The (0-3) Cook County Vikings football team traveled to Mesabi East to take on the (1-2) Giants on Friday, September 25, in hopes of procuring their first win of the season, but instead fell to the Giants 40-14.
The Vikings made some adjustments on offense with senior Brock Hommerding moving from his halfback position to quarterback replacing freshman quarterback Kale Boomer. Sophomore Dylan Quaife moved into the halfback spot and sophomore Bradley VanDoren replaced injured senior Jacob Rude (pinched nerve) at fullback.
The trio accounted for 243 yards rushing. Hommerding led the Vikings with 140 yards rushing on 20 carries with his longest run going for 40 yards.
The new look Vikings’ offense moved the ball better than in past games, but in the end mistakes and turnovers in the Giants’ territory stopped drives which really hurt the Vikings’ offense.
Meanwhile, the Vikings’ defense had no answer for Giants’ sophomore wing back Garrett Larson who rushed for 163 yards and caught passes for another 185 yards. Big plays against the Vikings’ defense has been a problem all season and Larson added to those problems with touchdown runs of 24 and 54 yards and touchdown receptions that went for 29 and 60 yards.
Photo by Bruce Johnson ~ BruceJohnsonPhoto.com The Cook County Vikings starters are introduced as they take the field. The Vikings had a tough game against Mesabi East on Friday, September 25.
TheVikings’ defense missed tackles and blew coverages that turned short passes into big gains and touchdowns. Giants’ quarterback Travis Whiting enjoyed a huge game completing
nine-of-11 passes for 242 yards and three touchdowns.
The Giants dominated the game and the scoreboard. They led 6-0 after the first quarter, 21-0 at the half and 33-0 at the end of the third quarter.
There weren’t a lot of positives for the Vikings throughout the first three quarters, but they rallied in the fourth quarter to play much better and outscored the Giants 14-7 in the final quarter.
The Giants were leading 27-0 in the closing minute of the third quarter when Whiting hooked up with Larson on a short crossing pattern over the middle. He was heading for another touchdown, but Hommerding turned on the afterburners and ran Larson down, forcing him out of bounds at the Vikings’ threeyard line.
The play went for 68 yards and with :02.5 left in the third, the Giants scored on the next play to make it 33-0, but after that great effort by Hommerding, the Vikings seemed to play better.
The Vikings opened the fourth quarter with a nice return of the kickoff by Quaife for 21 yards and moved as far as the Giants’ 15-yard line, but Boomer (who was used in various passing situations to throw the ball) was intercepted in the red zone.
The Giants then drove to the Vikings’ 44 where the Vikings’ defense forced a fumble that was recovered by Hommerding.
A five-yard gain by Quaife and a nine-yard gain by VanDoren brought the ball into the Giants’ territory at the 42 where the Giants were penalized five additional yards for a facemask on the tackle of VanDoren.
The next play resulted in a Vikings’ touchdown when Boomer, on an option play, hooked up with Quaife who was running free for a 37-yard touchdown strike. The point after failed, but the Vikings had gotten on the board—33-6 with 4:40 to go in the fourth.
On the Giants’ next possession, Clay Johnson recovered a fumbled snap for the Vikings deep in the Giants’ territory at the 21.
The Vikings took advantage of the turnover, striking quickly with Quaife taking the pitch from Hommerding and scampering 21 yards for his second touchdown. Hommerding added the two-point conversion on a run to make the score 33-14 Giants with 3:14 left in the game.
It would have been nice to see the Vikings’ defense hold the Giants out of the end zone to finish the game, but it wasn’t to be when Larson beat the Vikings on another long run that went 54 yards for his fourth touchdown. The kick was good making the final score 40-14, Giants.
Since returning from injury Dylan Quaife has really made his presence known on both sides of the ball. He had an excellent effort against the Giants with two touchdowns on offense and was the leader on defense with 18 tackles and a fumble recovery.
Second in tackles was Dylan Anderson with 12; followed by Kale Boomer with nine; Nick Austin with eight; Mike Austin, Bradley VanDoren and Peter Warren all had six tackles; and Mike Austin and Cody Anderson each recorded quarterback sacks.
Coach Mitch Dorr felt that the Vikings need to cut down on turnovers, but thought the team played well in the fourth quarter, which is something to build on.
He also praised the play of Quaife and said of Hommerding, “Brock Hommerding had the best game of his career.”
At press time the Vikings are preparing for the game against Onamia (1-3) at Cook County on Friday, October 2 at 5:00p.m. to get their first win. The Vikings have never played Onamia before, but Coach Dorr said they play a lot like the Vikings. Onamia won their first game of the season this past week, beating Carlton 32-13.
Go Vikes!
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Friday,October 9, 2009 7:00 PM ·
AwAY vs. Barnum
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