DUNLAP – The Community Vikings battled all night to gain the upper hand against the Sequatchie County Indians, but couldn’t quite make it over the hump as the Indians defeated the Vikings 36-26 in a Region 4-3A football contest Friday night. 

In contrast to an offensive shootout in the fourth quarter, the first half turned out to be a defensive struggle. 

Community (2-4, 0-2 R4-3A) failed to score on its first two possessions in the opening quarter as penalties stymied a second drive that reached the Indian 32-yard line.  But the Viking defense stepped up and stopped the Indians on a fourth down conversion attempt to keep the game scoreless. 

A 14-yard run by Dallas Grooms followed by a 38-yard run by Riker Reid moved the Vikings to the Sequatchie County 21 as the game moved to the second quarter. 

The Vikings could not continue their momentum on offense and failed to make a first down on a fourth down conversion attempt. 

Once again, the Community defense stepped up after the Indians drove deep into Viking territory.  After Sequatchie County reached the Viking 13-yard line, an Indian pass on fourth down was knocked down as Community took over possession. 

The Vikings were helped by a pass interference penalty on their next possession to keep their drive alive, but an unsuccessful  conversion attempt on fourth down gave the Indians good field position. 

Sequatchie County responded as quarterback Payton Campbell rushed for 43 yards and followed with a 1-yard run for a touchdown.  The extra point gave the Indians a 7-0 lead with 4:19 remaining. 

Jubilation became disappointment for the Vikings on the ensuing kickoff as an 88-yard kickoff return by John Stanley was called back due to a penalty.  Both teams failed to scored on their final possessions, though Maki Fleming created some excitement for Community by advancing an Indian fumble 30 yards to the Sequatchie County 22 as time expired. 

“The defense came alive,” Coach Chris Grooms of the Vikings said.  “We had a pretty good game plan.  It was working and they started changing and moving some personnel around and started getting some success.” 

“We started having to play the chess game to move some personnel, too,” Grooms added. 

The Indians started the second half with a 53-yard scoring drive, culminating with a 12-yard run by Campbell to give Sequatchie County a 13-0 lead. 

The Vikings got their offense kick-started on their next possession.  Two Indian penalties, one on fourth down that kept the Community drive alive, contributed to a 19-yard scoring pass from Grooms to Fleming that put the Vikings on the board.  The run by Grooms cut the Indian lead to 13-8 with 4:28 remaining. 

A 27-yard field goal on the next Indian possession by Hunter Roberson upped the Sequatchie County lead to 16-8. 

After taking possession at their own 39-yard line, a 25-yard run by Grooms set up a first-and-goal opportunity for the Vikings as the game moved to the final quarter. 

On third down, Grooms found Fleming again for 17 yards and a touchdown to get the Vikings within two. 

After the successful run by Grooms was negated by a Viking penalty and after an Indian penalty gave Community a third chance for the conversion, the run ultimately failed leaving Sequatchie County with a 16-14 lead. 

The Indians increased their lead as Campbell scampered 21 yards for the touchdown to give Sequatchie County a 23-14 lead with 8:44 remaining. 

After stopping the Vikings on fourth down, Casey McDaniel scored from 10 yards out to give the Indians a 30-14 advantage with 7:57 left. 

A Viking fumble on the ensuing kickoff gave the Indians further momentum and the ball at the Community 28.  The Viking defense stiffened as a fourth down Sequatchie County pass play was incomplete. 

Community involved its big-play man on its next possession as Stanley hauled in a 71-yard pass from Grooms for a touchdown.  The run failed as the Vikings cut the Indian lead to 30-20 with 5:03 left. 

An apparent recovery by Stanley on the ensuing onside kickoff did not go the way of the Vikings as the Indians took over possession.  Sequatchie County proceeded to increase its lead to 36-20 as Harley Meeks ran eight yards for the score. 

The Vikings continued the battle as a 43-yard pass from Grooms to Tyler Sanders set up a 1-yard run by Reid with 33 seconds left to end the scoring.         

“We came in wanting to get the run game going which I thought we did,” Grooms said.  “As we started falling behind and we wanted to score quick, I realized we were getting some things open.” 

“It left these athletes I’ve got out here running around with a chance to make plays,” Grooms added.                                         

Community will now be idle until October 15 when the Vikings entertain Cannon County for a region game.  Game time is 7 p.m.     

Community         0  0  8  18 - 26   

Sequatchie Co.   0  7  9  20 - 36 

Second Quarter 

SC – Payton Campbell 1-yard run (Hunter Roberson kick) 4:19 

Third Quarter 

SC – Campbell 12-yard run (kick failed) 8:45 

C – Maki Fleming 19-yard pass from Dallas Grooms (Grooms run) 4:28 

SC – Roberson 27-yard field goal 2:16 

Fourth Quarter 

C – Fleming 17-yard pass from Grooms (run failed) 11:04 

SC – Campbell 21-yard run (Roberson kick) 8:44 

SC – Casey McDaniel 10-yard run (Roberson kick) 7:57 

C – John Stanley 71-yard pass from Grooms (run failed) 5:03 

SC – Harley Meeks 8-yard run (kick failed) 1:56 

C – Riker Reid 1-yard run (run failed) 0:33