Vikings Win Shootout At OK Elks Field Corral
Scoring 61 points is usually enough to win a football game.
But for the visiting Fort Qu’Appelle Bisons it wasn’t enough to secure a victory as the Vanier Vikings responded massively in response.
The Vikings would go on to win their home opener.
In the end the Vikings defeated the Bisons 84 - 61 in what could best be described as an old fashioned shootout where the word defence simply went out the window.
The Vikings jump on a loose ball - MJ Independent photo
“.We had a little bit of deficiency on the defensive side,” Bisons head coach Craig Geisler said stating losing a game after scoring 61 points was unexpected.
The Bisons are new to the nine man league this season. A league which has had some major shakeups this year.
Maple Creek and Gull Lake downgraded from nine man to six man league play.
The Notre Dame Hounds are no longer fielding a high school football team.
“I knew our offence was good. We’ve been putting up lots of points all year but we have just got to learn a way to stop the ball. We are going to have to work on that,” Geisler said.
About the last three minutes of the first half when the teams scored five touchdowns he said it was “crazy.”
Bisons’ Ty Anardi makes a catch on a two point conversion attempt despite coverage from the Vikings’ Guy Favel - MJ Independent photo
“It was good. It was good game the guys battled hard and we gave just got to get a little bit better on D (defence),” he said.
Geisler said despite losing the Bisins played well.
“The effort is there. We are going to learn and there are. Growing pains but we’ll get better next week and see what we can do.”
For Vanier Vikings head coach Luke Tkachuk it was a great offensive battle where the defence was lost by both side.
“Defence had their hiccups but that is to be expected this early in the season. But it was a great competition all night long,” he said.
The Bisons’ Sheridan Pinay makes a catch after getting behind Vikings defender Guy Favel - MJ Independent photo
Tkachuk said he was expecting the way the game turned out.
“When we played them last year in exhibition or this year’s exhibition it’s always a grudge match against these guys. It was a great shootout.”
About the 71 points needed to seal the victory he said “it’s whatever it takes to do it.”
The Vikings held the lead all night long.
The score after the first quarter was Vikings 13 and Busons 0.
The score at half time was Vikings 51 and Bisons 35.
The score at the end of the third quarter was Vikings 64 and Bisons 43.
The final score was Vikings 84 and Bisons 61.
The Vikings go for a single point convert - MJ Independent photo
“A couple of injuries on defence hurt us but we had some of the younger guys step up and do a good job.”
“It was a great team effort and win all around,” he said.
About going almost three hours to complete the game Tkachuk said it was no worries it is what it is.
The Vikings will be back to play another game under the lights as they face new conference member Indian Head.
