ELY — It was another rough night under the Friday night lights for the Ely Timberwolves football team last week, as they fell to the visiting Deer River Warriors 38-0.
The Warriors drove for a six-yard touchdown run on the game’s first possession, staking them to an early 8-0 lead after the successful conversion.
The Wolves responded with an impressive 12-play drive that chewed up the rest of the first quarter and extended into the second. Running back Arturo Cameron picked up a key first down on fourth-and-one at the Deer River 47 to extend the drive, and Ely pushed the ball all the way to the Warriors’ nine-yard line before being turned away empty-handed.
The Ely defense returned the favor on Deer River’s next possession. The Warriors took the ball from their own 23 to the Ely 11, where they had a first-and-ten. The Wolves’ defense stuffed a run for a one-yard gain, and then Kooper Dostert came up with a big hit on a Deer River receiver at the four. On third down, Cameron shot through a gap in the Deer River line to drop the ball carrier for a five-yard loss, setting up fourth-and-eight from the nine. On a run through the left side of the line, Jesse Oelke got the initial hit on the Warriors’ runner at the six and Kasen Dostert came hurtling in to help him finish the job at the four, squashing the Deer River threat.
With the aid of a couple of Deer River penalties, the Wolves were on the move again, taking the ball from their own four to the Warriors’ 32, where a fourth-and-three run came up a yard short of the first down.
This time, Deer River moved the ball in big chunks to the Ely 29, and just when it looked like the Wolves would come up with another big stand on fourth-and-three, Deer River pulled off the biggest play of the drive with a 29-yard touchdown run. The conversion attempt failed, with the Warriors taking a 14-0 lead into halftime.
The second half did not start well for the Wolves. Deer River returned the opening kickoff for an apparent touchdown that was negated by a penalty, but the Warriors still had a short field with the ball at the Ely 38. Five plays later, they scored on a two-yard run and added the conversion for a 22-0 lead.
Ely’s woes continued when they picked up a personal foul penalty that set them back to their own 31-yard line with an impossible third-and-25. After no gain, Ely punted and Deer River returned the ball to the Ely 37. But a late flag for another personal foul on the Wolves moved the ball to the Ely 32, and it took the Warriors just two plays to score from there on a 15-yard run. The conversion was good, giving Deer River a 30-0 lead.
The Warriors would tack on another touchdown and conversion on their first drive of the fourth quarter to account for the 38-0 final.
The goose egg masked a good effort in the ground game for the Wolves, with Cameron toting the ball 12 times for 52 yards. Sean Merriman was hot on his heels with 49 yards on nine attempts, and Oelke gained 15 yards on seven rushes.
D.J. Johnson went two-for-seven for 15 yards passing, completing a five-yarder to Merriman and one for ten to Max Brandreit.
Oelke led the defense with eight tackles, and 19 Wolves recorded at least one tackle or assist in the game.
While points were elusive, Ely Head Coach Louie Gerzin found much to be encouraged about.
“We played a tough team and responded with a tough effort,” Gerzin said. “Unfortunately, we weren’t able to put points up, but I thought we got better as a team and program today. Deer River is really well-coached, and credit to them for having a good program.”
The Wolves opened the season with a brutal five-game schedule, but on Friday for homecoming, Ely had a more vulnerable opponent in 0-5 Chisholm.
In two weeks they’ll take on another winless team at East Central before closing out the regular season at home on Wednesday, Oct. 15 against Braham.