Noah Land, Gunner Harden, and Emmett Paskwietz of the Vikings gang up to make the tackle on a Giles County runner. (Post Photo by Rickey Clardy)
Kaeden Hensel rolls out to make a pass for the Vikings. (Post Photo by Rickey Clardy)
By RICKEY CLARDY
Sports Writer
UNIONVILLE — The Community Vikings could not get their offense untracked while the Giles County Bobcats took advantage of their scoring opportunities in the first half to take a commanding lead as the Vikings fell 36-0 in a Region 4-3A football game Friday night.
After a Viking three-and-out, Giles County (4-3, 2-1) scored on its initial possession as Pierson Collier finished the drive with a 6-yard run.
The extra point by Alvaro Cabrera gave the Bobcats a 7-0 lead with 6:56 left in the first quarter.
Community (0-8, 0-3) picked up a first down on its next possession as Severen Garman ran six yards to move the sticks.
The Vikings could not gain another first down, but a 40-yard punt by Jarrett Yancey forced the Bobcats to start their next possession at their own 33.
The Bobcats were undaunted and reached the end zone for their second touchdown as Xavie Randolph scored from 13 yards out to give Giles County a 13-0 advantage with 1:45 remaining.
Another successful Yancey punt, this one for 36 yards backed the Bobcats to their own 26 as the game moved to the second quarter, but Giles County used a 9-play drive to score again.
Collier ended the drive with a 9-yard run as the Bobcats led 20-0 with 8:07 left.
A 15-yard pass play from Kaeden Hensel to Noah Land highlighted the next Viking possession, but an interception ended the drive.
The Bobcats responded on their first play from scrimmage as Randolph connected with Damari Allen on a 64-yard TD pass as Giles County increased its lead to 27-0 with 4:00 remaining.
After facing a fourth down-and-four on their next possession, the Vikings came up with a nifty play as Yancey faked a punt and ran nine yards down the left sideline for a first down.
“He is punting the ball well and I don’t think there’s been but one return all year from eight different opponents,” Coach Glenn Tidwell of the Vikings said. “That’s been the positive out of that.”
“He and Coach Tyre had that fake going and I didn’t even know about it,” Tidwell added.
“He’s been a positive on the punt team and it’s good to see him do well.”
A Bobcat interception ended the Viking drive and Giles County added its fifth touchdown as Randolph found Collier for 16 yards and the score as the Bobcats went into the intermission with a 33-0 lead.
The Bobcats added a 29-yard field goal from Cabrera in the third quarter to end the scoring for the night before the Vikings possessed the ball for one final time.
Community threatened to score with the help of a 15-yard Bobcat penalty and a 13-yard pass play from Hensel to Luis Butler that moved the ball to the Giles County 23, but the Vikings could not get closer as a fourth down conversion attempt was unsuccessful.
Community continues Region 4-3A play with a home game on Senior Night against Sequatchie County next Friday night.
Kickoff is 7 p.m.
Giles Co. 13 20 3 0 — 36
Community 0 0 0 0 — 0
First Quarter
GC — Pierson Collier 6 run (Alvaro Cabrera kick) 6:56.
GC — Xavie Randolph 13 run (kick failed) 1:45.
Second Quarter
GC — Collier 9 run (Cabrera kick) 8:07.
GC — Damari Allen 64 pass from Randolph (Cabrera kick) 4:00.
GC — Collier 16 pass from Randolph (kick failed) 0:41.
Third Quarter
GC — Cabrera 29-yard field goal 4:16.