Top: With Mikey Burton out front blocking, Andrew Miller turned the corner and headed downfield on a long run in the Vikings big win over Silver Bay. Left: Wearing No. 14, Viking running back Ethan Sporn left this Mariner tackler in the dust as he ran for some of his more than 200 yards on the day. Above: Big Billy Hackett (72) cleared the way for the Viking runners all day and was named Offensive Player of the Game.
Cook County’s defense kept Silver Bay in check all night long as the Vikings rolled to a 56-8 victory over their North Shore rival last Friday night, September 8, in a home game played on Lyle Anderson Field.
Both teams came into the match 1-0, but CCHS wasn’t tested in its 78-0 romp over an undersized, undermanned Onamia squad, so the game against a bigger, more physical team like the Mariners would be a good sounding board for just how good the Vikings might be this season. From the looks of the game, this team–barring injuries– should be the best nine-man squad the Vikings have fielded in three years since going to nine-man play.
The Vikings won the coin toss, and head coach Mitch Dorr elected to kick the ball. Using a swarming defense, the Vikings stopped the Mariners on three plays and got the ball back on a punt. A couple of plays later quarterback Josh Prom hit Andrew Miller with a 46-yard dart that went for a touchdown. The extra point run failed.
The teams traded the ball for the next couple of series before the Vikings got the ball back and went down the field to score on a 5-yard run by Prom. A two-point conversion pass play failed, and the Vikings led 12-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Junior running back Ethan Sporn ran through the Silver Bay defense for a 26-yard score, and he also ran in the two-point conversion to make the score 20-0.
Prom later added a 17-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. The run for two failed, and the Vikings went into the locker room up 26-0.
Silver Bay’s starting quarterback, Jason Blood, was injured early in the first period, and maybe that had something to do with the Mariners not getting many offensive yards as the Viking defense completely manhandled the Mariners when they had the ball. Meanwhile, the Vikings methodically ran the ball down the field. Prom scored from one yard out and the conversion for two points failed. The score was now 32-0. Andrew Miller intercepted a Mariner pass and took it 42 yards to the house to make it 40-0 after Prom ran in or two points.
Miller’s touchdown reached all of the way to Fargo, where his brother, Frankie, a former Viking great, was listening. When the WTIP announcers said, “Frankie Miller scores for the Vikings,” Frankie texted his mother, Brenda, and said, “Still helping the team all of the way from Fargo!” Andrew scored again on a one-yard run, and again Prom ran in for two points to bring the score to 48-0. Frankie didn’t get credit for this TD.
Silver Bay’s quarterback finally broke free late in the fourth quarter and scored on a 65-yard run against many substitutes head coach Mitch Dorr inserted into the game to get some playing time.
Jack Haussner ran for 53 yards to score the last Viking touchdown. Derek Jorgenson ran in the two-point conversion and the game ended 56-8.
At game’s end Billy Hackett, despite gaining nary a yard nor scoring a single point, was named Offensive Player of the Game. “We ran behind him all night,” said Coach Dorr. Hackett also had 11 tackles on defense.
Ethan Sporn rushed 19 times for 206 yards, scoring one TD. Josh Prom carried 16 times gaining 113 yards, and scored three touchdowns. Prom also had 10 tackles on defense and was named Defensive Player of the Game.
Versatile Andrew Miller ran four times to pick up 19 yards and caught two balls for 58 yards, scoring once on the ground and once through the air. With his interception return, he ended up with three TDs.
Dillon Sjogren had eight tackles, two for losses, and had a lot of big hits in the game, said Coach Dorr. Sjogren got the Big Hit of Game honors.
Who plays where?
. Seniors: Mike Burton (33) plays tight end on offense and outside linebacker/defensive end on defense. Billy Hackett (72) anchors both offensive and defensive lines. Colton Furlong plays wide receiver and defensive back.
. Juniors: Josh Prom (Jersey 9) is the quarterback on offense and linebacker on defense. Ethan Sporn (14) is the halfback and linebacker. Andrew Miller (16) is the starting fullback, tight end, and linebacker. Connor Somnis (87) lines up as a wide receiver on offense and plays safety on defense. Dillon Sjogren (44) plays fullback and linebacker. Tristan Bockovich (21) is wide receiver and safety. Joe Deschampe (73) is an offensive guard and defensive tackle. Ben Trepanier (77) is also an offensive guard and defensive tackle. Levi Shiels (80) plays wide receiver and defensive back. Thomas Swanson (63) is an outside linebacker or plays defensive tackle. Jack Haussner (41) is a wide receiver and defensive back.
. Sophomores: Jordan Porter (10) is a tight end and defensive end. Adam Dorr (11) is a quarterback and defensive back. Devon Premo plays offensive guard and defensive tackle. Keenan Hingos (55) is the Vikings’ starting center and plays linebacker on defense. Masen McKeever (82) is a wide receiver and defensive back. Pete Sutton (84) also plays wide receiver and defensive back. Derek Jorgenson (15) is a halfback and linebacker.
. Freshmen: Aram Falter (85) is a wide receiver and defensive back. Tate Crawford (81) plays wide receiver and defensive back. Caide Northrup (56) is a fullback and linebacker. Kewadin Pierre (43) is a fullback and defensive end. Jonathan Huskey (50) plays fullback and linebacker. Vaughn Swindlehurst (34) is a tight end and defensive end.
. Coaches: Assisting head football coach Mitch Dorr this fall are Bryan Carpenter, Chris Rauzi, and Mike Prom. Cameron Roy is the student manager.
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