Wildcats
16
(2-7)
Vikings
32
(5-4)
6:30 PM, October 28, 2011
Jerome M. Marco Stadium, Walt Whitman High School, Bethesda,
MD
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
T |
|
WJ |
9 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
16 |
|
WHI |
6 |
16 |
0 |
10 |
32 |
Vikes Keep Playoff Hopes Alive, Beat WJ
Wayne Hunley
Bethesda, MD - - At the very least, the 2011 Vikings can claim to be the “Best of Bethesda” in football, having beaten both Walter Johnson and BCC in convincing fashion this year. Whitman combined a balanced offense with physical defense to grind out a 31-16 win at Jerome Marco Stadium, setting up a do-or-die matchup with Paint Branch this weekend.
The Vikes looked to be in position to take control of the game early, forcing a quick three and out by WJ and then methodically moving the ball down the field behind all too familiar runs by Michael Flack and Val Djidotor, with Djidotor capping the drive with a 14 yard scamper for the TD. A failed extra point let to a 6-0 score. WJ scored 9 points to take take the lead, however, as penalties and kicking game problems plagued the Vikings. Whitman put itself in a tough spot with penalties deep in its own territory, and a high snap on a punt out of the end zone resulted in a safety (Whitman’s regular long snapper was injured for this game). WJ then took the ensuing free kick and quickly punched the ball into the end zone, putting a somewhat shocked Vikes team down 9-6.
The Vikes regained control of the game in the second quarter, with the offense sparked by some timely play action passes from Flack to Stephen Werner, who finished with 80 receiving yards. Whitman scored two touchdowns on runs by Alkaly Soumah and Djitodor, both punctuated with two point conversions. The Vike’s defense returned to form in the second quarter. Whitman’s front seven was strong all night, with Nick Sobcyk in particular flying all over the field making tackles before being sidelined with a leg injury. While WJ did manage one more score off a long kickoff return and a 14 yard pass, overall the Vikes got the better of the play physically from there on in.
The game took a defensive posture for the third quarter. The Vikes moved the ball but found drives stalling, and WJ got no traction at all as Whitman’s front seven smothered the running game and applied pressure, while Himelfard and Justin Knighton continued to provide excellent coverage. The Vikes improvised around their kicking problems, relying of quick kicks by Michael Flack out of shotgun snaps whenever a punt was needed. Derek Rosenberg, Mark Hunley, and Kyle Einwachter spent the entire second half in WJ’s backfield, with Rosenberg and Hunley both forcing fumbles off of sacks.
Whitman put the game away in the fourth quarter. Stout defense put WJ in terrible field position. WJ gave up a safety when their punter stepped out of the end zone and Whitman quickly added a TD on a drive sparked by a beautiful catch on a slant by Stephen Werner and capped by a nifty run by Zack Morton.
Whitman effectively will end the regular season with a playoff game against last year’s nemesis, Paint Branch. If they win, they are likely in, a loss just as certainly will put them just short of a third straight playoff berth.