Above: Tristen Bockovich (21) provided some quick help to take down the Mariner ball carrier in the Vikings’ 50-7 win over Silver Bay last Friday. Staff photos/Brian Larsen
Sometimes what happens early in a game can define, or set the tone for the whole game.
After receiving the opening kickoff, the 1-0 Silver Bay Mariners amassed almost 10 yards on three plays. With fourth and inches to go the Mariners went for the first down.
That was a big mistake.
A bevy of Viking defenders met the Mariner ball carrier in the backfield, and the ball was turned over on downs.
It took just two plays for the Vikings to score as quarterback Josh Prom sprinted through the Mariners’ defense to notch a touchdown on a run of about 42 yards. A few seconds later Viking tailback Ethan Sporn ran in the two-point conversion, and the Vikings led 8-0 at the 12-minute mark of the September 7 game played in Silver Bay.
On the Vikings’ second offensive series, Sporn and Prom ran the ball down the field on a nice round of eight, nine-yard pick-ups. Sporn carried the ball in from the Mariners’ six-yard line and then ran in the two-point conversion for good measure.
Left: Running all alone with the defenders lost in his wake, Josh Prom (9) scoots in for a touchdown from 42 yards out.
On the Vikings’ next offensive series Prom hit Connor Somnis with an eight-yard touchdown pass. The conversion point attempt failed.
A the end of the first quarter the Vikings were up 22-0, and the Mariners still didn’t have a first down.
Led by nose tackle Joe Deschampe, the Viking defense allowed just one late first down in the second half of play. Meanwhile, the offense moved the ball with impunity.
During the second quarter, Prom hooked up with wideout Jack Haussner on a 42-yard bomb for a touchdown. The extra point conversion failed.
Following another three and out by the Mariners, the Vikings again took possession of the ball near midfield.
After methodically marching the ball down the field Prom scored on a oneyard keeper, and again the extra point try failed, but the Vikings were up 34-0 at the half.
Early in the third quarter, Sporn shredded the Mariners’ defense as he galloped through and around would-be tacklers on his way to recording a 65-yard touchdown run. Prom ran in the two-point conversion to bring the score to 42-0.
Late in the third quarter, Prom ran for one more touchdown on a three-yard carry and Adam Dorr, in for Prom at quarterback, passed to Connor Somnis for the two-point conversion.
The Vikings played a lot of substitutes in the fourth quarter, and Silver Bay scored a late touchdown on a nifty kick-off return by Peyton Westerlund. The extra point kick was excellent and the game ended 50-7.
Josh Prom ended his night running for three touchdowns and passing for two more. Prom was 3-5 through the air and ran for 80 yards on 11 carries to average 7.3 yards per touch.
Ethan Sporn was the workhorse for the Vikings on offense. He ran for 203 yards on 11 carries to average 18.5 yards on each running play. Sporn also had a 54-yard punt return, and he did the punting for the team.
Daunte Deschampe ran for 30 yards on eight carries, and Andrew Miller gained 21 yards on two carries. Jack Haussner had three catches for 79 yards. Tristen Bockovich had one catch for eight yards, and Somnis had the one touchdown catch.
The Vikings held Silver Bay to 95 yards on 42 offensive plays as the Mariners averaged 2.3 yards per play.
Meanwhile, the Vikings ran 48 offensive plays and averaged nine yards per play. The Vikings managed to make 20 first downs while holding the Mariners to four first downs.
On defense, Ethan Sporn led the team with seven tackles. Joe Deschampe finished with 6.5 tackles, three for a loss, while Andrew Miller and Dillon Sjogren each had four. Connor Somnis and Josh Prom recorded 3.5 tackles, and Keenan Hingos had three tackles, one of them being a quarterback sack.
The Vikings forced four turnovers, intercepting three passes and causing one fumble while only turning the ball over once themselves on a fumble.
“The defense really set the tone for us,” said head coach Bryan Carpenter. “Joe Deschampe had a great game at nose tackle. Overall our line play was excellent. Silver Bay blitzed on almost every play, and our line picked up the blitz. Jack Haussner also had a breakout game for us,” said coach Carpenter.
Cook County play(ed) a “home” game this Friday in Esko against Nicollet, who is traveling from near Mankato to play the Vikings. The 2-0 Vikings play North Woods at home on Friday, September 21. The game will start at 5 p.m.
Come out and cheer for your Vikings!
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