Posen overcomes conditions to notch fourth win

by Peter Jakey, Managing Editor

Posen (4-1, 1-1) played with a lot of heart last Friday. The Vikings had to play above poor field conditions, Brimley?s power game, and a couple of injuries to hang on for a 26-20 victory. The Vikings also rode the shoulders of senior quarterback Shane Hentkowski, who scored three touchdowns, threw for another, and ran for 235 yards on the rain soaked turf. He also had a key interception in the fourth quarter. Head coach Wayne Karsten said his co-captain praised the blocking of his linemen and receivers for the productive evening.

?I had a game plan written out, but there was nothing we could use,? said Karsten. ?We had to draw up a whole new offense in the mud. ?I told (Shane), I?m going to put the ball in your hands and he did the job,? said Karsten. ?Our downfield blocking was much improved.? Karsten was still waiting for injury updates early Monday to junior Tyler Kuffel and freshman Nick Hincka, who left the game.

The Vikings will be looking for win number 5 on homecoming night tomorrow, but it won?t be easy. They host undefeated Eben Junction Superior Central (5-0). ?Superior Central has played a schedule similar to ours, the only difference being they beat Engadine and we didn?t show up for Engadine,? said Karsten. ?Do we have our hands full? Yes. Is this the best team we?ve faced so far? Yes. Are they going to throw the ball? Yes.? The Vikings need the win to keep their playoff hopes alive. HENTKOWSKI SCORED the first touchdown of the game on a one yard run (6-0). Brimley got into the game with a touchdown and conversion in the second quarter (6-8). Posen answered with an eight-play drive, capped by Hentkowski?s second TD. Lucas Litwinski, who caught two passes for 30 yards during the drive, ran in the conversion (14-8).

With time expiring in the first half, Posen tacked on another score. Nathan Lenard?s juggling catch of a tipped pass kept the driving going long enough for Hentkowski to hook up with Kuffel for a 16-yard score over the middle and a 20-8 halftime lead. Brimley opened the third quarter with a quick score, making it 20-16.

The Bays started their next drive with excellent field position and drove the ball to the Posen 27, before Mark Jakey recovered the loose pigskin to give the Vikings the ball back. They went the other direction, and from the Brimley 43, Shane Hentkowski went the distance to give Posen

a two score cushion, 26-16, and they would need it. BRIMLEY WAS driving again when Shane Hentkowski intercepted a pass at his own one with 6:18 left. He ran it out to the Posen 18, and after a three-and-out and a punt of 33 yards, Brimley strung some more first downs together and went in this time to cut the lead to four, 26-22.

The ensuing onside kick was lined right to Lenard. Posen couldn?t take the remaining 1:20 off the clock because of Brimley timeouts, and Shane hit the final of what were some outstanding punts, to the Brimley 14. An interception by Litwinski with 14 seconds left, iced the win.

Statistics: Rushing: Shane Hentkowski 30/235/3 TDs; Corey Hentkowski 2/4; Nathan Lenard 2/-5 Passing: Shane Hentkowski 8-of-12/106 yards/TD Receiving: Lucas Litwinski 5/60; Tyler Kuffel 1/16/TD; Lenard; 3/30. Defense: Corey Hentkowski 13 tackles, 5 assists; Kuffel 8 tackles, 3 assists; Lenard 6 tackles, 6 assists. Interceptions: Shane Hentkowski, Coreny Hentkowski, Litwinski. Fumble recoveries: Mark Jakey and Nathan Lenard.

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