Tulgetske rushes for five touchdowns in 60-30 win

by Peter Jakey–Managing Editor

Skyler Tulgetske rushed for 301 yards and scored five touchdowns in last Thursday’s 60-30 home opening victory over Stephenson.

The home team wore down the western Upper Peninsula visitors in the second half. Posen also won the battle of attrition as Stephenson’s injuries piled up.

The turning point in the contest came at the end of the second half.

The Vikings were leading 20-12 when the Eagles put together a 19-play, eight-minute drive and scored on a 45-yard touchdown reception. Stephenson got the right ball back on an onside kick with a minute left in the second. Two plays later, the Eagles scored again on a long touchdown strike and took their first lead of the day, 24-20. It was short-lived.

The Vikings took the lead right back on the first offensive play from scrimmage, a 56 yard run by Tulgetske with 11.4 seconds remaining on the clock.

The home team got the ball first in the second half and scored on the third offensive play from scrimmage. It was Tulgetske with a 53-yard sprint to the end zone. He had three TD runs of more than 50, including a 79 yarder to cap off the career night.

The Vikes rattled off 27-unanswered points at the end of the game. Head coach Greg Pietsch believes a good reason for the strong second-half showing was the conditioning and extra time put in in the weight room.

“I think that really paid off tonight,” said Pietsch. “I think our kids really met the challenge and we got our second wind in the second half. Our offensive line blocked extremely well.”

Tulgetske scored the season’s first TD on a 53-yard run with just under nine minutes. That was answered by Stephenson. On Posen’s next possession, Travis Sharpe fired a touchdown pass to Kyle Knopf for 49 yards. Tulgetske scored the conversion for a 14-12 lead.

Early in the second quarter, Evan Schuch made a great reception at the one on a fourth-and-eight. He scored on the next play for a 20-12 lead. That set up the dramatic moments of the second half.

Sharpe,

who got a terrific block from Dylan Schuch, and scored on a 29-yard run, scored the only other touchdown in the second half. Sharpe kicked four extra points in the contest and was 4-for-5 passing for 79 yards, including a touchdown. He also rushed for 187 yards.

On defense, Tulgetske had 14 tackles, followed by Evan Schuch with 13. Sharpe had an interception and Darren Dubie was commended for his downfield pursuit, catching three receivers

Up next for the Vikings is Pellston, who was tagged with a loss in their first eight-man contest, 54-0. The Hornets have won only one game the last three seasons.