2009 Agate Football Game Summaries



Game 1 - September 3, 2009 at Aitkin

AITKIN - 20,  TWO HARBORS - 13


By: Matt Suoja, Lake County News Chronicle
Published September 10 2009


The Two Harbors Agates football squad roared out of the gates last week against Aitkin, but it wasn’t enough in the team’s 20-13 loss.

“We started out pretty decently in the first half,” said head coach Tom Nelson. “It was a pretty disappointing second half.”

Running back Ryan Guentzel started out the game hot scoring on a five yard run in the first quarter.

Later in the first, Guentzel snapped off an 88-yard run to the end zone, giving the Agates a 13-0 lead (kick failed).

The second half however was a different story for Two Harbors, as the Agates allowed three touchdowns.

“I give Aitkin a ton of credit,” Nelson said. “I hope this is a lesson for the kids.”

Nelson went on to say the team looked uninspired in the second half and forgot how to tackle.

“It was the worst half of tackling I have ever seen,” Nelson said.

Fumbles didn’t help matters either.

On an Agates drive in fourth, a fumbled snap turned a second-and-two into a third-and-seven which stalled out the drive.

“We missed a lot of opportunities,” Nelson said. “We could have broken off some long runs.”

Nelson added the loss falls on everybody and he hopes it’s the worst game of the team’s season.

Guentzel led Two Harbors with 143 yards rushing on 15 carries, but was held to seven yards rushing in the second half.


Check out the game this week

This summer, the board of education for the Lake Superior School District, formally transferred the name Halsted Field from the old one to the present field located at Two Harbors High School. Chuck Halsted will be honored for his 30 years of service to athletics, student life and community service in Two Harbors.

The public is invited to attend and participate in the celebration of Halsted Friday, Sept. 11 during the half-time of the Agates football game against Hinckley-Finlayson. The game begins at 7 p.m.

After the game there will be a reception with Halsted, former teammates, athletes, students and community members at the Dixie Bar and Grill. There will be a golf scramble beginning with registration at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12 for alumni at Lakeview National Golf Course. Contact Bob Nyberg at 834-8201 Ext. 8202 or e-mail bnyberg@isd381.k12.mn.us to confirm attendance at the game recognition or the golf scramble.



Game 2 - September 11, 2009 at Halsted Field, Two Harbors

TWO HARBORS - 41,  HINCKLEY-FINLAYSON - 0


(Summary from Duluth News Tribune)

Senior running back Ryan Guentzel ran 16 times for 131 yards and three touchdowns to lead the host Agates to the nonconference victory.

Senior Scott Comrie added 17 carries for 86 yards and another touchdown for Two Harbors (1-1).

Hinckley-Finlayson 0-0-0-0—0

Two Harbors 13-21-7-0—41

TH — Ryan Guentzel 12 run (Jon McDannold kick)

TH — Guentzel 3 run (kick failed)

TH — Scott Comrie 7 run (kick failed)

TH — Cole Myrdal 6 run (Myrdal run)

TH — Guentzel 1 run (McDannold kick)

TH — Jeff Dwyer 1 run (McDannold kick)


Game 3 - September 18, 2009 at Esko

TWO HARBORS - 35,  ESKO - 21

Two Harbors overruns Esko
Two Harbors dominated the line of scrimmage Friday, rushing for 375 yards and averaging 6.8 yards per carry to roll to a 35-21 victory over Esko. Senior fullback Scott Comrie’s 286-yard, five-touchdown performance carried the Agates (2-1, 1-0) to victory.
By: Rick Weegman, Duluth News Tribune

ESKO — Esko’s football program suffered a double whammy this week.


On the heels of a failed referendum that, among other things, means no artificial turf facility in the near future, the Eskomos were run over by Two Harbors 35-21 in a Great Polar Alliance White Division game Friday night at Les Knuti Memorial Field.


Senior fullback Scott Comrie’s 286-yard, five-touchdown performance carried the Agates (2-1, 1-0) to victory.


For supporters of the bond measure, the shock of losing the game probably didn’t approach that of losing the referendum, which failed by a 2-to-1 margin. Most believe voters said no because of the uncertainty of the economy and the planned raise in property taxes.


“That was a shock to many of us; we were definitely taken by surprise by that,” said Chad Stoskopf, Esko’s athletic director and assistant football coach. “The reason why we’re surprised is there are glaring needs and this isn’t a wish list. It’s been pared way down. This was a six-year project and was thoroughly investigated and researched.


