Football: Can't stop the Vikings

Charlo’s offense hums as Absarokee is booted from the

playoffs

CHARLO - The Charlo Vikings football team wasn't expecting what unfolded during their firstround playoff matchup against 10th-ranked Absarokee to actually happen, but they'll certainly take it.

"That surprised us," Vikings head coach Mike Krahn said. "We came out on fire and overwhelemed them."

Tra Ludeman accounted for three touchdowns on Charlo's first three possessions as the Vikings raced to a 34-3 first-quarter lead en route to a 48-9 blowout of Absarokee on Saturday, Oct. 29.

Charlo came out fired up and well-rested, having not played since defeating Seeley-Swan 10 days prior. The home-field advantage for the firstround game was big, but just as important was the rest.

"Home-field advantage is great, since it's all familiar, but the other thing was that it was nice to have the extra break after playing Seeley-Swan on Wednesday," Krahn said. "We were fresh. We gave the kids a three-day weekend, so we were healthy and hungry for a game."

After Ludeman scored on a 30-yard touchdown run for an early 6-0 lead, the Huskies marched down the field in convincing fashion, but the Viking defense was able to hold them to a field goal.

"We'll trade them six-for-three all day," Krahn shouted in encouragement as his defense came off the field.

Fortunately, they wouldn't have to.

Ludeman opened the next drive with a 62-yard score to build a 14-3 lead. Then, the game changed. On a swing pass in the flat, Jacen Petersen took the ball from an Absarokee receiver and returned it for six to inflate the lead to 20 3. On the Huskies' next possession, Kolten Andrews intercepted a pass down the right side, which turned into a 10-yard strike from Ludeman to Webb O'Neill and the rout was on.

"The turning point was Petersen's strip and return for a touchdown," Krahn said. "That took the wind out of their sails. On our next defensive possession, we got an interception and returned it to the red zone. Those two plays were huge."

The Viking defense then got a stop and Petersen rewarded the effort with a 58-yard touchdown run to make it 34-3 late in the first. The last 28 points of the first came in a span of just 3:36.

With their backs against the wall to open the second quarter, the Huskies failed on a 4th-and-goal attempt.

Ludeman responded with a 1-yard plunge halfway through the second quarter, which gave Charlo a 40-3 halftime lead.

"In those situations, we talk about finishing," Krahn said of his halftime talk to his team. "We tell the kids it's 0-0 and crazier things have happened. The words we put on the board were ‘Finish the job.'"

That they did. On another Absarokee 4th-and-goal, O'Neill picked off a pass to end the Husky drive. Justin Krahn then found O'Neill on the ensuing possession for a 48-3 edge. The Huskies added the only score of the fourth quarter, long after most of Charlo's starters had called it a day. The Vikings reward for such a dominating performance? A 680-mile-long bus ride east to face Fairview High School, the top seed in the East region. Fairview opened their postseason run with a 68-30 victory over Centerville.

Fairview High is just three-tenths of a mile from the North Dakota border. It's a heady challenge for Krahn's group, but one they can overcome.

"Obviously, it's a long bus ride," Krahn said. "We have the longest trip in the state. It's a mental thing rather than physical. We just have to stay focused. We'll get there and we'll get home. It'll take a while, but we'll get there. But we have a football game and we need to stay focused. I actually like going on the road. It unites the team and creates an ‘us against the world in a hostile environment' feel."

Charlo's quarter-final matchup with Fairview is set for Saturday, Nov. 5 at 1 p.m.