Agates football geared up for another deep run

• Tom Nelson

Tom Nelson will coach the Agate football team once again. File photo

Talk about it

It would be an understatement to say the Two Harbors football team surprised some of its foes last season.

After all, the team finished the season with a regular season record of 3-5, but turned things around in the playoffs, making it all the way to the section championship game before losing to the Proctor Rails.

“Our program has definitely made big strides (over the years),” said head coach Tom Nelson, who is in his ninth year with the team.

Leading the offense this year will be senior captain quarterback Scott Comrie. Expect him to be on the move this season, considering he ran for over 1,000 yards last year as running back. Also returning will be senior captain running back Ryan Guentzel, who also ran for over 1,000 yards a year ago. Junior captain Justin Torgerson will also be helping out at the running back position. Senior captain Tony Ankley will anchor the offensive line and Mack Conrow, also a senior captain, will play end on the offensive side of the ball.

Nelson said he expected to spread the field a little more with this year’s offense, all the while keeping their power running game.

“We are very young offensively,” Nelson said. “We need them to gel.”

On the defensive side of the ball, Comrie, Guentzel, Conrow and Torgerson will lead the linebacker corps, while Ankley will play on the defensive line.

“We have a pretty athletic secondary,” Nelson said.

The team did lose some key veterans from last season including two-way players: Matt Wicklund (now playing at UMD), Chase Peterson, Logan Gow and Matt Jacob.

“It was a very nice senior class,” Nelson said. “We had a lot of hard workers.”

With that, comes a new breed of Agate football.

“This is the fastest team I’ve ever coached,” Nelson said.

Nelson does see room for improvement on his team, however.

He said the team needs to take better care of the ball, adding they had a case of “fumblitis” last season.

Maybe new jerseys will cure the disease – thanks to a football fund-raiser held last spring.

Nelson said the community and alumni were of great help to the team’s cause.

Helping Nelson coach the team this season will be Matt Peterson (defensive coordinator), Ryan McIntyre (running backs, linebackers, secondary and junior varsity), Rick Hogenson Sr. (defensive and offensive line), Steve Wasko (special teams), Derrick Hietala (offensive and defensive line and junior varsity), Tony Altiere (agility and quickness) and Dan Thewis (he is volunteering for three weeks helping with the offensive and defensive lines).

Junior high coaches will be Ron Fransen, Chris Bright and Travis Mettner. Coaching the Pony League team will be Justin Voss, Scott Ross, Casey Hyopponen, Anthony Christensen and Tom Bott.

Tags: two harbors, football, sports, agates