Cook County Vikings football season kicks off

The Cook County Vikings open their season with a home game against the Silver Bay Mariners tonight at Lyle Anderson Field.

The Vikings were scheduled to play the Carlton-Wrenshall Raptors last week, but the game was forfeited after the Raptors chose not to field a varsity team this season. Vikings head coach Steven Anderson said the two teams will play a junior varsity game later this year.

Cook County beat Silver Bay 16-6 last season. The Mariners have a new head coach this year, Bryan Carpenter, who previously coached the Vikings.

“This is our most natural arrival, just based on location,” Anderson said in a pre-game interview. “They have a great big offensive line, but we can combat that with our offensive and defensive line as well.”

The Cook County Football Booster Club is hosting a pregame kickoff event in the Sawtooth Elementary School parking lot starting at 4 p.m. A $5 donation is suggested.

WTIP will broadcast the game, with Josh Belanger and Sterling Anderson on the call. Kickoff is at 5 p.m., with pregame starting at 4:45 p.m.

Josh Hinke September 11, 2026