UNIONVILLE — The Community Vikings led at halftime in their Region 4-3A football matchup against the Cannon County Lions Friday night, but the Lion running game was too much for the Vikings to overcome as Cannon County took the lead for good in the third quarter and raced to a 56-30 victory.

Lion running backs Ryan Perkins and Dallas Roller combined for seven touchdowns as Cannon County repeatedly rushed the ball up the middle.

After both teams failed to score on their opening possessions, Community (2-5, 0-3) engineered a 91-yard drive to take the early lead.  The Vikings had four first downs on the drive, culminating with a third down pass from quarterback Dallas Grooms to Maki Fleming for 45 yards and the score. 

Riker Reid added the two-point conversion to put the Vikings up 8-0 with 2:21 left in the opening quarter.

Perkins erupted for a 43-yard run for a touchdown just one minute later to cut the Viking lead to 8-7.

John Stanley provided the big play for Community on the ensuing kickoff. 

Stanley took the ball at his own five-yard line and raced left to right for 95 yards and pay dirt to give the Vikings a 14-7 advantage.

"Our boys know they can focus and function when they score quick and fast," Viking coach Chris Grooms said. 

The Lions answered quickly as Perkins rushed the ball on all four plays of a 50-yard possession, including a 2-yard run for a touchdown as time expired in the first quarter. 

Jack Byford, who was successful on all eight extra point attempts, made the PAT to tie the game at 14-14.

The Vikings bounced back just one minute into the second quarter as the tandem of Grooms and Fleming teamed up for a 39-yard touchdown pass. 

The run by Grooms put Community up 22-14.

The Lions scored on their next possession as Perkins scored from 14 yards out to cut the Viking lead to 22-21.

After the Vikings failed to score on their next possession, a final Lion possession ended with a missed field goal attempt as Community took its one point lead into the break.

The Vikings could not stop the Lion momentum as Cannon County scored 21 unanswered points in the third quarter.

The opening possession of the third quarter ended with Roller scoring from one yard out to give the Lions the lead at 28-22. 

Cannon County received a break as the Vikings fumbled on the kickoff return, giving the Lions possession in the red zone.

Roller followed with an eight-yard touchdown run to put the Lions up 35-22.  Perkins scored from 27 yards out on the next Cannon County possession as the Lions increased their lead to 42-22.

The Vikings appeared ready to turn the tide on their next possession as a 41-yard pass completion from Grooms to Fleming on fourth down kept their drive alive as the third quarter ended.

Grooms started the fourth quarter with a one-yard touchdown run to get the Vikings closer. 

The run by Fleming was good, cutting the Lion lead to 42-30.

The Vikings had more reason to narrow the margin as Braylen Silva recovered the Community onside kick. 

But the Viking possession and hopes for a comeback ended on an unsuccessful fourth down conversion attempt.

"We were dealing with injuries and moving people around," Grooms said. "We started moving some linemen to work something out and try to gain some depth."

The Lions tacked on two touchdowns, one on the fifth touchdown of the night by Perkins and the other on an 86-yard interception return by Dylan Taylor.

Community will travel out of the state to take on Hart County, Kentucky next Thursday night. Game time is 7 p.m.    

Cannon Co.   14  7  21 14 — 56  

Community   14  8   0    8 — 30

First Quarter

C — Maki Fleming 45 pass from Dallas Grooms, (Riker Reid run), 2:21.

CC — Ryan Perkins 43 run, (Jack Byford kick), 1:16.

C — John Stanley 95 kickoff return, (run failed), 0:57.

CC — Perkins 2 run, (Byford kick), 0:00.

Second Quarter

C — Fleming 39 pass from Grooms, (Grooms run), 11:18.

CC — Perkins 14 run, (Byford kick), 6:51.

Third Quarter

CC — Dallas Roller 1 run, (Byford kick), 9:11.

CC — Roller 8 run, (Byford kick), 7:29.

CC — Perkins 27 run, (Byford kick), 4:27.

Fourth Quarter

C — Grooms 1 run, (Fleming run), 11:45.

CC — Perkins 20 run, (Byford kick), 6:38.

CC — Dylan Taylor 86 interception return, (Byford kick), 2:13.