VIKINGS PILLAGE ONTARIO

Jessica Keller | Argus Observer Ontario running back Loren Stewart (12) sweeps up the side to break away from Vale defenders, including Justin Fife (50), in a 52-touchdown run in the first quarter of Ontario’s game against Vale Friday at Tiger Stadium in Ontario. Vale beat Ontario 21-15.

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As soon as the last second ticked off the clock, Viking fans poured onto Tiger Stadium field to congratulate and praise the Vale football team, while Ontario fans and players slowly trickled out.

“I think we had a chip on our shoulders,” Vale head football coach Jeff Jacobs said after the contest. “Mainly because of the tradition behind the game, and our kids get tired of hearing they’re not very good.”

Jacobs said he was pleased with the Vikings’ aggression and the way they capitalized on the momentum of the game.

The Vale defense clamped down on the Ontario offense throughout the game, forcing the Tigers’ hand in a number of plays for a loss of yardage.

“Well, I think we were out-of-sync the whole game, and that’s a tribute to Vale,” Ontario Tiger head coach Randy Waite said. “They came out ready to play and did what Vale does best.”

After a sloppy third quarter by the Tigers, where they spent most of the 12 minutes fighting for possession and gaining it only twice, Ontario rallied in the fourth period.

Trailing 21-7 midway through the last quarter, the Tigers closed the deficit to 21-15 after Matt Mauney scored on a 1-yard run, which was followed by a successful two-point conversion run by running back Loren Stewart with 6:11 remaining.

Stewart, a powerhouse for the Tigers in past weeks, continued to run the ball well Friday night, piling up 101 yards on 11 carries, including one 52-yard dash to the end zone in the first quarter to put the Tigers on the board first.

The game’s outcome might have turned out differently for Ontario if Sap’s first quarter run into the endzone had not been called back because of an illegal block penalty.

The rest of the game, however, showcased Vale and its running attack, led by Luke Skerjanec. The Vikings racked up 245 rushing yards in the game. Skerjanec ate up 129 of those yards on 28 carries and scored all of Vale’s three touchdowns.

Skerjanec was instrumental in tying the game at 7 in the second quarter after scoring on a 4-yard run.

He found the end zone again in the third quarter, following a series of miscues that ironically turned out in Vale’s favor. After two penalties forced Vale into a long yardage situation deep within Viking territory, Vale quarterback Zack Hevner gave the ball to Brennan Pilon, who fumbled the ball forward after taking a hit by Ontario’s Nick David. Vale’s Cam Anthony recovered the ball, however, and during the comedy of errors, picked up Vale’s needed first down. Skerjanec went on to score on a 14-yard run, which put the Vikings up 13-7.

“That’s just the ball rolling your way,” Jacobs said.

Skerjanec’s last touchdown of the night came in the fourth stanza on a 1-yard run, which was capped by a successful two-point conversion.

Hevner also had a big game for the Vikings, rushing for 72 yards on 17 carries and completing 5-of-7 passes for 76 yards.

“I just thought Zack just did so much better,” Jacobs said. “He played like a seasoned quarterback.”

Ontario (2-1) travels to Burns next week, while Vale (1-1) travels to Baker City.