Vikings drop hard-fought battle

It was a hard hitting, hard played game on Friday night, when the Ventura Vikings traveled to Clarksville to take on the eighth ranked Indians in District 3 action.  The Vikings gave the Indians a run for their money, leading the game by one point with 1:40 remaining in the game, but one last touchdown in the final minute of play gave Clarksville the 49-42 victory.
    Ventura got on the board first with a four-yard run to the end zone by Joel Watson.  Watson also ran in the two-point conversion for an 8-0 first quarter lead.
    Clarksville dominated the second quarter.  The Indians capitalized on some big Viking mistakes and raked up four touchdowns.

    The Vikings scored another touchdown just before half on a long, 52-yard pass from Ryan Schmitz to Watson.  The two-point conversion failed for a halftime score of 26-14.    
    “Our goal on defense was to take away their inside running game, because Clarksville likes to hammer the football,” said Coach Mark Pueggel.
    The Ventura coaching staff also knew that Clarksville had a good run defense, so the plan was to pass the ball more.  In the second half, the Vikings sent the ball through the air and started collecting some yards.  Schmitz connected with four different receivers for 334 yards.
    Schmitz opened the second half with a 46-yard pass to Shawn Murphy for a Viking TD, 26-20.  Clarksville answered that by scoring on a kick-off return, 33-20.  Schmitz ran the ball in from the one-yard line for another Viking TD.  Watson ran the ball in for the two-point conversion, 33-28.  Clarksville again scored and the two-point conversion was good, 41-28.  Watson plunged the ball in from the two-yard line for his third touchdown, the two-point conversion failed for a third quarter score of 41-34.
    Murphy scored again, this time on a 22-yard pass.  Schmitz hit Murphy in the endzone for the two-point conversion and Ventura took a one-point lead, 42-41, with 1:40 remaining on the clock.
    Clarksville was not to be denied in front of their home crowd.  They scored again and connected on the two-point conversion for the final 49-42 victory.
    “We had the opportunity to win the game, but we just gave up a few too many big plays and had - Read More Via e-Edition