11/3/2009 3:20:00 PM Vikings struggle in last game of regular season Head into post season play with 8-2 record
Ryan Williams/WGCN
Darius Brown calls a play during the Vikings' loss to St. Johns. The Vikes play Valley Christian Friday in the first round of State playoffs.
Ryan Williams Williams-Grand Canyon News Reporter
WILLIAMS - The Williams High School Vikings took a beating from rival St. Johns last week, losing with a final score of 56-7.
St. Johns scored three touchdowns in both the first quarter and second quarter to end the second half ahead 42-0. The Vikes were unable to put any points on the scoreboard until the third quarter, when Darius Brown connected with Jr. Esparza for the Vikes' only touchdown of the game. St. Johns went on to score two more touchdowns, one in the third quarter and another in the fourth quarter.
Coach Jeff Brownlee said the Vikings coaching staff felt that going in to the match up, they had put together a solid game plan.
"We prepared a few different offensive sets but they just physically beat us," he said. "Things went into disarray in the first half."
St. Johns completely shut down the Vikings' running game, holding the Vikes to just 28 yards on the ground over four quarters. Tyler Krombeen ran the ball seven times for eight yards. Rashaan Drake ran for a team high of 16 yards on six carries.
Quarterback Darius Brown completed eight passes on 20 attempts with one touchdown and three interceptions. Jr. Esparza caught the ball five times for 86 yards and Jamal Drake caught the ball one time for 23 yards.
At halftime, Brownlee told the Vikes they needed to come out and score immediately in the second half. The Vikings were able to put seven points on the board and hold St. Johns to one touchdown.
"It was a 7-7 game in the third quarter. We need to take some of that third quarter momentum to Phoenix," he said.
The Vikings head into the State final playoffs ranked ninth in Arizona Division 2A with a season record of 8-2. They take on the Valley Christian Trojans (8-1 for the season) in an away game on Friday in the Valley.
Brownlee said team moral is high despite last week's season ending loss.
"We're in a new season now. We've got a clean slate, a 0-0 record," he said.
Brownlee went on to say Valley Christian's only loss of the season was to Northwest Christian, the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. He expects the game to be challenging but said after a good week of practice the Vikings will be ready.