“But whenever you say that taxes are going to be increased, you’re going to have a response. And the response we got this time was very negative.”


Esko head coach Bill Hudspith was a high school sophomore when the current facility was built circa 1973. Little has been done to upgrade the facility since, including stands that already have been condemned.


“I know times are tough, but now is the time to do it,” Hudspith said. “It may cost more [by waiting].”


Two Harbors coach Tom Nelson knows what it’s like to play on aging field. The Agates moved into a new school and play on a new field after a bonding referendum, which at first was rejected, finally was approved a few years ago.


“I hope eventually they do get their new facilities, they deserve it,” Nelson said. “It’s definitely helped our program; we love our facilities.”


Two Harbors dominated the line of scrimmage Friday, rushing for 375 yards and averaging 6.8 yards per carry.


“The line did an awesome job, they stepped it up a ton,” Comrie said. “[The Eskomos] threw all their linebackers at us at one time, and our line cleaned them up. It makes running easier.”


Esko focused on stopping senior Ryan Guentzel, a 1,200-yard rusher from a year ago who was held to 78 yards on 23 carries. That left openings for Comrie to run through, and the 6-foot, 204-pounder did the rest.


“[Guentzel] was dangerous, and we were hoping we could take him out of the game and put the ball in [Comrie’s] and [Lee Myrdal’s] hands,” Hudspith said. “You pick your poison.”


Only two games ago, Comrie was the team’s starting quarterback. That experiment was scrapped before a season-opening 20-13 loss to Aitkin was completed.


“He’s a legitimate high school quarterback,” Nelson said. “It boiled down to we couldn’t get the ball in his hands enough as far as the type of plays we wanted him to run. They were more finesse plays at quarterback and he’s not a finesse kid, he’s straight ahead.”


Esko found that out Friday to put the wraps on a disappointing week.


Two Harbors 7-14-0-14—35


Esko 7-14-0-0—21


E — Mark Savage 29 run (Jake Stainbrook kick)


TH — Scott Comrie 5 run (Jon McDannold kick)


TH — Comrie 74 run (McDannold kick)


E — Richard Jubie 4 run (Stainbrook kick)


TH — Comrie 41 run (McDannold kick)


E — Jubie 8 lateral from Cody Townsend (Stainbrook kick)


TH — Comrie 16 run (McDannold kick)


Game 4 - September 25, 2009 at Halsted Field, Two Harbors

DEER RIVER - 28,  TWO HARBORS - 10


(Summary from Duluth News Tribune)

Deer River scored the final four touchdowns of the game, two by Lucas Benson and two by Kenny Benham, in rallying to win the Great Polar White Division game.

Benham, a senior running back-quarterback, carried 21 times for 202 yards.


Deer River 0-0-7-21—28

Two Harbors 0-3-7-0—10

TH — John McDannold 34 FG

TH — Ben Ruberg 28 pass from Scott Comrie (McDannold kick)

DR — Lucas Benson 1 run (Kenny Benham kick)

DR — Benson 3 run (Benham kick)

DR — Benham 42 run (Benham kick)

DR — Benson 3 run (Benham kick)


Game 5 - October 2, 2009 at Pine City

PINE CITY - 22,  TWO HARBORS - 7


(Summary from Duluth News Tribune)

Nate Wendorf ran for a touchdown and passed for another to lead the Dragons to the nonconference victory over the visiting Agates.

Scott Comrie had the lone score for Two Harbors (2-3).

Two Harbors…….……..0-7-0-0—7

Pine City…….……..8-8-6-0—22

PC — Nate Wendorf 1 run (Adam Olson run)

TH — Scott Comrie 3 run (Jon McDannold kick)

PC — Mike Schmidt 55 pass from Wendorf (Olson run)

PC — Olson 54 run (pass failed)


Game 6 - October 9, 2009 at Halsted Field, Two Harbors

MOOSE LAKE-WILLOW RIVER - 63,  TWO HARBORS - 19


(Summary from Duluth News Tribune)

Austin Jacobson scored three touchdowns and Shane Rehbein scored twice as Moose Lake-Willow River routed Two Harbors 63-19 in a high school football game Friday night in Two Harbors.

