---

The North Branch football season ended Tuesday, October 23 at Griffin Stadium in St. Paul. The high scoring Como Park Cougars scored 47 points in the first 17 minutes and cruised to a 53-20 win over the Vikings in the first round of the Section 4AAAA playoffs.

A wind blew in the Vikings' faces as they lined up to take the opening kickoff. It was strong enough that it bent and blew the uprights off the east goal posts prior to the game. It was strong enough, according to a worker who had witnessed a St. Paul Johnson win earlier in the day at Griffin, to have reversed the momentum of a Johnson kickoff. The ball landed behind the tee.

Was it strong enough to ground the Cougar passing attack? And, if it was, would the Vikings be able to control the Como ground game? Viking fans didn't have to wait long to find the answers.

Dan Schoess returned the opening kickoff to the Viking 29. An NB incompletion, a false start and two Chad Anderson runs left the Vikings with a 4th and 8. The Viking punt was knocked down by the gusty wind and Como took possession at the Viking 37.

Two first downs and four plays later, the Cougars ran in from the 5 yard line and kicked the extra point. With 8:55 on the clock, Como had a 7-0 lead.

Schoess returned the Como kick to the 23. An encroachment penalty advanced it to the 28. A false start and a loss of four on third down resulted in a 4th and 10. Vinny Kleidon's second wind-impeded punt was returned to the Viking 34.

The Cougars' explosive offense went to work again. They scored on the next play. With 5:38 to play in the opening quarter, Como led 13-0. About the only thing that had gone the Vikings' way was the block of the extra point.

Como's next kickoff bounced into the end zone and the Vikings took over at the 20. After another three-and-out, Kleidon kicked again and Como started from the Viking 38. On first down, the left side of the Viking defensive line swarmed over the Cougar line and trapped a runner for a loss of two. Undaunted, six foot six inch Cougar quarterback Greg Morse took a three step drop and hit one of his speedy receivers on a second-down slant pattern. A few seconds later, the receiver took the ball in stride and outran the Viking secondary to the left corner of the end zone. Just inside of four minutes, it was 20-0.

The Vikings picked up their first down on the next series. Victor Oyesile returned the kickoff to the 20. A run for no gain was followed by a Cole Willcoxen to Schoess pass, good for eight. On third down, the Cougars were assessed a five yard penalty, giving the Vikings a fresh four from the 33. Two incompletions to Sam Kalkbrenner set up 3rd and 10. A Willcoxen to Kyle Grote pass came up four yards short, forcing another Kleidon punt.

After the kick and a five-yard penalty on the Cougars, they took the ball on their side of the 50, for the first time. The Vikings finally seemed to have some momentum.

But, that didn't last long. Highlighted by a 35 yard completion, Como went on a 47-yard, five-play drive that made it 27-0 at 11:09. In the next 81 seconds, Como forced another Viking three-and-out, returned a Viking punt for a touchdown and recovered a Viking fumble on the ensuing kick return and returned it for another TD. With 9:48 left in the half, it was 41-0.

The Vikings surrendered the ball again on their next possession. A second down interception gave the Cougars the ball deep in NB territory. A first-down, 13-yard scoring run made it 47-0 at the 7:32 mark.

Before halftime, a series of three fumbles set the Vikings up inside the Cougar five. The Vikings scored their first TD when Willcoxen scored from the two yard line with 1:06 to go. The two point conversion failed and, at the break, it was 47-6.

In the third quarter, Como scored on a 71-yard pass to make it 53-6. The Vikings scored a TD in the third quarter and another in the fourth, making the final score 53-20.

Scoring Summary

Como Park 20 27 6 0 53

North Branch 0 6 6 0 20

1st Quarter

CP-Gonser 5 run (Mantell kick)

CP-Phillips 35 run (kick blocked)

CP-Baker 40 pass from Morse

(Mantell kick)

2nd Quarter

CP-Jerome 18 pass from Morse

(Mantell Kick)

CP-Jefferson 60 punt return

(Mantell kick)

CP-Jerome 38 fumble return

(Mantell kick)

CP-Gonser 1 run (kick failed)

NB-Willcoxen 3 run (run failed)

3rd Quarter

CP-Baker 71 pass from Conley

(kick failed)

NB-Schoess 12 pass from Will-

coxen (run failed)

4th Quarter

NB-Bossard 5 run (Bossard pass

to Levasseur)

---