NB topples Rogers 40-7

By Danielle Strenke
The North Branch football squad could do nothing wrong during its romping of the Rogers Royals last Friday in front of the hometown Parentís Night crowd.
The locals took their opening position into the endzone and never looked back, ending the first quarter with a commanding 26-0 lead, and eventually coming away with a 40-7 victory.
On the opening possession for North Branch, Marc Vanden Heuvel took the punt and proceeded to sprint upfield 66 yards for a touchdown less than one minute into the game.
Britt Baumann attempted a pass for a two-point conversion, but it was incomplete for a 6-0 Vikes lead.
Again, the Vikings defense came through big by stopping Rogers and giving the ball back to North Branch. Matt Fletcher took his turn at the end zone, driving in 43 yards for the score. Baumannís extra point was good for a 13-0 lead.
Korey Hutchings scored the third touchdown of the quarter for the Vikings at 5:40 remaining, running up the middle two yards into the endzone. The snap was high to holder Fletcher, so Baumann was forced to attempt a two-point conversion. The attempt failed, for a 19-0 Vikings lead.
Hutchings scored a second time in the quarter, with less than three minutes to play, as he ran 25 yards for the score. Baumannís kick was good, ending the quarter 26-0 for the good guys.
North Branch added two more TDs in the second quarter. The first came on a 14 yard Vanden Heuvel run and was followed by a Baumann extra point kick. The second came with 3:23 left as Eric Frich ran in from five yards out, ending the half with North Branch leading 40-0.
Both teams were held scoreless in the third quarter. As a shutout loomed, Rogers went on a four-play drive for 79 total yards and scored a touchdown with :50 seconds remaining in the game. The Vikes took possession and ran out the clock to end in a 40-7 win.
North Branchís offense tallied 414 total yards in the effort and gave up two fumbles.
Both lines looked strong, as the defense also picked up a fumble and stopped Rogers with little or no gain on virtually every posseession. Vince Zaffke led the defense with nine tackles in the game.
Vanden Heuvel led in rushing with 168 yards, followed by Fletcher with 71 and Hutchings with 48.
Jake Anderson had 25 receiving yards on one catch, and Hutchings had 10 receiving yards on one catch.
Rogers picked up only 10 first downs in the game.
ìThis is the type of game where coming in we have a definite edge,î Head Coach Joel Swanson said. ìOur kids have played together over the years and they are a program that is beginning.
ìAs a coach you donít want to take anyone lightly and the North Branch players didnít take Rogers lightly. It was great to see the Vikings come out ready to take control from the get go.î
With a commanding 40-0 lead, Swanson put the junior varsity players in to play much of the second half. For many of them, it was their first varsity experience. ìThey did a good job,î Swanson said.
He was pleased with the strong team effort that the players put forth in the win.
The win brings the Vikes to 2-0 on the season. This week, they face Mora at home.

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