COLERAINE — Oct. 23 has to be the Aitkin Gobblers‘ lucky day.
The 1-7 Gobblers had not won a playoff game since Oct. 23, 2007 when they upset Virginia 38-16.
On Tuesday night, Oct. 23, sixth-seeded Aitkin upset the No. 3 Greenway/Nashwauk/Keewatin Titans 18-8 in the Section 7-3A quarterfinals.
The Titans took the opening kickoff and drove the length of the field to take an early 8-0 lead, but that’s when the Gobblers hunkered down and took over the game, according to Aitkin coach Gordy Forsberg.
Adam Bast scored on a five-yard run in the second quarter and Peter Zasmeta hauled in a 75-yard scoring pass from Jake Lynn to put Aitkin up 12-8 at the half.
Lyle Nyberg finished the scoring with a 45-yard interception return in the third.
Next up for Aitkin is a 2 p.m. Saturday semifinal game with the No. 2-seeded Esko Eskimos, a team they lost to 16-14 Oct. 12.
Aitkin 0 12 6 0 — 18
Greenway-N/K 8 0 0 0 — 8
Second quarter
A-Adam Bast 5 run
A-Peter Zasmeta 75 pass from Jake Lynn
Third quarter
A-Lyle Nyberg 45 pass interception return
Overall: A 2-7. Next: No. 6 Aitkin at No. 2 Esko in Section 7-3A semifinals 2 p.m. Saturday.
