The Cloquet Lumberjacks were seeking a third consecutive trip to the state football tournament Friday night at Public Schools Stadium in West Duluth, and the 'Jacks were confident coming off a 14-0 shutout win over Hermantown 16 days earlier.

But, as the mantra goes, anything can happen in playoffs.

Although the Lumberjacks came into the game with four consecutive victories over the Hawks, a determined Hermantown squad ended those hopes as the Hawks bested Cloquet 20-14 to return to the state tournament for the first time since 2015.

"The first time we played them, we left chances to score...