September 25, 2008 at 8:24 a.m.
After first win of the year, Vikings' momentum crushed by Irondale
After first win of the year, Vikings' momentum crushed by Irondale
The Vikings were on the road for the third week in a row, traveling to Fridley and Columbia Heights previously, and for the second week in a row, the Vikings were taking on a team at their own homecoming.
The Knights sported a 2-1 record coming into the game. They lost to Totino Grace to open the season, but followed that up with two consecutive wins, one over Spring Lake Park and one over Robbinsdale Cooper.
The intensity on the Irondale sideline was evident, but the North Branch sideline was oblivious to the raucous crowd, simpy focusing on toppling a North Suburban Conference giant on their own turf at their own homecoming.
The North Branch defense was the first unit to take a stand, as they bent, but they did not break on Irondale's first possession. The Knights used their spread offense to create space for their blazing-fast running back ChiChi Ojika.
North Branch did a fine job containing Ojika, the state champion in the 200-meter dash last year, on the first drive and keeping him between the tackles.. Ojika missed a field goal to end the first drive for Irondale and keep the score knotted at zero.
After the Viking offense failed to make any significant strides with their drive, Irondale took over, and used a pass-heavy drive to move the ball down the field. From the 11-yard line, Irondale quarterback Tim Colwell connected with Cory Canaday for the first touchdown of the game. Afailed two-point conversion left the game at 6-0.
As the North Branch offense struggled to gain any traction, the Irondale offense found no problem gaining steam. After the pass heavy drive, the Vikings were backed up just a hint into pass coverage, and Ojika used his speed to burst through the tough North Branch defense for a 45-yard touchdown. Irondale made good on its two-point conversion this time, creating a 14-point gap between the two teams.
Up to the Irondale game, the run defense for North Branch has been superb. Chisago Lakes, Fridley and Heights all failed to move the ball effectively against North Branch's big boys, but Ojika and the Knights were a different animal.
Irondale scored two more touchdowns before the half was out, with Colwell connecting with Austin Hanson on an eight-yard pass, and Colwell scrambling for an 11-yard score.
In the second half, the Vikings got their best chance to score some points. Kicking off to begin the half, the Irondale returner didn't catch the ball, and it took a favorable bounce right towards a pack of charging Vikings, and they recovered it in the Knights' redzone.
After a few tough runs from Chad Anderson and Zack Smith, who both ran wild against Columbia Heights the week prior, but had a hard time against Irondale, the Vikings found themselves in a first and goal from the three-yard line.
After being stuffed on their first attempt, the Vikings went to the air, but the pass was picked off and Irondale returned it out to midfield to crush any momentum the Vikings were building.
The critical pick set the tone for the third quarter, when Ojika and the Knights really took any wind out of the Vikings' sail.
Ojika scored three touchdowns in the third quarter and kicked a 31-yard field goal. His touchdowns came on a 66-yard reception, a one-yard run and a 45-yard punt return.
The 23 points in the quarter ballooned Irondale's lead to 51-0, leaving the fourth quarter as a formality.
North Branch fought their way to get close to end zone in the fourth quarter, but they just couldn't find it as the game ended in a 51-0 loss for the Vikes.
After three tough road games, the Vikings finally return home for a three-game homestand. The stretch begins with North Branch's homecoming, as they take on the Princeton Tigers tomorrow, Sept. 26. The Tigers wll come in with a 2-2 record, and they sport one of the top dual threat quarterbacks in the state, so the Vikings will have their hands full at homecoming.
But, as long as the defense shakes off their performance against Irondale and gets back to the punishing, grinding style they've used in their other three games, it will be a close battle between the Vikes and Tigers.
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