|
|
The Vikings played their best game of the year against Cherry but fell 48-12 to Mountain Iron-Buhl in the section play-offs. The team ended with a 6-3 record and lose only one senior off of the squad. Staff photo Brian Larsen
Editor’s note: Due to technical problems this story didn’t get in last week.
It took unbeaten Cherry five plays and about two minutes to score a touchdown and two-point conversion in the Vikings Homecoming game played Wednesday, October 20.
Ranked No. 5 in the state and coming off three shutout victories in a row while averaging 47 points in those games, no one was surprised by the Tiger’s ability to move the ball downfield quickly and score.
It was going to be a long, difficult night of football.
And it was a long, difficult night of football.
For Cherry.
The 4-2 Cook County Vikings entered the game on the heels of a blowout loss to Mountain Iron-Buhl. But that was a game that saw the Vikings turn the ball over three times in the first half and while they could move the ball against MIB, they were only able to generate one touchdown.
Viking coach Mike Prom called a timeout following the Cherry touchdown and set his defense to seal the ends so the Tigers couldn’t get outside for big gains. Once done, Tiger quarterback Bo Berry and his running backs were stuffed by Kole Anderson and company. Peyton Morrison broke into the backfield late in the first quarter to break up a key pass play, and the skilled quarterback for MIB was only starting to get a taste of what was to come.
Early in the second quarter Ryan Christiansen, subbing for workhorse running back Ray Dressely, took the ball at the Vikings 48 and ran through a nice hole and then shed an Issac Assume tackle and ran for a touchdown. Vikings quarterback Paul Dorr ran in the two-point conversion and the score was tied 8-8.
Following the Ray Dressely kickoff, the Tigers started at their 29. Berry ran for no gain. Harrington, the Cherry fullback, picked up four yards on second down and Kole Anderson tackled Isaac Assume for no gain on third down. Berry punted, and the Vikings started on their 44-yard line with 3:03 to go in the first half. On first down, Dressely carried four yards. A false start on the Vikings brought the ball back to the 41. Viking quarterback Paul Dorr hit his brother Jacob Dorr on the next play with a 36-yard pass that brought the ball to the six-yard line. Paul completed a five-yard pass to Christiansen to bring the ball to the one. With 22 seconds on the clock, Paul Dorr hit Amos Falter with a touchdown pass. The two-point conversion run was stopped.
Cherry got the ball back and tried to pass, but Paul Dorr intercepted the ball, and the Vikings led at halftime 14-8.
The Vikings received the kickoff to start the third quarter and it was three and out, with Cherry getting the ball at the Vikings 40 after a short punt. Cherry would get the first down and take the ball to the Vikings’ 20 before being called for a 15-yard chop-block penalty. The Viking’s defense would stop Berry and company from gaining another first down and take over at the 20.
Late in the third quarter, the Vikings blocked a punt and took over at the Cherry 36-yard line. Cherry stopped the Vikings on downs after the Vikings had moved the ball to the 24-yard line. Once again, the Viking’s defense held, and Cherry punted. Paul Dorr ran for 15 yards and Dressely nine yards during the next series to bring the ball to the Cherry 15 yard line. Carries by Kole Anderson and Dressely moved the eight. Following an incomplete pass and run for no gain, the Vikings were faced with fourth down. Dorr took the snap and pitched back to Dressely. Slipping past the defense, Pau Dorr was wide open when Dressely hit him with a perfect pass.
The Vikings ended the game 20-8 after holding Cherry to about five first downs. No stats were available for this report, but it was one the best games any Viking team has played in many years.
Leave a Reply