Vikings plunder late-game victory from Eagles

ST. JOHN - The football season started one day early for the St. John-Endicott (SJEL) Eagles this year.

They opened their season Thursday, Aug. 31 against the Garfield-Palouse (GAR-PAL) Vikings.

Last year, the two teams met twice, with SJEL winning both of them. The first game was a 55-0 blowout by SJEL, and the second was much closer, but SJEL pulled out the 54-48 victory.

Thursday, Aug. 31 saw SJEL lead from start to near finish, the only time the Vikings had the lead was with seven minutes left in the fourth quarter.

The Eagles started the game with the ball, running it every time on their first drive until quarterback Matthew DeFord ran in the touchdown. The Eagles would fail the two-point conversion.

SJEL quickly gained possession of the ball back after the defense forced a fumble from the Vikings. Deford would score a 60-yard rushing touchdown, but had it called back due to a holding penalty.

Shortly after the penalty the Eagles converted a 4th and one play, then scored on a 37 yard touchdown pass to take the 12-0 lead.

The Vikings scored their first points of the day off mistakes from the Eagles defense. On a 4th and five opportunity from the Vikings the Eagles bailed them out with a 15-yard late hit penalty, setting up the score from the Vikings, who also converted their two-point conversion.

To start the second quarter, Joseph Hergert exploded for a rushing touchdown just 40 seconds into the quarter to build on the Eagles lead.

After a few turnover on downs and empty drives, the Eagles went into the locker room leading 18-8 at halftime.

Starting the second half the Vikings returned the kick off to the 30-yard line, giving them great field position.

Just three minutes later the Vikings scored a touchdown and converted the two-point to trail by three.

The Eagles quickly answered back as Landen Miller scored on a 34-yard touchdown catch to put the pressure on the Vikings offense.

The Vikings would score a 60-yard touchdown on their next drive, but had it called back for an ineligible player downfield.

The penalty did not stop the Vikings, however, as they scored shortly after to cut the lead to four.

This time it was the Eagles who had a touchdown catch called back for a penalty, and saw the third quarter end with the Eagles winning 26-22.

The Eagles had a turnover on downs early in the fourth quarter to give the ball to the Vikings who did not mess up their opportunity, scoring a 50-yard touchdown run with seven minutes to go to take a four point lead, their first lead of any kind in the game.

With the Vikings leading by four, the Eagles had to dig deep, and they did. Bear Brewer scored on a 62-yard run just 20 seconds after the Vikings scored to retake the lead for the Eagles, with the score being 32-30.

On the ensuing drive for the Vikings they turned the ball over on downs, but had a defensive pass interference awarded to them to keep their hopes alive. They also fumbled twice on this drive, but recovered both of them.

With two minutes left, the Vikings scored to retake the four point lead.

With the Eagles down to their last drive of the game they were unable to produce anything meaningful, forcing themselves into a 4th and 21 opportunity that came up short, which allowed the Vikings to kneel the ball three times in victory formation, stealing the 36-32 victory over the Eagles to open the 2023 High School football season.

The next time the Eagles take the field is Thursday, Sept. 7, against Wilbur-Creston-Keller. It will be a home game for the Eagles starting at 7 p.m.