Turnovers costly in Vikesí loss

By Danielle Strenke
North Branch continued its struggles inside the red zone last week, as the Vikes fell 31-13 to St. Peter.
The squad also recorded five fumbles, two which were recovered by St. Peter and one that resulted in a Saints touchdown. ìWe need to improve our turnover ratio,î head coach Joel Swanson said. ìSome of our turnovers have been because of extra effort or trying too hard to make something happen. We are a young team that is hustling and giving it our all.î
The Saints were on the board early in the first quarter, off a 62-yard touchdown pass. The two-point conversion attempt failed, for a 6-0 lead. North Branch answered with a touchdown five minutes later. Quarterback Mike Dahlke ran it in from the one-yard line. Britt Baumannís kick was no good, for a 6-6 tie to end the quarter.
St. Peter picked up two more TDs in the second for a sizable 18-6 lead at the half. The scores came on consecutive possessions, as the Saints scored and then on intercepted a North Branch pass on the next play and ran it in 64 yards. Both times, the Saints attempted two-point conversions but were stopped by the Vikes defense.
After a scoreless third quarter, the Saints widened the lead with a touchdown midway through the fourth quarter.
With three minutes remaining, North Branch drove steadily downfield, and ended the drive with a 15-yard run from Marc Vanden Heuvel.
After a Baumann extra point kick, the Vikes chose to go with an onside kick. The play worked and North Branch recovered on the 50. A tough St. Peter defense held the Vikings, however and the Saints ended the game with another TD with less than one minute remaining.
Vanden Heuvel rushed for 112 of the teamís 168 yards. Dahlke passed for 50 yards, while Matt Fletcher passed for 107 yards as the two shared quarterback duties.
Defensively, Garett Fletcher picked up the teamís only quarterback sack, for a loss of six yards. Jared Gagne had the teamís lone interception, running it for 15 yards.
Swanson said special teams play improved, as did defensive coverage. ìWe need to eliminate our mental mistakes and the number of big plays we give up,î he said.
The loss gives the Vikings an 0-2 record to open the season. This week, they face Mora on the road Friday, and host Pine City Sept. 20 for homecoming.

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