Hansen Hired As New Eskymo Football Coach Jim Hansen was hired Tuesday to become the new head coach of the Escanaba Eskymo varsity football team. The 29-year-old Hansen is a 2001 Escanaba High School graduate, and has spent the last six years as an assistant coach under Dan Flynn, who retired earlier this year. "I'm extremely honored, and humbled, and thankful to everybody involved in the school," Hansen said, "I'm so happy and excited to have this opportunity." The Escanaba School Board voted 7-0 to hire Hansen, who becomes just the third head coach in the last half-century in the Escanaba football program, after Jerry Cvengros coached from 1963 to 1985, and Flynn from '85 until this past year. "To follow them, well, it's a great honor, and extremely humbling" Hansen said. "He has a real strong desire and a passion and a love for the game of football," Escanaba High School Athletic Director Dave Wilson said. "He's shown the great ability to teach the game of football. That's was one of the things that came forward (in the interviewing process)." Hansen was the Eskymo offensive coordinator, and was praised for his team's ability to outscore opponents as the Eskymos went 7-4 and made the state playoffs. "It's been great to watch. I mean, I've been a fan of it just watching on the sidelines," Hansen said. "We're planning on doing the exact same thing with respect to the offense, trying to put the kids in the best-possible spot to be successful." Hansen, however, didn't want to take too much credit for the success of the offense. "Guys like Austin Young, and (David) Falish, and (Mitch) VanEffen, and (Max) Vandeweile.they've made us coaches look good," Hansen said. "Those guys worked their butts off to improve this program." "Jim has a great opportunity, but with that comes great responsibility," Wilson said. "We haven't had a lot of football coaches over the years, and football brings a lot of strong passion in the Escanaba community. It's certainly the most high-profile job, and it effects the most kids in the school. We have 150 kids playing football." Hansen says his first priority is to assemble a coaching staff. "After Spring Break, we've got to figure out who's here, and who's not here," Hansen said. "If we have openings, we'll need to get those taken care of. I'll meet with everyone one-on-one, and in a group, and we'll figure out where we're going from there." Hansen coached football in Gladstone for four years before returning to his alma-mater in 2006. He is also the head coach for the boys varsity tennis team, and is the assistant wrestling coach in the winter.

Escanaba's Austin Young Commits To Northern                   Escanaba High School senior Austin Young has committed to play football at Northern Michigan University. Young was a Michigan All-State quarterback selection in 2011, shattering several Escanaba High School offensive records during his senior season. But Young is being recruited as a slot-receiver by NMU, not a quarterback. Young is also a hockey and baseball standout at Escanaba, so what was the determining factor in his decison to try football at Northern Michigan? "I am going to college to play football and to get a good education," Young said. "I like that it (NMU) is close, and they seemed very interested in what I can do. I'm gonna have to train harder than most people, so, hopefully, I can get it done." Young says that he is looking at a career in criminal justice, and that is what he will study at Northern. "I don't know which way I'm gonna branch out yet, though." CLICK HERE to watch Young's best run of the '11 H.S. football season.

END OF THE LINE                   Escanaba quarterback Austin Young (7) runs as David Falish (40) and Alex DeHaan (5) try to provide blocks. Left photo: Casey DeShambo (55) celebrates a tackle. (Sandi Young photos) Eskymos Eliminated In Second Round Of State Playoffs, 25-15 ALMA, Mich.----The Alma Panthers scored ten points in the fourth quarter to break a 15-15 tie and defeat the Escanaba Eskymos, 25-15, in the MHSAA Division Four District Finals on Saturday in Alma. Senior quarterback Austin Young scored both of Escanaba's touchdowns, and he added a two-point conversion run, but it wasn't enough to beat the Panthers on a bright, sunny afternoon in central Lower Michigan. Alma quarterback Vinny Costanzo tossed a six-yard touchdown pass on the Panthers' first drive, but their extra point kick was blocked. The Eskymos countered that score with a four yard touchdown run by Young just two minutes into the second quarter. That score came after Young converted a fourth-and-eight situation with a 24-yard pass to David Falish. David Falish (40) is on one foot as he makes a catch on Saturday in Alma. >> Devin Barton's extra point kick gave the Escanaba Eskymos a 7-6 lead. The Eskymos appeared to be driving to extend their lead when Young was picked off at the one yard line. The Panthers then put together a 99 yard drive, capped off by a Dylan Brown one-yard run. Alma missed the two-point conversion attempt and the score was 12-7 at halftime. The Panthers took the second half kickoff and chewed up half of the quarter's clock, but the drive stalled in the red zone thanks to two major penalties. Alma settled for a 30-yard field goal, extending the lead to 15-7. Escanaba battled back again late in the third quarter as Young scored on a 13-yard run. Then, on the two-point play, the Eskymos were called for an off-sides penalty, marking them back to the eight yard line. But Young managed to get into the end zone anyway, and the game was tied at 15-15 with plenty of time left. <<<Eskymos celebrate Young's two-point run. In the fourth quarter, the Eskymo defense held, giving the ball back to the offense. But Young was intercepted again, and that set up a 33 yard field goal that gave the Panthers the 18-15 lead. And moments later, Alma scored the clinching touchdown on a 30-yard run by Brown. The Eskymos had one last drive inside the Alma 35-yard line, but Young was sacked on a 4th-and-1 play, and the game was pretty much over. Young ended up rushing for 129 yards on 26 carries, which would give him (unofficially) roughly 1,600 yards rushing for the season. He also completed nine of 20 passes for 88 yards, which would, again, unofficially, give Young just under 1,200 yards passing on the season. Jake Drage contributed 44 yards on six carries for the Eskymos, who finish the season with a 7-4 record. Jake Drage (26) on a tough run. >>> Escanaba won all seven of their home games this year, but dropped every single road game. Alma (9-2) will next face Comstock Park in the D-4 regional final. CLICK HERE  to read about this playoff game from Alma's perspective, courtesy of the Mt. Pleasant Morning Sun newspaper. More Photos from the Escanaba vs Alma Game!               Escanaba's Mike Dombrowski (44) catches the ball and moves it up field. Below photo: Austin Young (7) on one of his 26 carries in Alma. (Sandi Young photos)                     Eskymo Players Salute Supporters After Tough Loss                     The emotional Escanaba Eskymos players follow tradition by lifting their helmets to thank their supporters after a tough season-ending loss. Below photo: some of the Eskymo fans who made the trip include EHS students. (Sandi Young photos)                     And A Long Bus Ride Home Comes To An End....                     The tired Eskymo football players get off the bus at about 10:15 Saturday night after a long six-hour ride home. They were met by a cheering crowd. (Anne Truitt photo)

'11 Escanaba HS Football Schedule

Date	Result	Opponent	Record
Aug 26 Sept 2 Sept 10 Sept 16 Sept 23 Sept 30 Oct 7 Oct 14 Oct 21 Oct 29 Nov 5	W, 51-0 W, 34-12 L, 14-50 W, 43-42 W, 26-21 L, 20-49 W, 54-14 W, 41-6 L, 20-41 W, 35-21 L, 15-25	ALPENA ASHLAND, WIS. at Holy Family Catholic, Minn. MARQUETTE MEDFORD, WIS. at Menominee GLADSTONE LAKELAND, WIS. at Kingsford LUDINGTON** at Alma**	1-0 2-0 2-1 3-1 4-1 4-2 5-2 6-2 6-3 7-3 7-4