It was the worst of halves, it was the best of halves that still left the Gibraltar Vikings on the losing end of a 30-16 decision to the NEW Lutheran/Providence Academy Blazers on Thursday.
The Blazers struck first in the opening the game when Hayden Schultz found Cashe Martin for a 41 yard touchdown pass to make it 6-0. The Vikings drove the length of the field, only to fumble in the red zone and see the Blazers turn it into another touchdown drive, this time concluding with a 37 yard touchdown pass from Schultz to Julian Trimberger to make it 14-0. It was a case of deja vu in the Vikings' second drive as they fumbled the ball again in the red zone only to see the Blazers turn it into another touchdown to make it 22-0 The Blazers capped off their scoring on a Andrew Kim four-yard touchdown catch following a blocked punt to make it 30-0 at the break.
The Vikings started the second half on the wrong foot when Hobbs Emerson threw an interception deep in Blazers territory. That set up a momentum shift in their favor when Wyatt Bultman sacked Schultz in the endzone to make it 30-2. On the ensuing drive, Emerson led the Vikings down the field before cashing in on a one yard touchdown carry to make it 30-10.
After a short Bultman kick that was recovered by the Vikings, Emerson engineered another scoring drive, this time ending with Jake Larson's first touchdown of the season on a clever misdirection in the backfield.
Long drives made possessions limited in the fourth quarter with neither team able to find the endzone. Emerson nearly snuck in to make it a one score game with just over 90 seconds remaining, but the Blazers' James Roeske made a tackle short of the pylon to prevent the Vikings comeback from continuing.
The Vikings are back in action next Friday night when they welcome Oneida Nation to Fish Creek. Tim Kowols will have the call on 105.1 The GOAT beginning at 6:45 p.m. followed by kickoff at 7 p.m.