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Offensive eruption

Vikings unload for 60 at Lookout Valley

By RICKEY CLARDY
Posted 8/30/21

HATTANOOGA — The Community Vikings spotted the Lookout Valley Yellow Jackets the opening touchdown of the game, but it was all Vikings the rest of the way as the big-play Community offense …

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Offensive eruption

Vikings unload for 60 at Lookout Valley

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CHATTANOOGA The Community Vikings spotted the Lookout Valley Yellow Jackets the opening touchdown of the game, but it was all Vikings the rest of the way as the big-play Community offense scored the next 60 points en route to a 60-7 win in a non-region football contest Friday night.

The Viking offense scored at will against the Yellow Jackets, despite three possessions not yielding scores after three touchdowns were called back due to penalties.

It was an inauspicious start for the Vikings as Jaxon Quails of the Yellow Jackets was stopped at the line of scrimmage, but broke away for 42-yard touchdown run just 11 seconds into the game to give Lookout Valley a 7-0 lead.

Community (1-1) bounced back quickly as Maki Fleming raced 34 yards to pay dirt after taking a forward pass from Dallas Grooms.  Grooms ran for the conversion as the Vikings took an 8-7 lead with 10:39 left.

The Vikings recovered the ensuing onside kick, but were their own worst enemy as a touchdown and two other first downs were called back due to penalties. 

A fumble halted the drive at the Yellow Jacket 38-yard line.

After a Viking defensive stop, Fleming came up big again with a 51-yard punt return to give Community possession at the Lookout Valley 11-yard line.  Riker Reid raced 11 yards to score with Grooms providing the two-point conversion as the Vikings increased their advantage to 16-7.

After a 53-yard TD pass from Grooms to Fleming was negated due to a penalty, the duo teamed up on a 24-yard pass play for the score with 10:26 left in the second quarter.

Jay Dabbs ran for two to put the Vikings up 24-7.

The Vikings recovered their second onside kick of the night to set up their next score. 

Grooms ran 25 yards for the touchdown and John Stanley ran for the conversion to put Community up 32-7.

"That's our game.  We're pretty good at it," Viking coach Chris Grooms said, referring to the recovery of the onside kicks. "We got two, but there's another two we almost had."

The Vikings had a touchdown called back on their next possession, but the defense came up big in the final seconds of the half.

After the Yellow Jackets had a first-and-goal at the Community seven-yard line, the Vikings drove Lookout Valley back on the next three downs. 

On fourth down, Dabbs put an exclamation point to the Community defensive stand with a sack of the quarterback as the Vikings took their big lead to the intermission.

"The defense came together and had a good game plan," Grooms said.

Stanley scored from 20 yards out just over a minute into the second half as the Vikings increased their lead to 38-7.

Community failed to score on its next possession after an interception return of 78 yards by Grooms was called back, but the Vikings connected on their following possession as Grooms found Stanley for a 48-yard touchdown pass.  Reid ran for two to put the Vikings up 46-7.

The Vikings scored 25 seconds later as Reid recovered a fumble on the kickoff and went 22 yards for the score. 

Dabbs ran for the sixth 2-point conversion of the night to increase the Community lead to 54-7.

"We work every day on our two-point game, so we know what we're doing," Grooms said. "It's not a play that they're confused about." 

A running clock quickened the remainder of the game, but the Vikings managed one more score as Gavin Garcia dashed 21 yards for a touchdown in the final quarter.

"They're a special team to coach," Grooms said. "It's athletes across the board.  "We've only got 23 with us, but we've got four freshmen who'll be with us after the horse show."

"It's a great bunch of kids," Grooms added. "When they say family, they mean it."     

Community will have a bye week before resuming play on September 10 with a home game against Perry County. 

Game time is 7 p.m., with a senior recognition preceding the contest.           

             

Community         16  16  22  6 — 60  

Lookout Valley     7     0    0  0 —  7

              

First Quarter

L – Jaxon Quails 42 run, (Evan Ferguson kick) 11:49.

C – Maki Fleming 34 pass from Dallas Grooms, (Grooms 2pt. run) 10:39.

C – Riker Reid 11 run, (Grooms 2pt. run) 2:44.

Second Quarter

C – Fleming 24 pass from Grooms, (Jay Dabbs 2pt. run) 10:26.

C – Grooms 25 run, (John Stanley 2pt. run) 7:25.

Third Quarter

C – Stanley 20 run, (2pt. run failed) 10:45.

C – Stanley 48 pass from Grooms, (Reid 2pt. run) 4:44.

C – Reid 22 fumble recovery, (Dabbs 2pt. run) 4:19.

Fourth Quarter

C – Gavin Garcia 21 run, (2pt. run failed) 4:41.