Vikings progress but fall to Huntland

Trey Barnes of the Vikings tries to find some room to throw, then decides on a keeper up the middle to pick up a few yards. (T-G Photo by Jasen Richardson) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Community's 24-6 District 9-A loss at Huntland wasn't what they were looking for on the road, but the Vikings showed much-needed progress.

The Purple and Gold (0-6, 0-3) showed a hunger to win that had only been seen in small doses this season.

"By far the best grit and effort and desire, that we've had," Community head coach Johnnie Frost said. "There was no quit in them. Guys were not getting to start because of issues and other kids were stepping up and having to play those positions and working hard in practice, with older guys helping them, and it made a difference. The scoreboard didn't show as good as we played. It's not a win and the kids are disappointed in that, but it's definitely an improvement."

The Hornets (4-2, 2-0) were able to capitalize first in their homecoming game with a Clay Robertson 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Derrick Peters, with 34 seconds left in the first quarter. The drive was a mix of both offensive attacks that caught the Vikes off guard. The pair connected again for the two-point conversion.

Community's Jonathan Handy and Trey Barnes tackle Huntland running back Zach Womack. Handy led the team with 17.5 tackles and Barnes had 11.5 for the game. (T-G Photo by Jasen Richardson) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Community answered with 7:40 left in the second quarter. The Hornets were set to punt inside their own red zone when punter Neal Jacob got flustered by Viking defensive backs who swarmed the ball. The ball came loose and Community's Trey Barnes landed on it on the 5-yard line. This allowed for a 3-yard sweep to the right by Cody Pierce within moments.

"I was really proud when we got the turnover down on their end of the field in the red zone," Frost said. "We made that momentum change and punched it in and turned it over. Then they scored again, but we were only down 16-6 at the half."

Four Community tacklers finished in double digits: Jonathan Handy with 17.5, Cody Pierce 15.5, Justin Hampton with 12, and Trey Barnes with 11.5. The Viking defense accumulated almost three times as many tackles as Huntland, 120-47.

Frost took blame for two Viking miscues. He said some calls by the coaching staff, including himself, put the squad in the wrong formations. One in particular was a trap play on which Huntland scored late in the first half.

Cody Pierce snagged another 100-plus all-purpose yards game with 186 total (62 rushing, 97 kick returns, and 27 punt returns).

Community visits county rival Cascade next Friday night at 7:30.

Frost was asked what the Vikings need to do against Cascade.

"The grit and determination and the hard work they did at practice this week, the desire to want to get better, and play the same way, if not step it up another notch," Frost said. "They've seen they can do it."