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The Gibraltar Vikings stole the game's first possession but had the ball taken from them for much of the night in a 38-15 loss to Oneida Nation/NEW Lutheran/Providence Academy Friday night at Oneida Nation High School.
On the first kickoff, Braden Sitte recovered an onside kick that put the Vikings in United territory for the first drive of the game. They would later score when Giovanni Mercier found Sitte in the endzone for a touchdown to spot the Vikings a 7-0 lead. The United would drive on the next possession, but a forced fumble recovered by Will Lecy gave the ball back to the Vikings. Mercier's ensuing pass would be picked off by Jedi Gbaja-Biamila to stake the United to an 8-7 lead they would not give up. While the Vikings would throw two more interceptions and have a field goal attempt blocked in the second quarter, the United's Bryce Liebzeit would find the endzone once more before the break to make it a 16-7 margin.
Liebzeit would take over in the second half, galloping for three more touchdowns all from 30-plus yards to lead the United to a homecoming victory. Aiding in those scores were short fields earned by the United's defense, which recovered a Mercier fumble and picked off Vikings quarterbacks three more times (one Mercier, two Sitte). The lone highlight of the second half for the Vikings was Sitte's 80-yard quarterback scramble for a touchdown in the fourth quarter after he swapped positions with Mercier.
The Vikings will try to salvage their regular season with a home date against their local rivals Sevastopol on Thursday in Fish Creek. Tim Kowols will have the call on 105.1 The GOAT and NEWRadioSportsNetwork.com.
