Although the kids have only just begun football practice, they already played their first game in this shortened season that has been affected by COVID-19. Above, two days before the game against Cherry, coaches work with the kids on pass catching drills. Staff photo/Brian Larsen
Early on, it looked good for the Cook County Vikings in their opening nine man football game against the Cherry Tigers. The contest was held on Lyle Anderson field on Friday, October 9.
The Cook County Vikings put up the first 14 points and then the injury bug hit.
In quick succession senior co-captain lineman/ tight end Vaughn Swindlehurst was injured, then linebacker/running back Isaiah Deschampe, and starting offensive and defensive linemen Patrick Pierre, who came out at end of first quarter with an ankle sprain. With those players off the field for the Vikings, Cherry rallied and scored two touchdowns to even the score at the half.
The Viking’s Shaun Brozek scored the first touchdown on a two-yard run and then converted the two-point try on a dash into the end zone to put the Vikings up 8-0. Early in the second quarter Viking quarterback Aram Falter ran three yards for a touchdown to make it 14-0 after the two point conversion failed.
With three key players off the field, Cherry rallied, scoring touchdowns on an eight-yard run and a three-yard run, converting only one of their two point tries to tie the score at halftime.
Cherry took the third quarter kick-off 85 yards for a touchdown and then promptly ran in the two-point conversion. The momentum had clearly changed. The Tigers followed with a seven yard touchdown run and two point conversion and a 12 yard run to pay dirt and two point conversion to take a 36-14 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Cherry scored again early in the fourth quarter on a five yard run and again completed their two point conversion try to go up 44-14.
With Paul Dorr now playing quarterback and Falter moved to running back, the Vikings started to move the ball again. Dorr was 3-5 in passing for 48 yards
The Vikings cut the lead to 26-44, on a nice 20 yard touchdown run by Falter, and a 16-yard run by Ray Dressley in the fourth quarter, with both conversion tries failing but it was too little too late and the Vikings fell 44-26.
On offense Shaun Brozek finished with 85 yards on 19 rushes. Falter ran for 124 yards on 24 rushes. Anthony Wiele caught two passes for 37 yards.
Defensive leaders
Danny Deschampe had seven unassisted tackles plus seven assisted tackles to equal 14 total tackles to lead the Vikings.
Jonathan Huskey finished with three unassisted tackles plus ten assisted tackles, which gave him 13 total tackles.
Shaun Brozek had five unassisted tackles plus four assisted tackles, which gave him nine total tackles.
Aram Falter ended his night with four unassisted tackles plus five assisted tackles, which gave him nine tackles for the game.
The Vikings played Ely in Ely on Wednesday, October 14. Those results will be in next week’s paper.
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