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Sports

Duluth Wins Season Opener 28-24

Anfornee Stewart throws four touchdown passes, including three to Myles Campbell, who had more than 235 yards receiving, to lead Wildcats past Archer at Cecil Morris Field.

Anfornee Stewart threw four touchdown passes, including long-distance strikes of 76, 43 and 70 yards to Myles Cambpell and the game-winner to Michael Randle with 1:22 left Friday as Duluth beat Archer 28-24 in the non-region season opener for both teams at Cecil Morris Field.

The Wildcats led most of the game, but squandered several scoring opportunities and fell behind 24-21 with 7:18 left in the game when  Archer quarterback Jarvis Holley scored on a 1-yard run.

Duluth (1-0) set the tone for what was to follow when Stewart rolled right on the game's first play, found Campbell streaking down the middle of the field and launched a 76-yard scoring strike. Stuart Hench added the PAT and 15 seconds into the opening game the Wildcats had a 7-0 lead.

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If the Tigers (0-1) were intimidated by the quick score, they didn't show it. Led by their bruising running back Ernest Alexander, the Tigers cranked up a five-play, 81-yard scoring drive. Alexander got all five carries and scored on a quick 21-yard burst off right tackle.

The two teams exchanged fumbles on their next series. Archer's Jermaine Morris fumbled at his own 25-yard line, and defensive tackle Nick Rea pounced on it for the Wildcats. Duluth returned the favor two plays later when Stewart fumbled and Antonio Riles recovered for Archer.

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Duluth went ahead 14-7 on a 58-yard scoring drive late in the first quarter, capped by Stewart's 43-yard pass to Cambell, who took the pass over the middle, headed for the left sideline, broke a tackle at the 10 and dove into the end zone.

The Wildcats failed to capitalize on another scoring opportunity in the second quarter when Stewart hit Randle on what appeared to be a 19-yard touchdown pass. But the play was nullified by a holding penalty. Stewart then hit Justin Morris for another apparent score. But this one was wiped out by an illegal shift. Then, wide receiver Nick Whitaker dropped a pass in the endzone on fourth down.

Duluth opened up a 21-7 margin in the third quarter on a Stewart-to-Campbell pass that covered 70 yards. Campbell wound up with more than 235 yards receiving.

But Archer rallied to within 21-14 on a 46-yard touchdown run by Jermaine Morris and inched even closer on a 45-yard field goal by Zach Wacholz that made it 21-17.

When quarterback Jarvis Holley scored on a 1-yard run with 7:18 left to give the Tigers their first lead at 24-21, it looked like Duluth may not recover.

But Stewart calmly led the Wildcats on a 15-play 92-yard scoring march. With 1:22 left in the game, Stewart found Randle all alone in back of the endzone and threw a perfect strike for the game-winner.

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