Wyatt Elsner and Patrick Moynihan of the Vikings make the tackle on a Giles County runner. (Post Photo by Rickey Clardy)
Parker Behrns of the Vikings did double duty Friday night. Behrns joined the football team this season from the Community band but still was a part of the halftime performance. (Post Photo by Rickey Clardy
By RICKEY CLARDY
Sports Writer
UNIONVILLE —The Community Vikings could not get the offense untracked as the Giles County Bobcats took the lead early and went on to beat the Vikings 49-0 in a Region 4-3A football contest Friday night.
The Bobcats, who have advanced to the Class 3A state semifinals for the last three seasons, showed why they are always a team to be reckoned by using a potent offensive attack coupled with a lights-out defense.
After a Viking three-and-out on the opening possession of the game, the Bobcats grabbed the lead as guard Kaden Reinhart took the ball and bulldozed his way for nine yards and the score.
Cooper White kicked the extra point as Giles County led 7-0 with 7:56 remaining in the opening quarter.
The Bobcats added their second score as Dakota Jackson ran 11 yards for a touchdown as Giles County led 14-0 with 4:26 left.
Giles County scored again just 14 seconds later as Tate Bedford stole the ball on a Viking run and raced 21 yards for the touchdown as the Bobcats increased their advantage to 21-0.
The Vikings picked up two first downs on their next possession as quarterback Nyles Barnett teamed up Noah Land on a 14-yard pass play while a Bobcat pass interference penalty gave Community a new set of downs.
But the drive stalled at the Viking 39 as the Bobcats took their lead to the second quarter.
The Bobcats upped their lead to 35-0 with two touchdowns in the first five minutes of the quarter.
A 31-yard pass play from Barnett to Jack Whelchel highlighted the next Viking possession, but the drive stalled without Community picking up any further first downs.
Giles County added its final touchdown of the half with 4:22 remaining as the Bobcats took a 42-0 lead into halftime.
The second half started on a good note as Wyatt Elsner recovered a Viking onside kick, giving Community good field position in Bobcat territory. Community reached the Bobcat 35 before a fourth down conversion attempt was unsuccessful.
“Charles Haskins told me when we came out that I will get you an onsides with the best kick you’ve ever seen,” Coach Chris Grooms of the Vikings said. “The ball hopped perfectly.”
“We work on the onsides every day,” Grooms added. “It keeps us from having to run in the open space and try to catch athletes.”
The Bobcats tacked on their final score as Jack Stafford raced four yards for a touchdown, giving Giles County a 49-0 lead with 3:49 remaining.
The Vikings started their best drive of the night on the ensuing possession.
Community picked up four first downs, with Barnett sharing the wealth and completing passes to Haskins, Wilson Richmond, Isaac Jacobs, and Land.
Community reached the 30-yard line but could not get further as the Bobcats took over possession and ran out the clock.
“We knew the game plan going against Giles. They’re a perennial powerhouse,” Grooms said.
“We tried to run the ball to slow the game down a little bit and to get to where it would open up,” Grooms added. “We had a couple of shots that we should have scored on but things happen.”
Community will jump out of the region and travel to Red Boiling Springs for a contest next Friday night.
Kickoff is 7 p.m.
Giles Co. 21 21 7 0 — 49
Community 0 0 0 0 — 0
First Quarter
GC – Kaden Reinhart 9 run (Cooper White kick) 7:56.
GC – Dakota Jackson 11 run (White kick) 4:26.
GC – Tate Bedford 21 fumble return (White kick) 4:12.
Second Quarter
GC – Jaklyah Englett 14 pass from Xavier Randolph (White kick) 11:24.
GC – Caleb Oates 16 run (White kick) 7:06.
GC – Kareem Bryant 48 pass from Randolph (White kick) 4:22.
Third Quarter
GC – Jack Stafford 4 run (Oates kick) 3:49.
