LAGRANGE, Ga. - Viking football was in action on the road for the first time this season, where they stood on business, taking home a 48-0 shutout win over the LaGrange Panthers.Â
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The Viking defense held steady early on with a quick three-and-out, setting up a potent offensive drive from the boys in Blue and White. A healthy combination of runs and passes fueled by
Andrew Hunter and
Josh Rogers set the Vikings up in enemy territory. The Panthers then forced a 4
th and 4 situation, where head coach
Tony Kunczewski elected to go for it, with Hunter navigating the pocket before elevating and delivering a beauty of a jump pass to
Brendan Gray who found space over the middle for a crucial first down. Now in the red zone, Rogers did what he does from the backfield with a strong run, as he shrugged off contact and leaned into the end zone for a touchdown. Â
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With an 8-0 lead, the two defenses traded retiring the opposing offenses, setting up another lethal Viking masterpiece offensively. The beginning of the second quarter was nothing short of electric, as a 3
rd and 3 set up an Andrew Hunter scamper that resulted in a massive 67-yard touchdown to push the score to 14-0. The ensuing Panther possession saw another strong defensive series that was closed out with an incomplete pass that was defended by
Carver Cole. Another empty possession from Berry led to the Panthers going on another attempted crusade. Denying their drive was
Christopher Lewis, who was awarded a sack on a LaGrange miscue on their snap, and Lewis also recovered the football in what was a monumental defensive play. Â
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Just a few plays later, with great field position from the LaGrange 25, Rogers scored his second touchdown, punishing the defense with his blazing speed, courtesy of strong blocking up front to make it a 21 to nothing ball game in favor of the Vikings. Â
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Things went from bad to worse for the Panthers, as the entire Berry squad showed spurt ability, with the defense feeding off the offense and vice versa. The ensuing Panther drive was halted by
Gian Traverzo flying in for an interception, as he picked the pocket of the quarterback to set up yet another touchdown, this time from
Andrew Hunter, who took it in himself for his second rushing touchdown, making it 28-0, all Vikings at the end of the first half. Â
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The second half began with two familiar faces making plays, as Hunter and Rogers connected for a huge forty-nine-yard gain off a play-action pass that fooled the defense too. A few plays later, Rogers found pay dirt yet again with a two-yard touchdown that made the score 34-0 with 10:49 left in the third quarter. Â
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On the next LaGrange drive, their quarterback would drop back and throw a laser into the outstretched arms of Viking defensive back Jack Murray, who picked up a couple of blocks from his teammates and strolled into the end zone to make it a 41-0 landslide. Â
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Another solid Viking stop led by a strong pass break-up set up another offensive odyssey.
Colby Sikes joined in on the action this time, as he dashed through a gaping hole created by the Viking O-line, leading to a 67 yard touchdown journey for Sikes, and a 48-0 advantage with 4:25 to play in the third quarter. Â
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The defense continued to make its mark, as a bobbled pass ended up in the hands of a leaping
Will Johnson for another Berry interception with 3:40 left in the third quarter. Â
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Midway through the fourth quarter, with the game in hand, LaGrange found a rhythm and finally found themselves threatening, inside the Vikings' side of the field with 6:34 remaining in the game. The Vikings defense held strong though as they forced to Panthers to turn it over on downs as they got the ball back for one last drive. The Vikings offense then ran out the clock to seal a 48-0 road win.Â
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The No. 25 Vikings continue action on the road as they head to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to take on No. 17 Carniege Mellon on Saturday, September 20 at 12:00 PM.Â
