INTERNATIONAL FALLS — The Ely/Northeast Range Timberwolves enjoyed their first lead of the season on Friday at International Falls, but it was little consolation as the Broncos pummeled the Wolves 59-8.
The Wolves got off to a bad start when they fumbled the ball away on their opening possession at their own 40-yard-line. The Broncos got on the board fast, using a 30-yard pass and a pair of runs to get the go-ahead touchdown with less than two minutes elapsed in the game. The extra point kick made the score 7-0.
The Wolves took over at their own 35-yard line on the ensuing possession. After an illegal procedure penalty, they were facing a fourth-and-nine at the 36. Head Coach Louie Gerzin elected to go for the first down, and his gamble paid off when Sean Merriman bulled his way across the 45. Faced with another fourth down at the 50, Gerzin rolled the dice again and sent quarterback Max Brandreit into the line on a sneak. Brandreit pushed forward behind a strong push by the Ely line, but the entire Broncos defense converged and appeared to have him stopped short of the first down. But the fleet-footed quarterback broke free from the pile and headed for the sideline, leaving the Broncos in the dust as he dashed 50 yards for a Wolves touchdown. Brandreit passed to Merriman for the two-point conversion, and Ely was suddenly on top 8-7.
The lead would not last, as the Broncos returned the kickoff to the Ely 30. Three plays later, the Broncos retook the lead on a 15-yard touchdown pass and added a two-point conversion for a 15-8 lead.
On their next possession, another fourth-down gamble didn’t pay off, as the Wolves turned the ball over on downs at their own 45-yard-line. But Wolves linebacker Arturo Cameron knocked the ball loose from a Broncos runner and Brandreit recovered the fumble to give the ball back to the Wolves.
It was the last play that gave the Wolves much to cheer about, as the Broncos scored with machine-like efficiency on the rest of their possessions in the first half, leading 37-8 at the break. The Ely offense had some success moving the ball in the second half after the Broncos started substituting players, but their drives fizzled out without producing any scores. The Broncos produced three more touchdowns to run away with the 59-8 win.
The road didn’t get any easier this week for the Wolves, who were scheduled to travel to take on perennial powerhouse Mt. Iron-Buhl, who boast season-opening wins against Cherry and Rush City.