Charles Haskins drives through the middle and picks up yardage for the Vikings. (Post Photo by Rickey Clardy)
Wyatt Elsner and Noah Land of the Vikings make the tackle on a Watertown runner. (Post Photo by Rickey Clardy)
By RICKEY CLARDY
Sports Writer
WATERTOWN — The Community Vikings had some big strikes through the air in the opening half of their game with the Watertown Purple Tigers, but the Vikings could not reach the end zone while the Purple Tigers scored on all six of their possessions in the first half with five touchdowns coming through the air as Community fell 41-0 in a Region 4-3A football contest Friday night.
The loss was the final game of the 2024 season for the Vikings.
The Purple Tigers wasted little time putting points on the scoreboard as Watertown took the opening kickoff and drove 51 yards in three plays.
Jesse Bratcher finished the drive with an 8-yard run as the Purple Tigers led 6-0 with 10:50 remaining in the opening quarter.
After the first Viking possession stalled on fourth down, Community got a break on a botched punt as punter Charles Haskins looked for an opening after an errant snap and found Johnathan Lawwell across the middle for 26 yards and a first down.
The Vikings could not sustain the drive as Community failed on a fourth down conversion attempt, giving the Purple Tigers possession at midfield.
Watertown was successful with two third down plays for first downs and finished the drive as Blake Waldorf found Ethan Owen on a 6-yard pass play for a touchdown.
Brody Osborne added the extra point as the Purple Tigers led 13-0 with 1:55 left.
The Purple Tigers added another touchdown with 13 seconds left in the quarter as Waldorf connected with Marcus Reynolds on a 28-yard pass play as the Purple Tigers went up 20-0.
The Vikings used big plays on their next possession to reach the red zone as the game moved to the second quarter.
Community came up big on third down as Nyles Barnett teamed up with Lawwell on a 41-yard pass play to move the ball into Purple Tiger territory.
The Vikings followed with a key fourth down conversion as Barnett connected with Haskins for 32 yards as the Vikings reached the Watertown 16.
The Vikings drove to the 11-yard line but could not convert on fourth down as the Purple Tigers took possession.
“We saw something from the defense they were in,” Coach Chris Grooms of the Vikings said.
“They kept playing the safety down as an outside linebacker, so we knew we were going to get our seam.”
“When they pulled him back, we knew the middle would be open so we were able to hook up with Lowell,” Grooms added.
The Purple Tigers added to their lead and scored touchdowns via the air on all three of their second quarter possessions as Waldorf teamed up with Bratcher, Owen, and Braylin Caruthers for passes of 68, 41, and 19 yards as Watertown took a 41-0 lead to the intermission.
The Vikings reached Purple Tiger territory on both of their second half possessions.
Community drove to the Watertown 30 in the third quarter and picked up three first downs on its final possession of the fourth quarter and got as far as the Purple Tiger 24-yard line but could not reach pay dirt on the last drive of the game.
Community will retool in the off-season as the Vikings lose their lone senior Wilson Richmond to graduation.
“I hate losing Wilson,” Grooms said. “We’ve got 17 freshmen coming up, so we’ve got to get in the weight room and start lifting weights.”
The Vikings will continue to play in Class 3A in the new TSSAA classification cycle which starts next season.
Community 0 0 0 0 — 0
Watertown 20 21 0 0 — 41
First Quarter
W – Jesse Bratcher 8 run (kick failed) 10:50.
W – Ethan Owen 6 pass from Blake Waldorf (Brody Osborne kick) 1:55.
W – Marcus Reynolds 28 pass from Waldorf (Osborne kick) 0:13.
Second Quarter
W – Bratcher 68 pass from Waldorf (Osborne kick) 6:09.
W – Owen 41 pass from Waldorf (Osborne kick) 4:35.
W – Braylin Caruthers 19 pass from Waldorf (Osborne kick) 1:40.
