Bulldogs
21
roster
(2-0)
Vikings
7
(1-1)
6:40 PM, September 10, 2011
Jerome M. Marco Stadium, Walt
Whitman High School, Bethesda,
MD
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
T |
|
CHR |
0 |
0 |
7 |
14 |
21 |
|
WHI |
0 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
Bulldogs Chase Down Vikings in Home Opener 21-7
Doug Sessions
Bethesda, MD - - The Vikes looked to be in the driver’s seat over rival Churchill at half time of their game which was delayed a day due to poor weather conditions and played Saturday night. Whitman’s offense was on the field almost the entire first half, revving up 167 yards in total offense. But during a five minute stretch in the second half, the Vikes slid off the road to victory; detoured by costly turnovers and a mounting number of penalties.
In the first quarter, with senior quarterback Michael Flack at the helm, the Vikings’ offense ran as if it had just had a tune up. The Vikes sustained an impressive drive that took them all the way to the 1 yard line before a false start penalty stalled the engine and Flack was stopped short of the goal line on the first play of the second quarter.
A few plays later, senior Alex Peterson jump started what would prove to be the Vikings only scoring drive of the night by causing and recovering a fumble by the Bulldogs. Following several handoffs to Val Djidotor, as well as penalties on both teams, it came down to 4th and goal from the eight yard line. From there, Flack shifted into overdrive and willed his way into the end zone. Peterson topped off the touchdown by putting the point after attempt through the uprights.
Throughout the first half, whenever the Viking offense sputtered, Flack scrambled his way to a first down or handed the ball off to Djidotor to keep Whitman’s drives alive. Flack also stopped the Bulldogs dead in their tracks with an interception in their end zone late in the second quarter.
Early in the second half, after an interception by sophomore Zac Morton set up Dijidotor’s longest run of the night, it looked as if the Vikings might keep on truckin’. But a quarterback sack flooded the Vikes engine and an errant snap to Morton on the punt was recovered by the Bulldogs. Churchill quarterback, senior Lansana Keita, connected with junior Dominique Williams on the next play for a 43 yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 7-7.
Just two plays later an interception thrown by Flack gave the Bulldogs the ball back near mid-field. With the help of a pass interference call along the way, the Bulldogs took the lead 14-7 on a six yard run by Malik Harris.
After the Vikes were forced to punt on their next possession, the much improved Viking defense showed real resolve by stopping the Bulldogs deep in Whitman territory and taking over on downs. But, just when the crowd thought the Vikings might get the offense out of the shop and tie up the game, Churchill recovered a Djidotor fumble from an ill-advised pitch by Flack and ran it in for a fifteen yard touchdown taking the lead 21-7.
Flack made a valiant effort to pass the Vikings back into contention but the bill for the team’s turnovers and penalties had come due and the Vikes had to concede defeat in their home opener.