Junior running back Ethan Sporn rushed 24 times for 140 yards and scored two touchdowns and two PAT runs to lead the Vikings to a hard-fought 24-14 win over the Mountain Iron-Buhl Rangers in a day game played at home on a cold Saturday, October 28 on Lyle Anderson field.
Early in the first quarter, the Rangers drew first blood when their talented tailback slipped around the end of the Viking defense, and he raced 51 yards to give the Rangers an early 6-0 lead. The Vikings’ defense stuffed the Rangers’ two-point conversion try.
The Vikings wasted little time answering, taking the kickoff and marching down the field, mostly behind the fleet feet of quarterback Josh Prom and Sporn. With 5:51 gone in the first quarter, Sporn took the ball across the end zone marker from 11 yards out. He also carried for the two-point conversion and the Vikings led 8-6 in what looked like at that time was going to turn into a wide open, high-scoring game.
On the ensuing kickoff once again the Rangers’ speedy running back showed the Vikings his heels as he gathered the ball in and exploded almost untouched down the sideline on a long touchdown run. However, a holding call brought the ball back to mid-field. The Viking defense gave up a first down then held the Rangers, who turned the ball over on downs.
Left: If you can’t go by land, then go by air. Ethan Sporn dove over Dillon Sjogren, who had flattened the would-be MIB tackler (28) to gain a few more yards on the play. Above: Connor Somnis (wearing the fanny pack) and Devon Premo (22) wrap up the MIB ball carrier. Top: Jack Haussner made a great play to intercept this ball at the Vikings’ goal line with 16 seconds left in the game against MIB.
After gaining a first down Prom handed the ball off to Sporn who ran through the MIB defense for a 51-yard touchdown. Sporn made a great catch on a flip from Prom that was behind him, gathering the ball in and taking a couple of MIB tacklers with him across the line for the two-point conversion. The Vikings led 16-6, and there was still 3:34 to play in the first quarter.
Again, the Vikings’ defense held and the offense took over at the Vikings’ 18-yard line. But Prom’s pass was tipped, and the ball intercepted deep in Viking territory. The Rangers got no farther than the Vikings’ 5-yard line before turning it over on downs.
The quarter ended as Sporn gained 15 yards on a carry to give the Vikings some breathing room, but the Rangers’ defense held and forced a punt.
Unfortunately, the punted ball traveled about 10 yards, and again the Rangers started their offense from an excellent field position. A minute later the MIB quarterback threw a 21-yard touchdown and the Rangers’ try for two points was successful, making the score 16-14.
Both teams battled hard throughout the second quarter, with each defense stopping the other’s offense. Late in the quarter, the Vikings used a trick play to gain a significant advantage. Prom took the snap from center at MIB’s 40-yard line and tossed it back to Sporn who started to run, then stopped and threw a perfect pass to Jack Haussner at the MIB one-yard line. Following his blockers, Dillon Sjogren ran it in for the touchdown and Prom, meeting heavy opposition, carried for the two-point conversion, plowing through a bevy of MIB defenders.
The Vikings led 24-14 and Prom intercepted a pass to end first half play.
That turned out to be the final score, but there was a lot of football in the second half. Sporn injured his ankle, coming out for several minutes, and the Vikings’ sturdy fullback Dillon Sjogren took over his duties carrying the ball. Sjogren rushed for about 40 yards while Sporn was getting his ankle taped.
With 6:14 to go in the fourth quarter MIB was deep in Vikings’ territory and looking like they were going to be right back in the ballgame. But defensive tackle Billy Hackett broke through the line and tackled MIB’s quarterback Buffeta for a 13-yard loss. On the next play, the Vikings’ other stalwart defensive tackle Joe Deschampe broke through the line to make a big tackle for a loss. Coming in from his outside linebacker position, Sporn made it three in a row, tackling the MIB ball carrier well behind the line of scrimmage.
With 16 seconds left to play, Jack Haussner intercepted a pass at the Vikings’ goal line to seal the win.
Ethan Sporn was named the Vikings Offensive Player of the Game for his hard running and gritty performance on a bad ankle.
Billy Hackett earned Defensive Player of the Game honors for his seven tackles, one sack, a forced fumble, and a blocked punt.
The Big Hit of the Game was obvious to all who witnessed it. Andrew Miller met an MIB receiver in the middle of the field just as the ball was being caught. It was a clean tackle, but resounding in its ferocity. Give the kid credit – he held onto the ball although he was down for about three minutes while his team’s coaches looked after him.
“The defense was fantastic all day long,” said Viking head coach Mitch Dorr. “They had two really good red zone stops after an interception and a poor punt. I thought the defense carried us. Our linebackers played fantastic. Ethan Sporn had nine tackles, Dillon Sjogren and Josh Prom each added eight tackles.”
The 9-1 Vikings will get a chance to avenge their only loss of the season when they face the 8-1 Northwoods Grizzlies on Friday, November 3 at Esko in the Section 7A nine-man championship game. The Vikings led the Grizzlies into the fourth quarter but fell 39-30 in an away game.
This time there are higher stakes on the line. The winner of the Section 7A playoff game will advance to the state tournament, something Cook County hasn’t done since it began playing nine-man football three years ago.
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