Jacobson caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Tony Adamczak and scored on 33- and 44-yard runs as the fifth-ranked Rebels (6-0, 4-0) clinched a share of the Great Polar Alliance White Division title and won their 28th consecutive regular-season game.

Ryan Guentzel added two touchdowns for the Agates (2-4, 1-2).

Moose Lake-WR 22-13-14-14—63

Two Harbors 6-7-0-6—19

MLWR — Austin Jacobson 14 pass from Tony Adamczak (Jacobson run)

MLWR — Michael Unzen 44 run (Mike Bennett kick)

TH — Ryan Guentzel 14 run (kick failed)

MLWR — Jacobson 33 run (Bennett kick)

MLWR — Shane Rehbein 7 run (Bennett kick)

TH — Guentzel 49 run (Jon McDannold kick)

MLWR — Hayden Hoffman 4 run (kick failed)

MLWR — Rehbein 2 run (Bennett kick)

MLWR — Jacobson 44 run (Bennett kick)

MLWR — Nick Kenemore 8 run (Rejean Carlson run)

TH — Chad Brelie 84 kick return (run failed)

MLWR — Jacob Disterhaupt 15 run (kick failed)


Game 7 - October 14, 2009 at Halsted Field, Two Harbors

GREENWAY/NASHWAUK-KEEWATIN - 29,  TWO HARBORS - 13

(Summary from Duluth News Tribune)

Ryan Guenztel rushed for 204 yards on 25 carries and scored a touchdown in a losing cause for the host Agates.

Greenway/N-K 7-14-8-0—29

Two Harbors 7-0-0-6—13

TH — Jeff Swartout 3 run (Jon McDannold kick)

GNK — Nick Adams 1 run (Dylan Peterson kick)

GNK — Peterson 14 run (kick failed)

GNK — Carver Nelson 2 run (Justin Peratalo pass from Adams)

GNK — Peterson 3 run (Peratalo pass from Adams)

TH — Ryan Guentzel 40 run (kick blocked)





Game 8 - October 20, 2009 at Duluth

DULUTH MARSHALL - 34,  TWO HARBORS - 26


(Summary from Duluth News Tribune)

Ike Serre had 203 yards of offense and three touchdowns to lead host Duluth Marshall to a 34-26 victory over Two Harbors in a Great Polar Alliance White Division football game on Tuesday afternoon.

Serre also had 17 tackles, while England McDaniels added 141 yards for Marshall (3-5, 2-3), which had 399 yards of offense.

Senior running back Ryan Guentzel ran 17 times for 206 yards and two touchdowns, while sophomore running back Jeff Swartout had 14 carries for 104 yards and two more TDs to lead Two Harbors (2-6, 1-4).

Two Harbors 7-7-12-0—26

Duluth Marshall 7-14-7-6—34

TH — Jeff Swartout 1 run (Ben Ruberg kick)

DM — Dave Grannis 2 run (Josh Serre kick failed)

DM — Ike Serre 1 run (kick failed)

TH — Swartout 2 run (Ruberg kick)

DM — I. Serre 3 run (I. Serre pass from Josh Serre )

DM — Grannis 1 run (J. Serre kick)

TH — Ryan Guentzel 66 run (run failed)

TH — Guentzel 27 run (run failed)

DM — I. Serre 46 run (kick failed)


Game 9 - First Round of Section 7AAA Playoffs,  October 27, 2009 at Greenway

GREENWAY/NASHWAUK-KEEWATIN - 42,  TWO HARBORS - 6


(Summary from Duluth News Tribune)


Carver Nelson rushed for 225 yards and two touchdowns and Dylan Peterson gained 108 yards rushing and scored three touchdowns as the Raiders (6-3) cruised past the Agates (2-7) in their Section 7AAA quarterfinal in Nashwauk. Ryan Guentzel ran for 126 yards for Two Harbors.

Two Harbors 0-6-0-0—6

Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin 7-14-21-0—42

GN — Dylan Peterson 30 run (Nadim Rangel kick)

GN — Peterson 15 run (Rangel kick)

TH — Jeff Swartout 3 run (kick failed)

GN — Carver Nelson 61 run (Rangel kick)

GN — Peterson 11 run (Rangel kick)

GN — Justin Peratalo 46 pass from Nick Adams (Rangel kick)

GN — Nelson 67 run (Rangel kick)




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