Football: Tomahawk beats Merrill in Lincoln County showdown

For the Tomahawk Leader

MERRILL – The Tomahawk High School football team traveled to Merrill on Saturday, Oct. 12 to face the Bluejays in what would be a battle for Lincoln County bragging rights.

 Both teams would battle the rain and multiple turnovers throughout the afternoon tilt, but Tomahawk would show their resiliency and find a way to win 17-11.

Tomahawk would strike first late in the first quarter with a two-yard touchdown run from Brayden Larson. Walter Horabik would add the extra point for the 7-0 advantage. Each team would try to gain momentum throughout the second quarter, but would lose possession as both Merrill and Tomahawk would trade fumbles with the slick conditions. Merrill would find it difficult to move the ball on the ground, but finally gained some yards through the air, setting up their first score with just over a minute left in the first half. After a failed two-point try, the teams would close out the half with Tomahawk still in the lead 7-6.

Tomahawk came out the second half on defense looking to stop the Jays and get the ball back. A big forced fumble and recovery by safety Larson would give the Hatchets both the ball and a needed energy boost. Tomahawk took advantage of the turnover and drove down the field with a couple of big gains by Tiegen Sarasin, Brayden Larson and Cash Olsen. It would be a 15-yard QB counter from Olsen that would set up his one-yard QB sneak to extend the lead 14-6 after the Horabik kick. The Bluejays would try to cut the deficit, marching down deep into Hatchet territory, but the Hatchet D would answer and hold Merrill to only a 25-yard field goal. The final quarter would see the Hatchets still holding the lead 14-9.

The 4th quarter would prove exciting, as both teams tried to find the end zone, only to be thwarted by turnovers and stingy defenses. Tomahawk decided to extend the point differential to eight with a field goal attempt with 2:13 left in the contest. Walter Horabik would split the uprights from 25 yards and see the Hatchets up 17-9.

With little time left in the game, Merrill would go into their two-minute offense and convert some long throws to get back into Hatchet territory. Thankfully the Hatchet D line crew of Haring, Gibeault, Norman, Kurth, Samundsen and Sundquist would provide the pressure needed to cause an errant throw by the Jays, which Larson would intercept. Tomahawk would get creative and take a safety to leave only eight seconds left in the game, which ultimately sealed the deal and maintained the final lead 17-11. 

Coach Reilly said he was very proud of the team’s collective effort and the way they handled adversity throughout the day.

“It was not your typical day between the Saturday afternoon start, slick conditions and turnovers,” Reilly stated. “It is a testament to our kids that they battled, stayed resilient and found a way to win. It is that ‘sense of compete’ in these kids that I’m most proud of.”

With the victory, Tomahawk improves to 2-4 in the GNC (3-5 overall) and will host Lakeland on Friday, Oct. 18 at Hatchet Field for their final regular season game. This will be a special night for the Hatchets as they celebrate their seniors and parents and try to keep their playoff hopes alive in the final regular season game. Kickoff will be at 7 p.m.