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Vikes' lead can't hold at Lewis Co.

By RICKEY CLARDY ~ Sports Writer
Posted 8/21/22

HOHENWALD — The Community Vikings had not trailed the entire game and took a lead into the final quarter against the Lewis County Panthers, but the Panthers fought back with two fourth quarter …

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Vikes' lead can't hold at Lewis Co.

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HOHENWALD — The Community Vikings had not trailed the entire game and took a lead into the final quarter against the Lewis County Panthers, but the Panthers fought back with two fourth quarter touchdowns and thwarted a late Viking scoring drive as Community fell 28-22 in the 2022 football season opener.
It did not take long for the Vikings to make a statement on the game's opening drive. 
After Community started on its own 27 and went to the ground to pick up two first downs on its first five plays, including a nine-yard run by Emery Smith, the Vikings opened up their patented big play offense with a 48-yard strike from quarterback Dallas Grooms to Smith to set up a first-and-goal at the Panther five-yard line. 
On third down, Maki Fleming darted two yards to pay dirt to give the Vikings the early lead.  The pass from Grooms to Fleming was good on the try for two as Community took an 8-0 lead with 8:21 left in the first quarter.
"We didn't know what we had in the run game so we were trying to establish it," Coach Chris Grooms of the Vikings said.
"You listen to your players," Grooms added. "They wanted to play a little and I said let's have at it."
The Panthers responded with a score on their first possession. 
Lewis County finished a seven-play drive as Brycen McDonald connected with Bentley Kelsey on a 15-yard touchdown pass. 
The kick failed as the Vikings led 8-6 with 5:07 remaining.
The teams traded 3-and-outs before the Vikings started a drive that extended into the second quarter.
With the drive stalling, Community rolled the dice after facing a fourth-and-10 at its own 35.  The strategy worked as Fleming hauled in a 65-yard pass from Grooms for the score to extend the Viking lead. 
The run failed as the Vikings led 14-6 with 10:58 left.
The Panthers answered with a 58 second drive on just two plays as McDonald found Dyer Barnes for a 40-yard touchdown to get Lewis County within two. 
The McDonald pass to Chaz Sparkman was good on the two-point conversion as the Panthers tied the game at 14-14 with 10 minutes remaining.
On the ensuing Viking drive, Community faced another fourth-and-10 at its own 25 and was able to find lightning in a bottle for the second time.
The Vikings took the air and it was deja vu as Grooms and Fleming connected on a 75-yard strike to give the Vikings the lead. 
On the try for two, the pass from Grooms was deflected by Ramon Hernandez and caromed to Cole Crockett for the score as Community went up 22-14 with 9:15 left.
"That's us.  We always set up. We can punt or we can go," Grooms said.   
"It's something about this team. They tend to make plays on that fourth down. They all step up," Grooms added.   
Neither team could score the rest of the half as the Vikings took their lead into the intermission.
The momentum turned in favor of the Vikings to start the third quarter as Jacob Harden intercepted a Panther pass to give Community possession.
The Vikings took time off the clock with a 6-minute drive highlighted by a 29-yard pass from Grooms to Harden and a 36-yard pass play from Grooms to Fleming. 
Community looked to add to its lead as the Vikings reached the eight-yard line with a first-and-goal.
Cramping issues, which affected both teams in the second half, played a role as Grooms was forced to sit out a couple of plays.
Grooms returned on fourth down, but the ball went over on downs as Community could not increase its advantage.
The Panthers took possession as the game reached the fourth quarter. 
A penalty prolonged their drive as McDonald scored on a 1-yard run to get Lewis County within two. 
The run failed as the Vikings kept their lead at 22-20 with 9:45 left.
Lewis County once again used a pass interference penalty to extend the drive on its next possession. 
The Panthers took advantage of the extra play to gain a first down and took the lead on a 21-yard pass from McDonald to Barnes. 
The run by Sparkman was good as the Panthers took a 28-22 lead with 7:00 remaining.
The Vikings were not through as their next possession took them to the Lewis County 29.  The drive fizzled as Community could not convert on fourth down.
The Panthers ran out the clock with a successful fourth down conversion in the waning seconds.
Grooms was pleased with the effort of his team in the hard-fought contest.
"We've got players that have been together that know each other. We've got quite a bit of seniors and juniors. We've got some sophomores and we even have some freshmen that got in the mix," Grooms said.
Community entertains Lookout Valley for its first home game next Friday night.  Game time is 7 p.m.            
            
Community    8 14  0   0 — 22  
Lewis Co.       6   8  0 14 — 28
              
First Quarter
C — Maki Fleming 2 run, ( Fleming 2pt. pass from Dallas Grooms) 8:21.
L — Bentley Kelsey 15 pass from Brycen McDonald, (kick failed) 5:07.
Second Quarter
C — Fleming 65 pass from Grooms, (2pt. run failed), 10:58.
L — Dyer Barnes 40 pass from McDonald, (Chaz Sparkman 2pt. pass from McDonald), 10:00.
C – Fleming 75 pass from Grooms, (Cole Crockett 2pt. pass from Grooms) 9:15.
Fourth Quarter
L – McDonald 1 run (run failed) 9:45.
L – Barnes 21 pass from McDonald, (Sparkman run) 7:00.