North Vs Guilford 9/16/11
Story by Paul T. Zeien, Jr.
FROSH GAME
Kim Dulgar Photo Gallery Click Here
The Sophomore Thunder continues to struggle here at the beginning of this season. They took on the Guilford Vikings at Swanson Stadium Friday night. The Thunder suffered from some serious miscues that really affected their ability to move the ball. For example, at least three times throughout the game the ball was hiked significantly high and long over the quarterback’s head. These miscues came of course at a bad time and deep within their own territory.
The Vikings scored their first touchdown late in the 1st quarter off of a 32 yard pass play. They could not convert the PAT so the score was 6-0 ending the 1st quarter. Both teams had trouble with the ball during QB to running back exchanges. The 1st quarter ended with a Thunder turnover that the Vikings would turn into a score. This time the Vikings would convert a 2-point conversion and the score would be 14-0 Vikings.
Around the 3 minute mark in the 2nd quarter the Thunder miscue a snap and the Vikings recover the ball on the Thunder 6 yard line. The Thunder defense held the Vikings who got within 1. With 4th and goal the Vikings fumbled the ball and it went out of bounds giving the ball to the Thunder on their own 20 yard line.
Most of the 3rd quarter both teams showed that that they could not significantly move the ball against one another. Then the Thunder showed potential with a drive deep into Viking territory. They fought down to the 1 yard line and fumbled the ball. The Vikings recover and the drive was over. The 3rd quarter would end with the Vikings still up by 14.
Early around the 8 minute mark the Viking defense intercepted a Thunder pass and made it to the 32 yard line. This would begin a long possession until the Vikings would score at 4:05 remaining in the game. They would convert a 2-point pass play bringing the final score 22-0 Vikings.Wait, not done yet there is :19.4 seconds left on the clock. Who never gives up? #24, Ben Nordman pounds his way to the end zone for an 11 yard TD. The Thunder convert the 2-points and now the clock runs out with a score 22-8 Vikings.
I would expect that the Thunder will spend a little extra effort working on some basic fundamentals this week. There is spirit there just need to improve the execution.
Sophomore Football Photo Gallery Click Here
So the Belvidere North Blue Thunder are coming off of 2 straight losses and plan to make that an old statistic tonight. They come into Swanson Stadium to face the Guilford Vikings with something to prove. I believe they did tonight. Victory was in their corner and they deserved it.
Guilford drew first blood at 6:49 scoring after a relatively smooth drive right down the field. It looked like the Thunder were making adjustments and were not quite tuned in yet. A 5 yard touchdown and a successful PAT made the score 7-0 Vikings.
So what, who is one of the most dynamic running backs in the NIC-10? #21, Austin Smaha who sprints 63 yards for a touchdown for the Thunder. This came at an excellent time since historically this team gets down on themselves a bit when scored upon. #45 Luke Bannon, Mr OnTarget for PATs runs into his first trouble of the season and misses the PAT. The score Thunder 6, Vikings 7. The Vikings then eat up the clock in the 1st and fight all the way down to the Thunder 5 yard line only to be stopped by the defense led by #55, Dustin Dussault. I asked Dussault if he was healthy before the game and he assured me he was. Good to have him back leading the defense.
8:25 into the 2nd quarter and the Vikings running back goes 46 yards into the end zone. This particular running back would prove to be a challenge for the Thunder throughout the game. The PAT was good and the score was now 14-6 Vikings.
The Thunder have another pretty good threat and that is the Quarterback #7, Justin Ellingson. Ellingson score at the 6:21 mark from 17 yards out; scampering right in the middle of the line following a fake handoff. The Thunder go for 2. Ellingson to #84, Jordan Zickert and the pass is complete. The game is tied at 14. The Vikings get the ball following the kickoff and make a few plays eating up a lot of clock. So the Thunder end up with the ball with hardly anything left before halftime. Smaha takes it 4 yards into the end zone. Bannon good on the PAT. :23.4 seconds left and the score going into the halftime activities 21-14 Thunder.
The 3rd quarter shows nothing but hard hitting football from both teams. Then at 2:50 the Vikings bring in 7 points off of a dive to the right side of the defensive line from 1 yard out. They missed the PAT but come to within one point of the Thunder 20-21.
The 4th quarter, where it super tough when you want your team to win so badly and you cannot move the clock fast enough. At 8:43 I believe I saw the best executed pass play from the Thunder offense to date this season. Ellingson to #80, Jake Mcintyre connect for a 78 yard touchdown. Bannon nails the PAT making the score 28-20 Thunder.
7:15 the Vikings who are pounding hard with their offense score from mid field. They also nail their 2-point conversion and the ball game is tied at 28. The Thunder get the kickoff and drive down the field. At 1:43 the Thunder unable to get 7 points decide to settle for 3, in comes Bannon. Bannon is good from 19 yards out and the score is Thunder 31, Vikings 28. The Vikings try to move the ball but #89, intercepts a Viking pass sealing the victory for the Thunder. The final score 31-28 Thunder.
Coach Z had this to say to his team following the game; “whatever it takes, whatever it takes, the thing I am most proud of is the guys that stepped up and did a pretty decent job out there tonight. That is very encouraging. We still have to work on our defense a bit but we will. Next week is homecoming and do not let the distractions take away your focus be ready to play.”
Congratulations Thunder you fought a hard battle tonight and deserve the victory. Don’t rest on your laurels keep up the hard work and be ready for homecoming.
Good Luck next week Thunder.
Varsity Football Photo Gallery Click Here
Provided By Coach Ryan Zarembski
