Crescent Height High School Vikings Rylan Cozart-Smith tackles a Brooks ball carrier in the second half of action Friday night at the Methanex Bowl during a 27-13 win against the visiting Buffaloes.--NEWS PHOTO BRENDAN MILLER
bmiller@medicinehatnews.com
Kick returner Jayden James ran the ball 85 yards to score a touchdown to start the second half to lead his Crescent Height High School Vikings to a 27-13 win against the visiting Brooks Buffalos on Friday night under the lights at the Methanex Bowl.
The Vikings went into halftime with a 9-6 lead over the Buffalos following the very first touchdown scored by Vikings senior Tyler Connauton.
“We’re really happy because Tyler has been a player on our team for three years, and we haven’t been able to get him in the end zone,” said head coach Anthony Anderson. “So that was one of those plays where he was not being denied there, he got this first touchdown.”
Following halftime, the Vikings took the field to receive the ball when James made his electric kickoff return to start the third with fireworks.
James said he was originally going to run the play up the left side of the field, but received a huge block from a teammate and decided to run the ball up the right side, giving the Vikings a 15-6 lead.
“I saw an opening on the right so I just ran it about 85 yards into the house, brought it home,” said James. “Got to get the team hyped and got to get back into it.”
Brooks responded with a touchdown in the third quarter to close the gap to 15-13.
But with about five minutes left in the fourth quarter, Viking Brady Kostrub ran the ball into the end zone, Following a blocked extra point, the lead was now 21-13.
The Vikings sealed victory with an interception by Braxtyn Anderson Martinson with roughly two minutes left on the clock during a Brooks drive.
The pick would lead to a third and goal situation for the Vikings who scored the touchdown with one minute and 25 seconds left on the clock as Coltyn Lebel drove the ball past the goal line.
Coach Anderson says his team gave a great effort, especially during the second half.
“We executed well and it was a great second effort from everybody. People were hungry to get in the end zone tonight, so it’s like they were not being denied.”
Moving forward this season, Anderson says the team still builds off the momentum of the win.
“We still have a lot of things to clean up, but I think the guys are feeling good, they feel that we’re bringing everything together, I just love the momentum, I love everything about how we’re performing.”
