Action was fast and furious last Friday night when the Vikings faced the Mesabi East Giants. Both offensive lines opened giant holes for their teams’ running backs, who, when combining their yardage, ran for more than one-half mile in the game.
At times the action at Anderson Field Friday night September 17 resembled more of a cross-country meet than a football game. Running backs for both teams were dashing up and down the field with little more than the wind to slow them down, or, in some cases, speed them up. However, when there were hits, there were big, crunching blows. Highlighting the hits was the blow Collin Everson delivered on a crack block that could be heard loud and clear from the sidelines.
All in all, the fans were treated to a highly entertaining, high-scoring game.
For the record, the Cook County High School Vikings netted 455 yards on the ground while Mesabi East rushed for 453 yards.
“We just happened to finish our drives,” said Head Coach Mitch Dorr, commenting on the huge discrepancy in the score.
After starting out their season 0-2, the Vikings needed this win. And after producing few points this season, when the offensive juices began to flow, they opened up into a torrent of points. For the game, the Vikings scored 10 touchdowns while holding Mesabi East to just four scores.
Junior halfback Dylan Quaife led the way, rushing 274 yards on 21 carries. Sophomore Peter Warren dashed 117 yards on 18 rushes from his fullback slot, and sophomore quarterback Kale Boomer ran for touchdowns from 4 yards, 4 yards, 5 yards and 7 yards.
Highlighting Mesabi’s offense was junior Garret Larson, who scored TDs from 45 yards, 60 yards, 68 yards and three yards out.
The Vikings scored often and early. In the first quarter, Quaife ran one in from the 20-yard line, and the two-point conversion failed. Shortly after, Warren scored from three yards out, and again the two-point conversion attempt was thwarted.
Mesabi’s Larson rocketed for 45 yards to score, and the point-after kick was good. Quaife scored once again for the Vikings and once again the two-point try failed and the Vikings led 18-7 after the first period of play.
Early into the second quarter Mesabi’s Larson galloped 60 yards untouched for a touchdown and the kick was successful. It was now 18-13 and looked to be a game.
Or was it?
Viking touchdowns came down like hard rain on Mesabi East: Warren scored from a yard out, Boomer added two more TDs on 4-yard runs. Quaife took his turn, again rushing to pay dirt from 27 yards out. Next Boomer ran 5 yards to score, and Quaife blasted 55 yards to put the game completely out of reach.
Larson scored twice more for Mesabi, and Boomer and Warren each scored one last touchdown for the Vikings.
For the record, the Vikings led 42-14 at the half and 52-30 at the end of the third quarter. The Vikings added one fourth-quarter touchdown to win 62-30.
Offensive player of the game honors went to Dylan Quaife. Defensive player of the week was awarded to Bradley VanDoren for amassing 14 tackles, including three big plays to thwart Mesabi East drives.
Head Coach Mitch Dorr praised his team: “As a team we improved a lot in just one week. We are still finding the right mix of guys on both sides of the ball.
“Dakota Sorlie played great defensively in his first game. The offensive line really played and Trevor Pehrson really did a nice job from his tackle position on the left side.
“Freshman Jacob Schroeder came in and really did a nice job of playing defensive end,” Dorr said.
The Vikings played the Ely Timberwolves Friday, Sept. 24 at Anderson Field.
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