Vikes prepare to defend 6-0 record in homecoming game

The North Branch football team will be looking for win No. 7 this week after coming up with a big 14-13 overtime win against St. Michael-Albertville Oct. 3.
The Vikes took on the 2-3 Knights in a battle that took five quarters before they pulled off the win.
North Branch was inside the 5-yard line on its first two possessions in the first quarter, but was unable to find the endzone.
Later in the quarter, the Vikes scored 6 on a 10-yard pass from quarterback Matt Fletcher to Ed Meier. Britt Baumann added the extra point for a 7-0 Vikings lead with two minutes remaining in the first quarter.
St. Michael answered with a touchdown in the second quarter, coming at the end of a 40-yard drive.
With the score tied at 7-7, neither team was able to score throughout the second half in a strong defensive battle.
St. Michael moved the ball inside the Vikesí 30-yard line on three different drives during the half, but the defense held firm and stopped the Knights.
Heads-up special teams play led to a punt downed at St. Michaelís 1-yard line late in the fourth quarter, which led into the overtime quarter.
In overtime, the Vikes struck first as Jake Anderson caught a 6-yard Fletcher pass for a TD on second down. Baumann split the uprights for a 14-7 North Branch lead.
St. Michael answered with a touchdown on a 15-yard pass. The Knights coaches made the call to go for the win with a two-point conversion. North Branchís defense came through again, stopping the run two yards short of the endzone for a 14-13 Vikings win.
North Branch had its best passing game of the season, throwing 14 of 22 passes for 170 yards. All 170 yards passing came from QB Fletcher.
Anderson led the team in receiving, with 87 yards on 6 catches. Meier picked up 38 yards on 3 passes and Tony Beaver had 30 yards on two passes.
Marc Vanden Heuvel led the team in rushing with 132 yards on 28 carries. Phil Olson also picked up 10 yards rushing.
North Branch was amassed 7 penalties for 45 yards in the game, something Head Coach Joel Swanson knows the team needs to improve upon to win this week.
ìIt was great to hang in there and pull out the win,î he said. ìWe need to become more consistent and eliminate our silly mistakes in the future.î
Swanson is counting on the team playing ìour best game of the year against Princetonî because the Tigers were one of the top preseason picks to win the conference this year. Princeton was also a state participant last season.
Currently, the Vikes hold the top spot in the Rum River Conference with a 5-0 conference record, and 6-0 overall. Chisago Lakes and Princeton are battling in second place, with 4-1 conference records.
North Branch is also in first place in the section, with Totino-Grace close behind with a 5-1 record.
The homecoming game against Princeton starts with a tailgate party from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. next to the football field, with the game following at 7:00 p.m.
Next week, North Branch finishes its regular season schedule with a special Wednesday, Oct. 15 game against Chisago Lakes on the road. The game starts at 7:00 p.m. at Chisago Lakes High School in Lindstrom.

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