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The North Branch Vikings football team earned its first win under head coach Dave Eyre at home Friday, September 8. The Vikings scored on their first and last possessions to gain a hard-fought 14-13 win over the Fridley Tigers. Eyre described the victory as, “A great win against a quality opponent.”

The North Branch defense set the tone for the game on Fridley’s first drive. After Alex Nelson’s kickoff, the defense held the Tigers without a first down. Following a short Fridley punt, the Vikings took the ball on the Tiger 47. On first down, Justin Novak used his speed to get outside left end and, by the time the Tigers could push him out-of-bounds, the Vikings had a first down on the 16.

Three plays later, Viking Quarterback Mark Johnson spotted Jared Grams in the endzone. The speedy Grams outjumped the Tigers’ d-back and held on to give the Vikings their first lead of the year. Nelson split the uprights with the point-after kick and North Branch held a 7-0 lead four minutes into the game.

On Fridley’s next possession, a Novak third down sack of the Tiger quarterback forced another Fridley punt. The Vikings were unable to move the ball and a good punt by Viking Kirk Dahle gave the ball to Fridley on the Tiger 26.

Fridley used a mix of runs and short passes to gain first downs on the 37, the 48 and at the Vikings’ 33. The North Branch defense seemed to have things well in hand when the Tigers were forced back to the 43 as a result of an illegal block-in-the-back call.

However, on first and 20, the Tigers scored on a catch-and-run down the left sideline. The extra point tied the score at seven with 11:27 remaining in the half.

Novak gave the Vikings good field position, again, with a kickoff return to the Vikings’ 44. Following two short Novak runs, the Vikings were in Fridley territory with a third-and three. But, a false start stalled the drive and Dahle put his foot into another punt that the Tigers returned to their own 26.

From there, the Tigers mounted a long, time-consuming drive. Mostly through the air, they moved the ball into North Branch territory. With 4:00 on the clock, the Tigers had worked themselves to a first down on the Viking four. A second sack by Novak moved the ball back to the 13.

Three plays later, Fridley scored on a fourth-and-goal from the seven. But, the Tiger kicker failed to convert the extra point and the score stood at 13-7 in favor of the Tigers with 1:37 remaining in the half.

A third long kickoff return gave the Vikings a chance from the Fridley 47 with 1:30 to go. A Johnson-to-Grams pass, followed by a completion to Jake Chambers and a Chambers run put the Vikings on the Fridley four yard line. However, the Vikings ran out of timeouts and the seconds ticked painfully away. Before North Branch could get the ball in play the half ended with Fridley leading 13-7.

For most of the second half, the defenses controlled the game. However, on its last possession, North Branch scored the equalizer with less than two minutes to play. A second Johnson-to-Grams TD pass tied it at 13 and Nelson’s kick gave the Vikings a one point advantage.

“We scored the winning TD with 1:30 left in the game. We had a good defensive stand at the end of the game.  They crossed into our territory at about the 40 and we held.  Their last play was a reverse to the wide receiver and he tossed it back to the QB downfield.  We had the play defended really well and the clock ran out,” Eyre said.

According to the coach, Johnson’s two TD passes and Grams’ 2 TD receptions were keys to the victory. He also listed Novak’s 109 yard on the ground, and two sacks as well as Nelson’s two critical extra points as game highlights. The offensive line play of Alex Nelson, Mike Johnson, DJ Charley, Brad Stepp, Eric Sampson and Chris Becklin was also important to the win.

 “It was really great to see the kids work until the final whistle.  The kids are starting to believe in one another and work together as a team to achieve,” Eyre concluded.

The Vikings play at Irondale Friday, September 15 at 7 p.m.

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