Vikings
14
(4-4)
Hornets
28
(7-1)
6:30 PM, September 2, 2011
The Hive, Damascus High School,
Damascus,
MD
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
T |
|
WHI |
0 |
7 |
0 |
7 |
14 |
|
DHS |
7 |
6 |
8 |
7 |
28 |
Vikes Hang Tough With Damascus
Wayne
Hunley
Damascus, MD - - The game between the Vikes and Damascus in many ways showed everything that is good about high school football--two talented and well coached teams playing in front of a packed stadium on a crisp Friday night. It seemed that the entire town of Damascus turned out for the Hornets’ homecoming, and a big contingent of Vikings fans made the trip up. All were rewarded with an exciting game. Whitman displayed a lot of resilience, counterpunching with the Hornets all night, but ultimately could not overcome big special teams plays and lost 28-14.
Early on, it looked like the game could become a rout. Damascus took the opening kickoff deep into Vikes territory on a Trevor Patton run, but two big hits by Michael Dunn stalled the drive and led to a missed field goal attempt. Whitman’s offense could not get untracked early. Two three and outs, one of which ended with the first of two blocked punts of the night, led to two Damascus scores and a 13-0 score after a blocked extra point.
Another three and out by Whitman early in the second quarter put the Hornets seemingly on the way to a comfortable lead, but the momentum turned with a Michael Flack interception at midfield on a deflected pass. Whitman’s offensive line started to get some movement on Damascus, and tough running by Val Djidotor, Alkaly Soumah, and Flack got the ball to the 16. On fourth down, Zack Morton took a pitch to the right side and threw back to a wide open Michael Flack, who beat one defender for the TD that got the Vikes within six. The Vikes’ defense then forced a three and out, and Whitman was back in business, marching the ball down the field behind outstanding blocking. The Vikes had a chance to take the lead, but then ultimately turned it over on downs and went into the locker room down, but very much in the game.
Unfortunately, half time seemed to break momentum, and the Vikes started the second half much like the first, with offensive frustration and a blocked punt that led to an easy Damascus score. One could sense the Hornets thinking they could close the game out with one drive, but the Vikes defense hung tough, stopping Damascus’ purported superstar, Zach Bradshaw, on consecutive runs. Whitman then got themselves back into the game with one of the most impressive drives of the season, going 71 yards in a nearly eight minute march down the field that ended with Flack willing the ball over the goal line on a fourth down keeper. With the Vikes back within one score, the Damascus fans were suddenly very nervous, but Trevor Patton struck again, with a 55 yard run on the first play of the next possession that put the Hornets back in control.
Whitman almost cut the lead back to one touchdown late in the fourth quarter when Weston Hanessian hit Andy Orr with a beautiful long pass, but a Damascus defender was able to knock the ball out at the goal line for a turnover that ended the Vikes hopes of an upset.