Fast and furious: Vikings score 40 in first 20 minutes, win 50-18
Stanton’s junior varsity played the entire second half after the Vikings jumped out to a 40-0 lead and cruised to a 50-18 win over Sidney Friday night.
The Vikings wasted no time in taking control of the game against an overmatched Cowboy squad. After Sidney failed to pick up a first down on the game’s opening drive, Alex Becthold ran 46 yards on Stanton’s first play from scrimmage and then added a five-yard touchdown run. After the senior tailback ran in the two-point conversion, Stanton led 8-0 with 9:42 left in the opening quarter.
Stanton was back on offense less than two minutes later and Connor Hultman completed a 12-yard touchdown pass to David Sorensen, who walked into the end zone untouched, accompanied by a pair of Viking blockers. Becthold ran in the two-point conversion as Sidney’s defenders again failed to even place a hand on the Stanton ball carrier.
Becthold was far from finished in the game though, as he added two more touchdown runs, covering 36 and two yards. He also ran in the ensuing two-point conversions as Stanton pulled away 32-0 with 8:11 left in the first half.
Freshman Drake Johnson ran in Stanton’s final touchdown of the half from three yards out and after another Becthold two-point run, the Vikings led 40-0.
After Sidney recovered an onside kick to start the second half, the Cowboys scored against Stanton’s junior varsity defense on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Jaden Sears to Chase Reed with 7:59 left in the third quarter.
Sidney managed two more touchdowns to cut Stanton’s lead to 40-18 with 10:38 left in the game.
Stanton’s defense came up with the next points, as Austin Houston and Nick Bolton combined to tackle the Sidney ball carrier in the end zone for a safety with 8:13 left in the game.
Senior Dustin Isaacson capped the scoring as the senior offensive lineman got a chance to carry the ball and made the most of it with a four-yard touchdown.
Sophomore Cameron Walter also took advantage of the opportunity to see some varsity action in the second half, leading the team with 144 yards on 13 carries. Becthold only carried the ball four times but made the most of it, scoring three touchdowns on 88 yards rushing. Including his five two-point conversions, Becthold scored 28 points in the game.
Hultman ran for 63 yards on six carries and completed all six of his passes for 66 yards and a touchdown. Brady Johnson was his favorite receiver with three catches for 17 yards.
A pair of sophomores led the Viking defense as Houston finished with 11 tackles and Walter added 10.5, including three tackles for a loss.
Stanton (5-2) has a big game this week as they travel to take on undefeated Lenox (7-0). Lenox is coming off a 40-34 win over Fremont-Mills.