Aitkin shut out Moose Lake/Willow River 15-0 in the Section 7AA championship, ending the Rebels’ five-title streak and earning its first state-tournament berth since 1982.
Aitkin ended Moose Lake/Willow River’s five-year run as Section 7AA champion with a 15-0 victory Thursday, Nov. 5, sending the Gobblers to the Class AA state tournament for the first time since 1982. The championship, played in Esko, delivered a milestone for Aitkin and ended the Rebels’ bid for another trip to state.
Moose Lake/Willow River finished 9-2. The Rebels had won eight of the previous nine section titles and were seeking a sixth consecutive state-tournament appearance. Aitkin’s win sends the Gobblers to state for the first time in 44 years; their only earlier appearance came in 1982.
The game remained scoreless through the first half, with both teams’ defenses keeping the opposing offense off the scoreboard. The pivotal sequence came on Moose Lake/Willow River’s opening drive after halftime. On third-and-six, Aitkin senior Parker Fulton anticipated a screen pass, jumped into its path and intercepted the ball.
The Gobblers took over at the Rebels’ 45-yard line and relied on the run to capitalize. Aitkin ran the ball 10 straight times, with seven carries going to Fulton. He capped the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter. Aitkin added a two-point conversion to take an 8-0 lead.
Moose Lake/Willow River coach Dave Louzek said he had told his players at halftime that a mistake by one team could turn the game. He said the Rebels made that mistake and Aitkin took advantage. Aitkin coach Alan Hills said his team had not expected the formation the Rebels showed to open the second half. Hills credited Fulton’s athleticism and football instincts for reading the play and making the interception.
Fulton said he was anticipating a screen when he saw the quarterback turn. He called the interception a major play and credited the blockers in front of him on the scoring run. The sequence put the first points on the board after a defensive battle and gave Aitkin a lead it would not surrender.
The Rebels had opportunities to respond, but Aitkin’s defense continued to limit their offense. The Gobblers held Moose Lake/Willow River to 119 yards on 44 plays, according to the Duluth News Tribune. Aitkin also stopped a fourth-quarter punt attempt after a low snap, tackling punter Mathias Garrido for a 12-yard loss. The Gobblers began the resulting possession at the Rebels’ 24-yard line.
Fulton gained 13 yards on the drive to set up first-and-goal. On third-and-goal from the 9, quarterback Bo Sanford delivered a pass to Eli McNevin. McNevin sprinted toward the edge and leapt into the end zone, extending Aitkin’s lead to 15-0. Hills described the play as a decisive finish, noting that Sanford was banged up and had limited ability to move. Nolan Dotzler added a late interception to secure the shutout.
The result reversed last year’s Section 7AA final, when Moose Lake/Willow River defeated Aitkin 28-0. Louzek said his players were ready despite injuries and praised their effort, while congratulating the Gobblers. Hills, in turn, credited the Rebels for battling through the game.
For Aitkin, the victory ends a long wait to return to the state tournament. Fulton said he hoped the milestone would help establish a culture of strong football in the community. Local reporting published Friday focused on the section championship; the material available did not establish other verified developments from the past two days in Moose Lake, Kettle River, Cloquet or Duluth.
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