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The North Branch Viking football team concluded its regular and North Suburban Conference seasons with a 35-0 defeat at Spring Lake Park on Wednesday, October 19. The loss left the Vikings with a 2-6 record, while the Panthers finished 7-1.

The game opened with a Jake Smith return of an SLP kickoff to the Viking 35. The Vikings went to the air to start the action with a Matt Warren to Justin Novak completion. A missed block resulted in a seven yard loss. The Vikings couldn’t recover and were forced into a Warren punt on fourth down.

SLP took possession at its own 42. The Panthers mounted an eight play drive, capped by a 21 yard run off left tackle for the first score. The extra point made gave the Panthers a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

The next Viking drive was hampered by two penalties and North Branch failed to make a first down. This time, Adam Gades punted to the Panther 40, where the Panthers started their second drive.

SLP used its ground game to quickly move to the Viking 34. However, a Panther fumble stalled their progress and the Vikings took over on their own 43. Once again, North Branch failed to make a first down. The Panthers fielded a Warren punt and took possession on their own 37. They moved to midfield as the first quarter ended with a 7-0 SLP lead.

The Viking defense stiffened and, three plays later, the Vikings received a Panther punt and started their next drive on the 32. The North Branch offense used a balanced offense to move the ball. This drive included a Warren to Jake Smith pass for 15, a Mike Carlson run around left end for 12 and a pass interference call on the Panthers.

With the ball on the 22, the Vikes thought they’d scored on a second down Warren to Jared Grams pass. But, that play was called back because of a holding call. On fourth and 16, the Vikings got 15 on a Smith reception.

The Panthers took over and started what may have been the pivotal drive of the game. SLP took control of the game with a 12 play, seven first down drive that took almost six minutes. They scored with 53 seconds left in the half.

The SLP 14-0 lead held until the half, despite a wild final minute. That last minute included a kickoff return, a fumble, an interception, three runs, an SLP completion and a failed field goal attempt.

Gades’ second half kickoff was returned to the SLP 33. The Panthers’ opening drive took 13 running plays, 67 yards and seven minutes. After five first downs, the Panthers scored on a five yard run off right guard, kicked the extra point, and assumed a 21-0 lead.

The Vikings next drive was another three and out, followed by a Warren punt.

Spring Lake Park responded with another long drive (73 yds in 9 plays). It ended in another TD and an insurmountable 28-0 lead.

The Vikings were back on offense after a Novak kickoff return to the 32. North Branch moved the ball to the 50. On second and 10, that drive ended with a Panther interception on its own 44.

SLP went to the ground attack, again. This time, a four and one half minute drive over 62 yards put the Panthers up 35-0. That margin held up as neither team threatened to score over the last six minutes.

“Overall, I thought we played hard,” commented Viking head coach Joel Swanson. “On offense, we were starting to move the ball in the second quarter, but penalties and mistakes stopped us at the 13 yard line late in the quarter. At the time, it was still 7-0.

“On defense, we had Spring Lake Park in fourth down situations numerous times. But, they went for it and were able to capitalize. SLP opened the second half with a drive that took nearly eight minutes off the clock and allowed them to go 21-0 in the third quarter.

“ We needed a big play or a break to get back into it and we just couldn’t seem to come up with one,” Swanson concluded.

SCORING SUMMARY

Quarter 1 2 3 4 Final

North Branch 0 0 0 0 0

Spring Lake Park 7 7 7 14 35

OFFENSIVE STATISTICS

NB SLP

TOTAL OFFENSE

(Plays/yds) 31/87 70/424

Rushing 13/35 67/418

Passing 18/52 3/6

First Downs 5 29

Penalties 8/90 9/80

Time of Possession

17:25 30:35

North Branch Offense (player # / yds)

Rushing (player # / yds)

Mi Carlson 5 / 25

Warren 5 / -1

Novak 2 / 9

Gades 1 / 2

Passing

Warren 9/ 52

Receiving

Gades 3 / 17

Smith 2 / 16

Warren 1 / 4

Novak 1 / 5

The two teams are scheduled to meet again in the first round of the Section 4AAAA playoffs. That game was scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, October 25 at Spring Lake Park.

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