During its first league game of the season, the Vikings lost to Tacoma Baptist 35-34 in double overtime.

“Our theme for the season was to play without fear of losing,” said coach Scott Harris. “That is what we did and just fell short this time.”

The game started out well for the Vikings as they recovered an onside kick on the opening kickoff and drove for the first score of  the game as  Devon Stanzione caught a 36-yard pass from quarterback Robbie Padbury. A fumble on the Crusaders first play from scrimmage gave Orcas the ball back inside the 40-yard line but the drive stalled as the Vikings failed to convert on a 4th down play inside the 5-yard line. The Vikings held on defense and then blocked the punt but another early opportunity to add to their 7-0 lead was lost when the Vikings  missed a field goal from 25 yards away.

The teams traded possessions into the second quarter when cornerback Keenan Phalan picked off a pass from quarterback Taylor Martindale inside the Crusaders’ 25-yard line. A few plays later Padbury found  Phalan on a quick out route for a 12-yard touchdown midway through the second period, making the score 14-0 Vikings. The Crusaders answered with just minutes remaining in the half when Martindale scampered 9 yards into the end zone making the score 14-7. The Orcas crowd was sent on a roller coaster ride of emotions as time ticked away in the half when Padbury hit Stanzione for a 60-yard catch and run but Kyle Delegard made what may well have been the play of the game when he shot across the field and tackled Stanzione on the 2-yard line causing a fumble that the senior safety recovered with 10 seconds left in the half. The Vikings had to settle for a 14-7 lead going into the locker room.

With six minutes gone in the third quarter Martindale found Delegard streaking down the sideline for a 35-yard touchdown pass tying the score at 14. A 36-yard run by Martindale with just five minutes remaining in the game gave the visitors a 21-14 lead and set up the drama that was about to unfold.

The Vikings began a 65-yard march to the end zone with less than five minutes to play in the game. Completions to Phalan, Dan Briggs, Aubrey Schermerhorn, led to a 27-yard bomb to Stanzione and an eight-yard pass to Phalan that left the Vikings inches from the goal line. A power plunge into the end zone by fullback Jake Zier capped the lightening quick drive by the Vikings and tied the game at 21 with under three minutes to play. Tough defense by Orcas caused a Crusader fumble and the Vikings began another drive to win the game with 1:12 left. As time ran down below 25 seconds Orcas set up for a 30 yard field goal to win the game. A direct snap to Padbury fooled the defense as Phalan and Stanzione broke open across the middle but the pass was just out of reach as time expired.

Tacoma Baptist scored on their first possession of overtime and the Vikings responded on their first play with a Padbury 25-yard strike to Phalan for a touchdown, tying the game again at 28. The visitors were on the ropes in the second overtime when they completed a fourth and long pass for a 23-yard touchdown, forcing the home town Vikings to score again. This time the Vikings drove the ball to the 3-yard line when Padbury slashed for a 3-yard score on fourth down.

“The choice to go for the win at that point was  a tough one to make,” Harris said. “Our guys wanted to win it right there so the coaching staff all agreed to hand the game over to the team.”

A great defensive stand by the Crusaders broke up the pass into the end zone and secured a hard fought 35-34 victory for the visitors.

“The bottom line is that this was two heavyweight teams going at it and it is unfortunate that someone had to lose,” Harris said. “I’m very proud of our kids and how well they played. When it came down to making the decision we decided as a team to go for the win and we were confident in success. Everyone showed up and played hard.”

Stanzione ended the game with 225 yards receiving and one touch down. Phalan had 90 yards receiving and two touchdowns. Along with his overtime running touchdown, Padbury shined with 22 completions, 335 yards and three touchdowns. Randall Boetger, Tyler Jensen, Di Mowrey, Stanzione  and Jake Zier combined for more than 53 tackles effectively shutting down the middle of the huge Crusaders line.

The Vikings go on the road to play Bellevue Christian and Chief Leschi before returning home against Seattle Lutheran in their homecoming game on Oct. 15.