(Avoca, IA) — AHSTW scored three straight touchdowns in the second half and broke open a close game in a 42-22 win over Riverside in a clash of Highway 59 rivals on Friday night.
The outcome of the game was not so clear in the first half as the score went back and forth thanks to lots of penalties and lots of big plays. Both teams had turnovers on their opening possession and after a 3 and out for AHSTW, the Bulldogs struck first on a 31 yard TD from Jaxon Gordon. The Vikings came back quickly on a three minute drive capped by a Camden Soukop 22 yard TD pass to Zeb Hall, the extra point was no good and Riverside kept the lead 7-6.
On the ensuing kickoff, Cole Jeppersen would hand the ball off to Gordon who returned it 70 yards all the way to the AHSTW 10. However, the Bulldogs would fail to capitalize as the Vikings had a great goal line stand with Kyle Sandbothe making a great tackle on Gordon on 4th down to keep it a one point game. Shortly afterward, Luke Sternberg broke it open in the middle of the field for an 89 yard TD run and AHSTW had their first lead 12-7.
Riverside answered back fast — they converted a 3rd and 20 on a 59 yard catch and run from AC Roller from Landyn Schoenrock and Gordon would slam into the end zone for a 2 yard score and the Bulldogs were back up 15-12.
Again it would be a short lived lead as AHSTW got another big play, this time Soukop hit Hall on a 66 yard TD pass and the Vikings led 18-15 at the half.
The Bulldogs had deferred on the coin toss so they had the ball first in the second half and their drive stalled quickly but Sternberg would muff the punt and Riverside recovered at midfield. Gordon would eventually end the drive on a 5 yard TD to make it 22-18. Neither team scored on their next drive but AHSTW finally got moving midway through the 3rd quarter and Soukop would hook up with Hall again on a 20 yard TD pass for the 5th and final lead change of the night — the Vikings led 26-22.
Late in the third quarter, Riverside had played the field possession game and started a drive at the AHSTW 30 after a poor Viking punt. Facing a third down, Schoenrock would be pressured and his pass was deflected into the hands of DL Kaden Jorgensen for a lineman’s dream interception. The Vikings would take advantage of the turnover and Soukop would run it in for a 25 yard TD to make it 34-22. Soukop would then put the exclamation point on the night with a 24 yard TD to Hall and the Vikings had their win.
For Riverside, Gordon finished with 29 carries for 151 yards and 3 TD. Schoenrock struggled in the passing game, going 4-19 for 43 yards and an INT. Riverside had 33 passing yards and 238 rushing yards for 271 yards of total offense.
For AHSTW, Sternberg had 12 carries for 182 yards and 1 TD plus 3 receptions for 45 yards. Soukop had 11 carries for 39 yards an a TD and was 10-24 passing for 237 yards, 4 TD and 2 INT. Hall had a spectacular night with 6 catches for 161 yards and 4 TD. The Vikings had 521 yards of total offense, 237 passing and 284 rushing.
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