The Orcas Vikings put up a valiant fight on Saturday against the La Conner football team but fell to the Braves 33-14. In the first quarter, the Braves led the scoring drive, moving the ball down the field in a successive series of downs and finally scoring, making it 7-0. The Vikings then had possession but failed to make good on scoring and were forced to kick it away. Then the Braves’ offense tore a hole in the Vikings’ defense on the return kick and they scored once more, making it 14-0.
Penalties affected the Vikings and before they could build up offensive momentum, they fumbled the ball, a Brave recovered it, and the opposing team scored another touchdown. Finally in the beginning of the third quarter, the Viking quarterback, Robbie Padbury, came out and completed four passes, finalizing their first scoring drive by sending the pigskin to Tyler Nigretto, who took it into the end zone, making it a 31-yard scoring reception. In the fourth quarter, Jacob Hansen carried the ball for 46 yards, down to the three-yard line, and Padbury handed it off to him again and Hansen went in for the touchdown. Taylor Diepenbrock then kicked in the extra point through the uprights.
Coach Dahl said, “Our defense definitely made some improvements from last week’s game, but they still had too many missed assignments. And unfortunately, we had no interceptions or fumble recoveries, and that was too bad.”
Offensively, the Vikings moved the ball on the ground a total of 141 yards, and in the air, Padbury threw receptions for 79 yards. “The kids played hard,” said Coach Dahl, “and they were upbeat throughout the game. I am confident they will bounce back this week.”
Seadrick Wooding, Alan Cove, Jacob Hansen and Kyle Hofmann were all in the leading tackle and tackle assists category. The Vikings had six penalties that lost them a total of 45 yards which consisted primarily of procedure calls, such as jumping offsides or going into motion too soon.
The Orcas Viking football team plays next against Concrete in an away game on Friday, Oct. 24.
