C.J. Ham rushed for more than 100 yards and a score and Mitch Svihel fired two touchdowns to Tom Warren as Duluth Denfeld raced past St. Paul Como Park 26-14 in a non-conference game Thursday at Public Schools Stadium.
The Hunters (4-3) got a pair of Svihel-to-Warren TDs in the opening quarter and kept the Cougars (4-3) at bay with a grinding ground game that produced close to 300 yards.
Denfeld's defensive line wreaked havoc on Como Park, which started the contest with Tyler Rose subbing for Joe Conley at quarterback. Conley, though, who broke his wrist two weeks ago, returned to start the second quarter. And while the senior showed a knack for making plays with his feet, he hardly had time to pass.
The Hunters rarely blitzed; they didn't have to.
Instead, they got a persistent push from their line and made Conley's life miserable for three quarters.
Denfeld was coming off a deflating 49-22 setback against Duluth East. Como Park shut out St. Paul Harding 20-0 a week ago.
Still, the Hunters seized control early. Svihel, making his first start, didn't throw often. But when he did, the junior had success. His first two passes went for scores as Denfeld jumped out to a 20-0 lead.
The Cougars scored twice in the fourth quarter to chip away at the deficit. Jon Carr got free for an 8-yard touchdown run, and Conley found Devion Welch in the end zone for Como Park's second TD.
Alex Eskola added seven carries for 66 yards and a touchdown for the Hunters, who take on Duluth Central next week in what should be the final meeting between the two clubs in a rivalry that dates back to the 1920s.
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