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By Cynthia Scott
Oh so close.
Ten more seconds and one more yard is about all the time and distance the North Branch Vikings would have needed to overcome a furious 4th quarter rally by the St. Michael Albertville Knights Oct. 9.
The Vikings led 21-12 after 3 quarters, but STMA scored 13 points in the final frame to win 25-21.
Time expired as Vikings quarterback Matt Warren hit Marc VandenHeuvel at the 1 yard line with a perfectly executed pass from near midfield.
It was the second consecutive last second loss for the Vikings, who are now 3-3 overall and 0-2 in the conference. STMA is 3-1 in conference play. Princeton defeated Pine City 34-14 to remain undefeated atop the standings.
The Knights jumped out to a 9-0 lead on a Viking team that started the game flat. North Branch picked up steam in the 2nd quarter by using a no huddle offense, putting together a 9 play, 54 yard drive that ended with a 5 yard touchdown run by Adam Gades. The extra point kick, also by Gades, made the score 9-7.
The Vikings took the lead on a 9 yard run by Marc VandenHeuvel with 1:44 left in the half. The extra point made it 14-9. A STMA field goal with no time left put the halftime score at 12-14.
The third quarter was a defensive display. North Branch held STMA scoreless and the Vikings did not score until the waning seconds, when VandenHeuvel punched the ball over from the 1 yard line. With the extra point, North Branch went up 12-21.
In the 4th quarter the Knights dug in and put together a 6 minute, 99 yard drive culminating in a 15 yard TD pass from Tyler Krutzig to Chad Arlt. That made the score 19-21. The Vikings fumbled the ensuing kickoff and STMA recovered. North Branchís defense held the Knights and the Vikings took over on downs, but another fumble on the STMA 35 ended the scoring opportunity.
STMA took the lead with 37 seconds left on a 3 yard touchdown run.
The game ended with the Vikings 1 yard shy of the end zone after the Warren pass to VandenHeuvel.
ìWeíll have to take a look deep within each of ourselves and honestly say ìwhat can I do to help the team and get better,íî said Coach Joel Swanson. ìI donít believe weíve played our best game yet, 48 full minutes of football.î
VandenHeuvel was a work horse for the Vikings, carrying the ball 15 times for 76 yards and 2 touchdowns. He had 1 pass reception for 44 yards. Gades carried 16 times for 66 yards. Cory Hutchings caught 4 passes for 43 yards, Tony Beaver 2 for 18 and Tony Watters 2 for 23.
Wes Lacina had one quarterback sack resulting in a 5 yard loss.
Up next: Oct. 15 at Chisago Lakes, 7 p.m. and Oct. 20 v. Big Lake, 7 p.m.
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