Above: The Viking defense contained Carlton for much of the game but gave up some big plays, and that kept the game close. Head coach Mitch Dorr promised that his team would work hard to stop big plays in the coming weeks. Right: Sophomore Viking running back Peter Warren struggles mightily to get away from three Carlton tacklers. For the game Warren rushed for 122 yards on 23 carries.
TheCook County Vikings football team traveled to Carlton last Friday and played a tough opponent, winning 32-29 over a Carlton team who was playing its Homecoming game.
Extra work on points after the touchdown (PATs) the week prior to the contest turned out to be the difference. The Vikings converted all four of their two-point tries while Carlton converted two attempts at two points, kicked one extra point and failed on another one-point PAT. Those three points were the difference in the game.
The Vikings had a chance to put the game out of reach but were stymied by missed assignments and penalties that killed a couple of long drives.
“In the second half when we had chances to pull away, we relaxed too much as a team and played down to the level of our competition,” said Head Coach Mitch Dorr.
In the first quarter Carlton started the scoring on a 66-yard run from its quarterback Chase Jokinen. The PAT kick was good and the score was 7-0.
After stopping the Vikings the Bulldogs got the ball back and again Jokinen scored, this time on a 60-yard run. The PAT attempt failed. Carlton led 13-0.
Following a long drive the Vikings got on the scoreboard on a one-yard run from Peter Warren. Quarterback Kale Boomer ran for two points and the Vikings went into the second quarter down 13-8.
Playing good ball control offense, the Vikings marched down the field and again Warren crossed the goal line from a yard out. Dylan Quaife busted over for two points and the Vikings went into the locker room up 16-13.
The third and fourth quarters were filled with some nice Viking drives that were stopped by penalties or miscues. Still, in the third quarter the Vikings scored a touchdown on a 21-yard run by Quaife. Warren ran in the two-point conversion. Jokinen passed 75 yards to Wyatt Goodman and the two teamed up for two points on the PAT. The Vikings led 24-21. Quaife scored on a 15-yard run and Boomer busted over for two more points to hand the Vikings a 32-21 lead.
The only touchdown in the fourth quarter came from Carlton on a 12-yard run. The Bulldogs two-point PAT was good, making the score 32-29.
But even that was tough. “On a crucial fourth-and-two play with just a minute left, Kale Boomer was knocked down on top of Peter Warren, had the presence of mind to know he wasn’t down yet, and kept his feet going to get the first down! This allowed us to run out the clock,” Dorr said.
For the game Dylan Quaife rushed for 170 yards on 22 carries. Peter Warren carried for 122 yards on 23 runs and Boomer ran for 75 yards on 15 carries. All told, the Vikings converted 19 first downs on 66 offensive plays. But, as Dorr noted, “We just gave up too many big plays. That will be our focus in practice this week.”
Dorr praised the job freshman Jacob Schroeder did on the field. “I thought Schroeder played really well and showed a lot of hustle,” said Dorr.
Senior lineman Nick Austin earned Offensive Player of the Game and Colin Everson was awarded Defensive Player of the Game. Kale Boomer earned “Big Hit” of the game on a block that freed up Dylan Quaife on a third-quarter kick return.
Cook County is now tied for second place with Chisholm and trails only the East Central Eagles in the conference. The Eagles faced the Vikings in Grand Marais, Friday, Oct. 8 at 7 p.m.
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