Vikings victorious

The Hammarskjold Vikings scored nine more points than the defending champion Sir Winston Churchill Trojans in three meetings this year.

The Vikings (7-1) won all three games, none more important than Saturday’s 11-9 triumph at Fort William Stadium, a victory that propelled them into next weekend’s Superior Secondary Schools Athletic Association senior boys high school football final against the upstart Westgate Tigers.

It wasn’t an easy win, by any stretch of the imagination, said Vikings WR Nick Potter, whose 26-yard diving touchdown reception gave his team an early 7-1 second-quarter lead.

“It never is against Churchill. It’s always fun to play them. We got to play them three times this year and our defence has stepped up every time,” said Potter.

It was flat out speed that earned him the score, said Potter, who also had a 23-yard reception from QB Alex Nemek-Bakk on a second-and-12 earlier in the drive, which began at midfield.

“I just ran down the field and my quarterback usually gets me the ball. So I just sprinted as hard as I could and gave it all I had when I was in the air,” Potter said.

The Trojans (5-3), who were never able to get their aerial attack going until it was too late to matter, didn’t wait long to respond, marching 70 yards down the field to score in 2:42.

The drive began with an 18-yard scamper by tailback Devin Van Elburg, a run that turned into a 33-yard play when a 15-yard facemask penalty was tacked on by officials.

After Churchill QB Murray Thiessen took the ball up field for another 11 yards, fullback Linden Cramer went untouched up the left side for a 20-yard score.

The Trojans first point-after attempt was blocked, but an offside call on Hammarskjold gave them a second chance, and Tomas Postuma booted it through the uprights for an 8-7 Churchill lead.

Hammarskjold threatened once again as the half wound down, but on a third and two with 1:18 to go Xander Hasell could only gain one and the Vikings turned the ball over on the Trojans five-yard line.

Hammarskjold evened the score on the opening kick-off of the second half. Kicking with the win, Gavin Hoy drilled a line-drive through that hit and rolled out of the endzone for a single point.

But other than an 18-yard run by Stadey to start the drive, the Trojans couldn’t muster any offence and punted away.

That’s when Nemek-Bakk took over. He hit Geordie Savela for a 12-yard gain to move the sticks, then hooked up with Potter for another 16, crossing midfield. Potter hauled in another 12-yard reception that placed the ball on the Churchill 40, and after gaining four more on the ground, Hoy slammed home a 43-yard field goal that gave the Vikings an 11-8 lead.

The Trojans simply couldn’t mount an attack after that.

“We turned the ball over too much,” said Churchill coach Mike Doromko. “That’s something we didn’t want to do. The ball bounced their way today. There were a couple of times they put the ball on the ground and it went through our hands and we didn’t get on it. They’ve got a horseshoe somewhere. Beating a team with a great defence three times in a year is almost impossible.”

Relying almost solely on the run game also didn’t help, he added.

“Everybody stacks our box. They’ve got 10 guys down at the line of scrimmage,” said Dromoko, adding the hobbling of slot-back Tim Baxter by a toe injury threw their passing game out of synch. “There goes a couple of days of practice. That really hurt.”

Down, but not out, Trojans were given one last chance to knot the score. The Vikings, who chose to attempt field goals from any and all vantage points rather than punt, tried a 74-yarder with the clock ticking under a minute in the fourth.

Churchill recovered the ball on their own 54 yard-line, and with Stadey at the helm completed a 32-yard pass to Liam McConnell to set up a 40-yard field goal attempt.

But like an earlier try, Postuma’s kick went wide left and the Trojans had to settle for the single.

“That was a heck of a battle,” said Hammarskold coach Mike Judge, whose team will be seeking its fifth title in nine years, its first since 2008.

“We played them three times this year and all three were tight. We were banged up coming into this game, but no excuses. I’ll give them a lot of credit. That team across the way, they’re tough, Churchill. They can beat anyone on any given day.”

Next up are the Tigers, who won back-to-back crowns in 2006 and 2007, but fell on hard times this year, finishing 3-4 in the regular season.

Though a little unexpected, Judge said he’s familiar with the Tigers and won’t take them for granted, despite their sub-.500 record.

“That’s one fantastic coaching staff over there and they’re going to have their kids ready. They always gear up for the playoffs.”