On the road for the final three games, Posen looks to win out
It?s a three game season for the Viking football team and coach Glenn Budnick is looking for his team to finish undefeated in 2005. Following the 53-0 loss to Mio (6-0) in their final home game, the Vikings (1-5) will look to run the table against Hale Friday, Hillman October 14, and Atlanta to conclude the season October 21. Last year, Posen needed to win all three games to make the playoffs, this year the guys are playing for pride and a chance at finishing with a 4-5 record. The Vikes will start the final stretch of the season with a Hale squad that comes in with a 2-4 record. Hale?s victories came against Brethren and Atlanta.
THE ONE TELLTALE score that suggests Friday?s 7:30 p.m. contest could be a close one is the Eagles? loss to Arenac Eastern, 34-33. Posen defeated Arenac by six points in a high-scoring affair two weeks ago. The Vikings have won six straight against Hale, including a 1999 playoff victory. Posen will need to rebound from the lopsided loss to Mio, a contest in which the players came out with a lot of emotion and put themselves in a position to score a couple of times in the first half, but came away empty handed each time. ?I thought we came out and played a good first half,? said Budnick. ?We moved the ball very well in the first half and just didn?t punch it in. We got down to the goaline twice. I think we put those two scores on the board that changes the complexity of the game, both from the score standpoint and mentally in the kids minds.?
The Viking defense came out ready to play and stopped the Thunderbolts cold and forced their football rivals to punt. ?I think it?s one of the few times Mio has had to punt all year,? said Budnick.
MIO, WHO hasn?t lost in the North Star League since Posen defeated them in 2002, got on the board with two touchdowns, but that?s when the Vikings started to make things happen and drove the ball all the way down to the Mio four yard line and had a third and two but couldn?t convert. Mio coach Joe Stone said ?It?s usually a battle with Posen. They played us tough for two or three series. We had our hands full.? Mio scored again to make it 21-0, but Posen showed a lot of heart late in the first half and got another drive going, but couldn?t score after they got inside the
The score at halftime was 21-0 and 35-0 after three quarters. In the fourth, Mio showed its quick scoring ability with two touchdown runs on two offensive plays. ?Things got a little out of control in the second half,? said Budnick. ?Posen always plays us tough. I don?t care what their record is,? said Stone. ?Their kids are good athletes and they hit the crap out of us and they are always ready for us.? Mio has won the last three matchups against the red and white.
Statistics: total offense: Posen 101 rushing, 57 passing, 161 total. Mio 339 rushing, 60 passing, 399 total. Rushing: Richie Kroll, 16/34; Paul Kroll 13/30; Nathan Strzelecki 11/41; Jason Romel 10/-4; Aaron Romel 3/3. Passing: Jason Romel 3-for-8, 57 yards. Receiving: Matt Styma 2/45, Richie Kroll 1/12. Tackle leaders: Paul Kroll 6 tackles; Richie Kroll 5 tackles; Romel, Int.