Vikings drop a close one

Community and Middle Tennessee Christian combined for eight touchdowns, seven through the air, and over 600 yards of offense in a very well played game on a crisp Friday night in Unionville.

The Cougars, with a possible Region 5-A playoff berth on the line, entered the game tied for the fourth playoff spot and did nothing to hurt their chances with their 31-27 win over the upset-minded Vikings.

MTC quarterback Scot Bartilson threw for four touchdowns and Dillon Wade rushed for 175 yards.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Cougars scored first on a Bartilson pass to Devin Brunsvold and added another score minutes later to bump the advantage to 14-0.

Community executed the old hook and lateral play to perfection on the next drive with Zach Haynes and Jacob Cowell connecting to take the ball inside the Cougar 20-yard line.

Viking quarterback Justin Stallings finished the drive with a 16-yard run moments later to erase the zeros from the scoreboard for the home team.

Community then tried an onside kick that the Cougars were able to fall on and take over on the Viking 48 with just under two minutes to play in the half.

The Cougars took advantage as Bartilson faked the Viking corner into biting on a sideline route and then lofted one into the end zone for Eric Compton for a 21-6 lead to end the half.

The Vikings came out of the locker room and marched through the Cougar defense with ease in just five plays, culminating with a Stallings-to-Haynes pass for a score. The same two seniors hooked up for the two-point conversion to cut the score to 21-14 before the fans could get settled back into their seats.

"That was probably our best drive of the year," Community coach Johnnie Frost said. "We pretty much clicked as a team in this game and that drive gave our kids some energy that they played off of the rest of the way."

The Community defense was unable to hold the Cougars on the next drive as they answered with a Bartilson pass. The drive was aided by two penalties that both occurred on third down.

The Vikings put another score on the board in a real big hurry on a 46-yard pass and catch from Stallings to Sean Grigoruk to outscore the Cougars in the third period and cut the lead to 28-21 going into the final frame.

Sophomore Trevor Brunsvold kicked a 22-yard field goal for the Cougars with just under four minutes to play to make it a two-score game and give his team a little breathing room.

The Vikings stormed back with a 75-yard drive as Stallings connected with Corey Coppes as the horn sounded to account for the final tally.

"We played a complete game tonight," Frost said. "The kids kept their assignments and played very physical football on both sides of the line of scrimmage.

"I am very proud of the effort and the attitudes displayed out here tonight. We played as a team and that is very gratifying to our coaching staff.

"Sometimes you just have to tip your hat to the other team. They made a play or two that we weren't able to match, but overall I will take this effort from our kids every night."

Stallings was outstanding from the pocket as he was 14-for-28 and 283 yards. Haynes caught seven balls for 127 yards and Grigoruk gained 76 yards on just three receptions.

Junior defensive back Cody Pierce notched nine tackles with Coppes right behind that total with eight.