Above: A nice addition to the Vikings football team this fall has been running back Rory Bakke who missed all of last season due to injury. A good runner and blocker, Bakke brings a lot to the team. Right: Going back to pass, Leo Johnson gets ready to launch the sweetest spiral thrown in the Northland. The strong-arm quarterback has been able to deliver the ball far down the field into the arms of often tightly covered receivers.
Take away the first 7 minutes of the Cook County High School (CCHS) Vikings’ game against the East Central Eagles last Friday, September 12, and the 0-3 Vikings played the 3-0 Eagles even.
East Central scored on its first three possessions, two on long runs by their big running back, and one on a nice run by their quarterback to take a 20-0 lead before 7 minutes had gone off the clock.
Instead of quitting, the young Vikings used some muscle of their own, using 13 plays to score a touchdown when Owen Anderson scampered in from 10 yards out to make it 20-6.
However, it didn’t take the Eagles long to rush for another T.D. to go up 28-6.
Following a nice kickoff return by Anderson to start on their 38-yard line, Vikings’ fullback Richie Furlong and running backs Rory Bakke and Jack Wieben steadily moved the chains down the field, with the Vikings scoring on an 18-yard pass play from quarterback Leo Johnson to Anderson.
The Vikings went into the locker room down 36-12, but Anderson took the second half kick-off back 85 yards and Andrew Lashinski, the Vikings’ extra-point kicker, made the extra point to bring the score to 36-19.
The Eagles scored two more touchdowns and the Vikings ended their scoring with Jerod Spry coming in at the end of the game to score from two yards out in front of his former high school teammates, friends and family that turned out to watch him. Jack Wieben ran in the 2-point conversion.
The Vikings ended the game with 17 first downs to the Eagles 9, but they also had a couple of dropped passes that might have scored and lost one fumble after they were moving steadily down the field in the third quarter. Still, the kids knew at the end of the game that if they had avoided their slow start they could play with this team.
Rory Bakke finished with 60 yards on 11 carries. Furlong had 60 yards on 8 carries and Jack Wieben ended with 64 yards on 18 carries. Johnson finished with 80 yards passing and gained 41 yards on 7 carries. Anderson finished with 26 yards on 3 carries and scored 3 touchdowns. Jerod Spry had 5 yards on 2 carries and one touchdown.
On defense Travis Bradley, a senior who is new to the area and new to football, led the team in tackles with 6. Bradley, however, competed throughout high school in wrestling and is no stranger to rough and tumble sports.
“We improved a lot as a team after a rough first quarter,” said Head Coach Mitch Dorr. “Our heads weren’t down on the ground, as we kept fighting. That was great to see. Offensively we were able to move the ball and recorded 17 first downs. Moving forward now we need to minimize turnovers and penalties.
“Richie Furlong really stepped up and played tough at fullback and then entered the game to play great at the cornerback spot on defense. Rory Bakke is continuing to improve each game after not being able to play last season,” Dorr said.
After press time, the Vikings traveled to Deer River to face the alwaystough Warriors on their home field on Friday, September 19. They play at home on October 6 against Ogilvie at 7 p.m. Go Vikings!
Leave a Reply