Vale claims EOL title in close game
‘They gave us their best punch, and we did not fall down.’
By Scott Ford
Argus Observer
Sunday, November 4, 2007 2:04 AM PST
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| Vale place kicker Darin Johnson gets his field goal attempt blocked during the Vikings Eastern Oregon League game against Grant Union Friday. Vale was attempting to take a three-point lead into the locker room with the kick. The Vikings went on to win the game 17-7 in Vale and won the EOL championship. Vale will host Amity Saturday at 1 p.m. in the opening round of the 3A state playoff. |
Vale - How do you spell Champs?
Well in Vale, it is spelled V-I-K-I-N-G-S!
Friday night the Eastern Oregon League championship came down to two teams, both undefeated in league play battling it out in Vale.
When the dust settled, it was Vale who stood on top with a 17-7 thrilling win over the Prospectors of Grant Union.
The Prospectors opened the game with a 51-yard jaunt to get on the board first, and took an early 7-0 lead with 5:11 left in the opening quarter of play.
Vale answered the score in the second quarter when Tyler Pirrie threw a perfect pass to Russell Seals to the corner of the end zone for the tying score with 3:03 left in the second quarter.
Vale tried to take the lead at the break with a 31-yard field goal by Darin Johnson, but the kick was blocked and the half ended in a seven all tie.
During the break, Vale head coach Jeff Jacobs said he told his team that he thought Grant Union had just given them their best shot, and that they (Vale) were in good shape.
“They gave us their best punch, and we did not fall down,” Jacobs said.
The Vikings responded and took the 10-7 lead in the third quarter when Johnson booted a 26-yard field goal with 2:51 to play in the third.
Grant Union trailing by three needed a score in a bad way to quiet the home town crowd, but instead, the Vale defense pumped up the fans with one great stand after another.
The third frame ended with Vale on the move offensively, and as the fourth began, the Vikings marched 63 yards on six plays, highlighted by Pirrie’s 46-yard run to the Prospectors 17 yard line.
A few plays later, Skerjanec pounded the ball into the end zone to extend the lead to 17-7.
The Viking defense held strong and kept the Prospectors’ offense running for their lives, as the Vikings applied a consistent barrage of pressure on each and every play the remainder of the game.
When the clock read zeros, the scene was like that of a college game.
The fans came spilling out of the bleachers and onto the field to celebrate with the new EOL champion Vale Vikings.
Vale outgained the Prospectors 252 yards to 164 yards, out rushed Grant Union 180 to 119.
“I think the team stepped up tonight and did a great job,” Jacobs said. “But I did not take off the headset until late in the game, I’ve seen too many situations where a team gets a big play, then recovers an on-side kick and then your in a mess.”
Meanwhile, sitting alone on the sideline was Argus Observer reporter Ray Rodriguez as he dealt with the blow, and faced the reality of soon being a bald reporter.
Vale will host Amity at 1 p.m. Saturday in the opening round of the 3A state tournament.
