
Johnathan Lawwell of the Vikings gains yardage as Isaac Jacobs runs interference. (Post Photo by Rickey Clardy)
By RICKEY CLARDY
Sports Writer
RED BOILING SPRINGS — The Community Vikings came from behind to take a lead into the fourth quarter, but two Red Boiling Springs Bulldog touchdowns in the final quarter, coupled with a culmination of Viking turnovers proved to be too much for Community to overcome as the Vikings fell 31-24 in a non-region football contest Friday night.
The Vikings committed four turnovers, two in the final quarter, while the Bulldogs played turnover-free football.
After winning the coin toss, the Vikings came out strong on their first offensive possession. Starting from its own 33, Community took just four plays to reach pay dirt.
An 11-yard pass play from Nyles Barnett to Isaac Jacobs and an 8-yard run by Charles Haskins set the stage as Barnett connected with Haskins for 34 yards and the score. The pass from Haskins to Barnett for two was good as the Vikings took an 8-0 lead with 10:33 left in the opening quarter.
“We had a game plan. We put it in and put in a true no-huddle for a little while,” Coach Chris Grooms of the Vikings said.
“We got a little tired and had to slow it down as we didn’t have enough people to go both ways.”
The Bulldogs responded on their initial possession as Red Boiling Springs went 64 yards in eight plays.
Brendyn Neice finished the drive with a 2-yard run, but the Bulldogs were unsuccessful on the 2-point conversion as the Vikings maintained an 8-6 lead with 7:15 left.
After an unsuccessful fourth down conversion attempt by the Vikings, the Bulldogs once again went 64 yards to take the lead.
Aided by a Community penalty, the Bulldogs took three plays to score as Neice galloped 35 yards for the go-ahead touchdown.
The run for two failed as Red Boiling Springs led 12-8 with 2:06 remaining.
A Bulldog interception set up Red Boiling Springs with great field position at the Viking 21, but a Community sack of the Bulldog quarterback on fourth down stopped the rally as the game went to the second quarter.
The Vikings threatened to take the lead as a 21-yard pass play from Barnett to Luis Butler moved Community to the Bulldog 25.
But a fumble thwarted the drive and gave Red Boiling Springs the ball at its own 19.
Both teams failed to score on the next two possessions before the Bulldogs finished a successful drive to end the half.
Starting as their own 23, the Bulldogs took 12 plays to score as Logan Eckhardt pushed the ball in from one yard out with 32 seconds left. The extra point by Eckhardt gave the Bulldogs a 19-8 advantage into the intermission.
With a sack by Haskins spurring the Viking defense on the Bulldog opening possession of the second half, the Vikings took over at their own 24 after the Red Boiling Springs three-and-out.
The Com

Charles Haskins hauls in a 34-yard pass from Nyles Barnett for the first Viking touchdown. (Post Photo by Rickey Clardy)
munity offense found its mojo as a 32-yard pass play from Barnett to Johnathan Lawwell moved the ball into Bulldog territory.
A 31-yard run by Lawwell moved the Vikings into the red zone before Barnett rushed five yards for the score.
The run by Barnett was good as the Vikings cut the Bulldog lead to 19-16 with 8:12 left in the third quarter.
The Viking momentum continued as Wyatt Elsner recovered an onside kick, giving Community the ball at its own 49.
“Elsner got us another one,” Grooms said. “He almost had another one, but he might have lost it in the struggle.”
Another pass play from Barnett to Lawwell, this one for 30 yards, moved the Vikings into the red zone.
With a first-and-goal at the 3-yard line, a frenzy of plays commenced as the Vikings looked to take the lead.
After Barnett was stopped short and tackled into the fence near the goal line, Barnett was not to be denied as the sophomore willed his way into the end zone on fourth down to give the Vikings the lead.
A penalty moved the two-point conversion to the 18-yard line, but Community responded as Barnett found Haskins down the left sideline as the Vikings took a 24-19 lead with 3:44 left.
The Bulldogs responded on their next possession as Neice finished with a 14-yard run as the drive concluded on the first play of the fourth quarter as Red Boiling Springs went up 25-24 with 11:54 remaining.
Despite reaching the red zone on their next two drives, turnovers prevented the Vikings from regaining the lead.
A pass from Barnett that was tipped by Lawwell into the waiting hands of Butler for 34 yards gave the Vikings a first-and-goal at the Bulldog 9.
The drive stalled as a fumble on fourth down gave the ball to the Bulldogs.
The Viking defense rose to the occasion, forcing a Bulldog three-and-out as Community took over at the Red Boiling Springs 48.
A 20-yard pass play from Barnett to Lawwell and a Bulldog penalty moved the ball to the Red Boiling Springs 19, but an interception in the end zone gave the ball to the Bulldogs with 7:24 remaining.
Starting at their own 20, the Bulldogs used short yardage plays to gain four first downs and take most of the time off the clock.
The Bulldogs ended the drive as Tyler Lancaster ran two yards for the touchdown as Red Boiling Springs led 31-24 with 42 seconds left.
With no timeouts left, the Vikings could not muster a successful drive in the waning seconds as the Bulldogs took the hard-fought win.
“It’s a tough one. We let that one get away from us,” Grooms said.
“That’s part of it. It’s football. The kids learn, live, play, watch film, and get better at football.”
Community will close regular season and Region 4-3A play with a game at Watertown next Friday night. Kickoff is 7 p.m.
Community 8 0 16 0 — 24
Red Boiling Springs 12 7 0 12 — 31
First Quarter
Comm – Charles Haskins 34 pass from Nyles Barnett (Haskins 2pt. pass from Barnett) 10:33.
RBS – Brendyn Neice 2 run (2pt. run failed) 7:15.
RBS – Neice 35 run (2pt. run failed) 2:06.
Second Quarter
RBS – Logan Eckhardt 1 run (Eckhardt kick) 0:32.
Third Quarter
Comm – Nyles Barnett 5 run (Barnett run) 8:12.
Comm – Barnett 2 run (Haskins pass from Barnett) 3:44.
Fourth Quarter
RBS – Neice 14 run (run failed) 11:54.
RBS – Tyler Lancaster 2 run (kick failed) 0:51.