(By Coach Jon Blue) HARTINGTON — The Wausa-Osmond Vikings traveled to Hartington on Friday, Oct. 3, to play a well-rounded Hartington-Newcastle team that had four wins and one loss with the ability to run or throw the ball.
We received the opening kickoff and after a couple tough short runs by Matthew Schindler, Mac Carlson opened up the scoring, running for a 47-yard score. The PAT was no good and we were up 6 to 0 with 10 minutes 35 seconds in the first quarter.
It took Hartington-Newcastle just over a minute to get a score of their own on a 51-yard pass. The PAT attempt was no good and we were knotted at 6 to 6 with 9 minutes 10 seconds left in the first.
Once again our offense took over with good field position, and Matthew Schindler found the gap in the defense and ran in for a score from 44 yards out. The PAT attempt was no good and the Vikes were up 12 to 6 with 8 minutes 59 seconds in the first quarter.
A couple exchanges in possessions found Hartington-Newcastle punting and a great return by Carlson put the Vikes in the red zone. With some great blocking from the offensive line, Schindler found pay dirt on a 4-yard run with 17 seconds left in the first quarter. The PAT was again no good and the first quarter ended 18 to 6 Vikings.
The second quarter started with a long time-consuming drive by the Wildcats that ended with a 6-yard scoring run. The PAT failed and we still led 18 to 12 with 6 minutes 19 seconds left in the second quarter.
I feel the Vikes came to life on the kick return when Matthew Schindler found the open lane his blockers gave him, and he returned the kickoff 67 yards for a score. The PAT pass from Carlson to Thorell was good and the Vikes were up 26 to 12 with 6:19 left in the second quarter.
This is how the score would stay the rest of the half. The third quarter would find both teams in a stalemate until, with 7 minutes 15 seconds left, Mac Carlson would run in a quarterback sneak from 4 yards out. Schindler would run in the PAT attempt to make the score 34 to 12 Vikings.
With 2 minutes 11 seconds left in the third quarter, Hartington-Newcastle would find an open man in the end zone for a 14-yard score. The PAT was no good to make the score 34-18 at the end of three quarters.
A great run from Schindler in the fourth quarter put the Vikes at the one yard line where Carlson would run in for a score. Cody Bloomquist would run in the PAT attempt to put the Vikes up 42 to 18 with 11 minutes 41 seconds remaining in the game.
A couple more exchanged posses- sions would find the Wildcats scoring on a 4-yard run with 2 minutes 52 seconds left in the game to make it 42-24 Vikings.
With one minute 18 seconds left, Cody Bloomquist found an open outside lane to score from 20 yards out. Schindler scored the extra point run to seal the Vikings win 50 to 24.
This week we really preached to the team about staying focused, disciplined, and being fundamentally sound. I think they did a great job of those things. We had a couple breakdowns in our coverage but Hartington-Newcastle is a team with a wide variety of offensive looks. The guys moved on to the next play and did what we've been doing all season and that is staying focused and getting back to business.
We only had one penalty this game and that speaks volumes about our team. We will once again get back to practice Monday and put our sole focus on another great team in the Crofton Warriors.
