Another closely-contested high school football game turned into another loss Friday for International Falls.

The Broncos led by a touchdown early in the second quarter and pulled within eight points in the final period before losing at Cloquet, 26-12.

The loss dropped Falls’ season record to 0-4 overall and 0-3 in the Sea-Range Conference. It marked the third consecutive week the Broncos held a lead and ended up losing.

The Lumberjacks, who improved to 2-0 in the Sea-Range and 3-1 overall, outgained the Falls on offense, 243-182 yards. Both teams ran the ball primarily. Cloquet rushed for 195 yards, compared to 124 yards for the Broncos. 

Falls senior running back Nick Janttie accounted for 91 rushing yards on 17 carries. 

After a scoreless first quarter, Jakob Ettestad got the Broncos on the scoreboard on a three-yard run. Falls’ lead remained at 6-0 when the extra point by Hope Dunn failed.

Cloquet then responded with a pair of touchdowns to lead 14-6 at halftime.

After the Lumberjacks pulled in front by two touchdowns in the third quarter, Falls quarterback Gunnar Anderson used his feet in the final quarter to score on a 19-yard touchdown run and cut Cloquet’s lead to 20-12. 

The Lumberjacks sealed the victory with another touchdown late in the fourth quarter.

Anderson rushed for 32 yards on eight carries and completed nine of 16 passes for 58 yards.

The Broncos were without senior captain Josh Potter, who had handled the team’s kicking, and sophomore running back Nehemiah Olson. Both were injured a week earlier against Proctor.

Sophomore Ben Humbert, who played in his first game of the season, handled Falls’ kickoffs and punts and was also the team’s top receiver with six catches for 46 yards.

The Broncos will seek their first win of the season this Friday when they host Hermantown for homecoming. The Hawks are 3-0 in the Sea-Range and 3-1 overall.  

 

I. Falls    0      6      0      6 — 12

Cloquet  0    14      6   6 — 26

Scoring: IF: Jakob Ettestad, 3-yard run (kick failed); Gunnar Anderson, 19-yard run (2-pt. conversion failed).

Team statistics: IF: 124 yards passing, 58 passing, 182 total. P: 195 yards passing, 48 rushing, 243 total.

Rushing: IF: Nick Janttie, 17-91; Gunnar Anderson, 8-32, 1 TD; Jakob Ettestad, 5-7, 1 TD; Ben Humbert, 3-(-6).

Passing: IF: Anderson, 9-16, 58 yards.

Receiving: IF: Humbert, 6-46; Janttie, 3-12.