Despite just one victory all fall, the Vermilion Ironhawks will be home at Ely School Stadium when the Minnesota College Athletic Conference playoffs begin Sunday.
A coin toss went the Ironhawks’ way Monday, and as a result, the community college football team landed the number-four seed and will host fifth-seeded Central Lakes at 2 p.m. at Ely School Stadium.
Vermilion goes into the postseason on a five-game losing streak and with a 1-6 record overall, but the Ironhawks prevailed in Monday’s three-way tiebreaker, which also involved Central Lakes and Rochester.
All three teams had only one win this season, but MCAC officials tossed a coin three times, with Rochester the odd-team out and put in the number-six slot.
Vermilion then got the fourth seed over Central Lakes on the basis of its early-season win over the Raiders.
The Ironhawks went to Brainerd in September and came away with a 39-29 win, but they haven’t won since.
Mesabi, which is seeded first in the playoffs, blew out the Ironhawks 42-7 in the Oct. 15 regular season finale at Rock Ridge.
Vermilion got a first-half touchdown when freshman quarterback Ricky Reyes found Jonathan Brantley on a 20-yard play.
That was one of the lone highlights for the Ironhawks, and Mesabi stole momentum on a pick-six by Kaleb Faul.
Mesabi (5-2) got a big game from quarterback Zeyshawn Martin, who passed for two touchdowns and ran for two more.
Running back Osten Jones racked up 128 yards on the ground and Jonathan Rollins had six receptions for 113 yards Mesabi outgained the Ironhawks 351-124, and the Norse picked off five passes.
Brantley had six receptions for the Ironhawks, and Jeremiyah Berry paced the Vermilion defense with five tackles and a fumble recovery.
Vermilion’s Jordan Ramirez was in on four stops.
