Kaeden Hensel of the Vikings uses a block from Severen Garman to gain yardage in the opening quarter. (Post Photo by Rickey Clardy)
By RICKEY CLARDY
Sports Writer
WATERTOWN — The Community Vikings moved the ball on offense and stayed within striking distance of the Watertown Purple Tigers in the first half, but untimely turnovers and penalties caught up to the Vikings as Community fell 37-0 in a Region 4-3A football contest Friday night.
Community (0-6, 0-1) made a statement on defense to open the game.
After the Purple Tigers reached midfield, two straight plays of no yardage and a huge sack by Isaac Jacobs pushed Watertown (4-2, 2-0) back 17 yards and forced a Purple Tiger punt.
With the help of an 8-yard pass from Kaeden Hensel to Jacobs and a Purple Tiger penalty, the Vikings picked up a first down on their opening possession, but a fumble curtailed the drive.
The Purple Tigers took advantage of the Viking miscue as Garrett Davis scored on a 3-yard run.
The extra point by Brody Osborne was good as Watertown led 7-
Noah Land of the Vikings gains yardage with the help of a block from Isaac Jacobs. (Post Photo by Rickey Clardy)
0 with 4:34 left in the first quarter.
The Vikings received a break on their next possession.
After the Purple Tigers intercepted a pass on third down, Community forced a fumble on the runback and recovered the ball, giving the Vikings a new set of downs on their own 39-yard line.
With the help of three Purple Tiger penalties and a Hensel sneak on fourth down, Community picked up three first downs and reached the red zone as the game moved to the second quarter.
The drive stalled and after a 5-yard penalty, a 41-yard field goal attempt was unsuccessful.
The Purple Tigers scored on their possession as Garrett Davis connected with Carmello Davis on a 30-yard pass play to give Watertown a 14-0 lead with 5:21 left.
After a Purple Tiger interception, Watertown scored its third touchdown and second off turnovers in the half as Garrett Davis and Carmello Davis teamed up on a 7-yard pass play to give Watertown a 21-0 lead and end the first half scoring.
The combination of Garrett Davis and Carmello Davis worked again on another 7-yard TD pass in the third quarter as the Purple Tigers increased their advantage to 28-0 with 6:58 remaining.
The Vikings picked up a first down and reached Purple Tiger territory on their next possession with the help of a 10-yard run by Noah Land.
After a Purple Tiger sack on fourth down, a 42-yard punt by Jarrett Yancey backed Watertown to its own 22.
After the punt, The Purple Tigers added their fifth score as Dacio Carter exploded 45 yards for a touchdown to give Watertown a 35-0 lead with 26 seconds remaining.
Watertown picked up a safety for the only points in the fourth quarter as the Vikings fell in their first region game of the season.
“In my opinion, we gave them 30 points,” Coach Glenn Tidwell of the Vikings said. “They earned seven of it, but we can play with these guys if we don’t keep shooting ourselves in the foot.”
“Bottom line, we aren’t as bad as sometimes we show on the scoreboard, but when you turn the ball over, you don’t make certain blocks, and you don’t wrap up on tackles when you have them dead to right, 37 points is what happens,” Tidwell added.
“A lot of positives from tonight, but there’s also a lot of things that we’ve still got to continue to work on,” Tidwell said. “I’m not disappointed. It’s just the same little things, and they know it.”
Community continues Region 4-3A play with a game at neighboring Forrest next Friday night.
Kickoff is 7 p.m.
Community 0 0 0 0 — 0
Watertown 7 14 14 2 — 37
First Quarter
W — Garrett Davis 3 run (Brody Osborne kick) 4:34.
Second Quarter
W — Carmello Davis 30 pass from G. Davis (Osborne kick) 5:21.
W — C. Davis 7 pass from G. Davis (Osborne kick) 2:37.
Third Quarter
W — C. Davis 7 pass from G. Davis (Osborne kick) 6:58.
W — Dacio Carter 45 run (Osborne kick) 0:26.
Fourth Quarter
W — Safety 1:22.