LITTLEFORK— Early on, it appeared the Timberwolves would cruise to an opening round win in the Section 7 Nineman playoffs held here on Tuesday night as Littlefork-Big Falls coughed up the ball three times in the first quarter. Ely turned two of them into touchdowns, to take a 14-0 lead in the opening stanza.

But the Vikings recovered from their opening jitters and went on to score three unanswered touchdowns to take an 18-12 lead en route to a 30-28 final margin. The Wolves, meanwhile, added eight more points before the end of the second half and took a 22-18 lead into the break.

Ely’s momentum didn’t last long, as a series of turnovers let the Vikings take the lead for good. Ely fumbled on the first play from scrimmage in the second half, and the Vikings wasted no time in capitalizing, thanks to a 67-yard breakaway on their next play, staking them to a 24-22 lead.

Ely coughed up the ball again after some initial success on their next drive, but got it back on an interception, leaving the Wolves with the ball down by two points to start the fourth quarter. Ely hustled down the field before stalling in the Viking’s red zone, handing it over on downs.

On their next possession, the Vikings hit pay dirt once again, to take a 30-22 lead.

Starting from midfield with less than two minutes to go, the Wolves struck fast, connecting on a 46-yard pass to leave them first-and-goal from the Viking’s five yard-line. A little over a minute later, the Wolves pushed past the goal line for six. The conversion would have tied the score, but the Wolves came up short, leaving them with 18 seconds for a miracle.

Ely’s onside kick surprised no one and when the Vikings recovered the ball, it was all over.

“It was a very physical game,” said Ely Head Coach Cory Lassi. “I can’t fault the effort of the guys... they battled until the very end. You never want to see your season end, but this was a great game between two evenly matched teams.”

The Wolves ended their season at 2-7, although the team probably outperformed its record said Lassi. “We lost some very tight games this season, ending up with three losses by a total of ten points,” he said. “I thought this team was a class act on and off the field doing multiple community service project along with dedicating their time on Saturday mornings for flag football.”