently in position to do just that. They will travel to Eveleth-Gilbert (2-4) this Friday before hosting Virginia (0-6) in their regular season finale on Oct. 16. They are currently in second place in Section 7AA, a six-team field led by Moose Lake-Willow River. Crosby-Ironton is also 4-2. The road to state is never an easy one, but for Hallin, Larson and the Broncos, the road they have traveled has come a long way from where they were just a few short years ago. “As a coaching staff we preach positivity and the will to never quit,” said Coach Ettestad. “Our seniors will graduate having stayed positive and knowing they never quit.” Hallin and Larson are two of those players who have bought into the Bronco way. “They have been a huge contribution to this team,” Coach Ettestad said. “The success and turnaround of our program is the result of their and everyone’s hard work and the will to never quit.” Of course, Hallin will graduate after this season, ending the cousin connection for the Broncos. But it turns out that Larson’s younger brother, Alex, happens to be the backup quarterback. Is there a brother connection on the horizon? “I love the brotherhood in football…the football family we create and the life lessons you learn from playing the game.” Riley Larson Team records broken: •Most passing yards in a game: 361 (previous 275) •Most passing attempts in a game: 49 (40) •Most offensive plays in a game: 83 (81) •Most first downs in a game: 25 (23) Also, there were three individual records broken: • Most pass completions in a game: 29 (19) by Jace Hallin •Most passing yards in a game: 361 (275) by Jace Hallin •Most receptions in a game: 16 (9) by Riley Larson •Larson was also two yards away from breaking the record for most receiving yards in a game (221). RECORD BREAKERS
