Vikings wins gridiron battle with Warriors
Charlo Viking quarterback Hayden Hollow, shown here in last year's opener against Arlee, was formidable in last week's narrow loss to Valley Christian. (Lake County Leader file photo)
Arlee Warrior quarterback Kendall O'Neill completes a pass to an open receiver during the second quarter of Friday evening’s home game against the Charlo Vikings. (Rob Zolman/Lake County Leader)
Charlo Viking Keaton Piedalue snags a pass for a first down during Friday evening’s road game against the Arlee Warriors. (Rob Zolman/Lake County Leader)
Arlee Warrior running back Jace Arca slips through a Viking defender’s tackle for a first down during Friday evening’s home game against the Charlo Vikings. (Rob Zolman/Lake County Leader)
ARLEE – Playing on the road Friday, the Charlo Vikings improved to 2-0 on the young football season with a 58-12 victory over cross county and conference rivals Arlee Warriors.
“We are pleased with our work on the field,” said Viking head coach Reese Cox. “We are still polishing the iron to strive for that perfect game.”
Charlo opened a 22-0 lead in the first quarter on a Tucker Love one-yard run TD run, a Keaton Piedalue 30-yard touchdown rumble and a Piedalue 15-yard pick-six.
Arlee stormed back in the second quarter closing the gap to 30-12 on two scoring passes of 26-yards and 21-yards by Warrior junior quarterback Kendall O'Neill.
The Vikings built a 38-12 third quarter lead on a Piedalue 52-yard run, while closing out the game with two touchdowns from Hayden Hollow to Stetson Reum and Piedalue.
A Ryan Sharbono 16-yard interception return for a touchdown capped the 58-12 win.
Viking quarterback Hollow completed 7-of-12 passes for 97 yards and two TDs.
Piedalue had a big night on the ground, gaining 146 yards on 12 carries and scoring two TDs, while adding two receptions for 36 yards and a touchdown.
“Keaton Piedalue had a great game,” said coach Cox. “He has really become a ‘where do we feel like putting him now’ kind of player. He now has two straight games with a pick six.”
Arlee QB O'Neill was 10-of-26 passing for 132 yards and two scores, while Matthew Johnson caught five passes for 85 yards and a score, and Jace Arca nabbed three catches for 31-yards and a TD.
“We didn’t come out ready to go,” said Arlee Warrior head coach Quinn Huisman. “But we fought back and had our chances to make it less than a one score game before and after halftime. If we had come out ready to go, it would have been a different story.”
