CHISHOLM– Ely took advantage of the Bluestreaks’ slippery fingers to score 30 points in the second quarter en route to a 30-12 win over Chisholm, to even their record at 1-1.

Playing in a rare Saturday afternoon game, the Timberwolves fell behind early after the Bluestreaks connected on a 79-yard bomb to grab six points on their first possession.

“I felt like we got off to somewhat of a slow start,” said Ely Head Coach Cory Lassi. “Unlike in Ogilvie we played with more confidence and were able to bounce back from some early mistakes.”

Ely got back in the game quickly, on an 80-yard drive capped by a six-yard Nate Nettifee run for six. Moments later, Nettifee added two more, to put Ely up 8-6 with 10:24 remaining in the second quarter.

Chisholm struck back after a strong return on the kickoff spotted them at midfield. Another long pass on first down left them first and goal at the one and they took it in on the following play putting them up 12-8 after another failed conversion attempt.

The Wolves went three and out on their next possession, which proved the high-point for Chisholm. A solid punt left the Bluestreaks with the ball on their own 34-yard line, but on their first play Ely’s Dalton Schreffler scooped up a Chisholm fumble and scampered into the end zone to put the Wolves up 14-12. Schreffler wasn’t done as he hauled in a two-point conversion pass moments later leaving Ely up by four with 6:14 left in the half.

“That gave us a huge swing in momentum,” said Lassi.

Chisholm’s butter fingers had just begun as they fumbled on second down of their next series giving Ely the ball on their 45-yard line with 4:54 left in the half.

A quick drive brought the Wolves to the red zone, where senior Nick Mattila burst up the middle from six yards out to give Ely a 22-12 lead after a failed conversion.

Chisholm fumbled the kickoff with 2:21 remaining, and Ely’s Eddie Prijatel grabbed it near midfield to give the Wolves yet another scoring chance in the half.

Junior quarterback Bryce Longwell connected with junior tight end Josh Larson to advance to the Chisholm 15-yard line. An 11-yard run left the Wolves first-and-goal from the four with less than a minute left, but that’s where the going got tougher. After three unsuccessful plays left them shy of the end zone and with just three seconds left on the clock, Longwell hit Mattila in the end zone as the buzzer sounded. A successful two point conversion sent both teams to the locker rooms with Ely up 30-12.

It would prove to be the final, as both teams’ defenses dominated the second half. Twice the Bluestreaks drove deep inside Wolves territory only to turn it over on downs.

“We took advantage of turnovers which ended up being the difference in the game,” said Lassi. “We have now forced six turnovers and given up one.”

Offensively, the Wolves gained a total of 257 yards, while averaging 4.7 yards per carry. Mattila put big numbers on the board, rushing for 120 yards. Nettifee, a junior, added another 73. Longwell completed two of seven passes for 37 yards and a touchdown, suffering one interception. Larson hauled in a 34-yard toss for Ely’s biggest pass play of the game.

Ely will host Lake of the Woods this Friday, Sept. 14, in their home opener. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.