Another early lead ended up as another loss Friday for International Falls’ football team.

The Broncos, who remain winless at 0-6 overall and 0-4 in the Sea-Range Conference, scored first to lead by a touchdown and were tied at halftime, but were unable to score in the second half and lost to Melrose, 28-14, in a non-conference game played in Grand Rapids.

“It was a tough game for us up front,” said Falls head coach Jay Boyle, who noted Melrose was able to control the line of scrimmage on defense and made adjustments to keep the Broncos off the scoreboard in the second half.

Though snow flurries were in the air and made the turf wet, Boyle said the weather was not as bad as what the team had prepared for. 

Melrose gained all of its 377 offensive yards rushing, while the Falls could muster only 58 yards rushing out of 153 total yards.

Both of the Broncos’ touchdowns came on passes. Quarterback Gunnar Anderson went 8-27 for 95 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Anderson’s first scoring strike went to end Ben Humbert, who gave the Falls a 6-0 lead. The Broncos remained in front by six after Hope Dunn’s extra point failed.

Melrose’s Trevor Sawyer ran through the Falls and scored his second touchdown of the game in the first half on a 19-yard run to take the lead. The subsequent 2-point conversion extended Melrose’s lead to 14-6.

Broncos running back Nick Janttie then tied the game at 14-14 after catching a touchdown pass from Anderson and also hauling in the 2-point conversion.

Melrose then took control in the second half with two unanswered touchdowns.

 

Playoff implications at 0-6

Aside from the season-opening loss against Foley, the Falls has held leads in the other five games it has lost this season. 

Boyle said the Broncos are “still playing some pretty good football,” despite not having won this year.

Falls plays this Friday at Hibbing, a team with only one victory this season and an opponent Boyle believes is beatable.

With only two games left on the Broncos’ regular season schedule and only six teams in Section 7AAA, Boyle said it remains possible the Falls could end up hosting a playoff game Oct. 23 by winning one or both of the next two games.

Team statistics: IF: 58 yards rushing, 95 passing, 153 total. M: 377 yards rushing, 0 passing, 377 total.

Rushing: IF: Gunnar Anderson, 13-35; Nick Janttie, 10-14; Jakob Ettestad, 3-5; Nehemiah Olson, 1-4.

Passing: IF: Anderson, 8-27, 95 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs.

Receiving: IF: Ben Humbert, 5-76, 1 TD; Janttie, 3-19, 1 TD.