Vikings lose to Ravens

Published 10:22 am Tuesday, August 12, 2008

EDMONDS

Renton made the plays, while Snohomish County didn’t.

Two spectacular catches in the fourth quarter lifted the Ravens to a 24-21 victory over the Vikings in a Northwest Football League game Aug. 2 at Edmonds Stadium.

After losing its first six games of the season, Renton has put together back-to-back victories for the first time since 2005.

“The guys are playing as a team,” said Ravens coach George Jackson. “We finally figured out we can’t be individuals out on the field. We’ve got to play as a team to win.”

One individual who made all the difference in Saturday’s game was quarterback Andre Jackson, a recent addition to the Renton roster.

With the Ravens leading 18-14 in the fourth quarter, Jackson lofted a perfect pass to wide receiver Roderick Gray, who made an over-the-back catch just inches ahead of the fingers of a Snohomish County defender for a 23-yard touchdown reception to extend the Renton lead to 24-14 with 9:20 left in the game.

“Our DB (defensive back) had it covered,” said Snohomish County Vikings coach Wes Fischer. “(He told me,) ‘I was sure I was going to pick the ball (off). The wind must have pushed it a little further and I just couldn’t stop it.’”

Quarterback Jackson came up with another key pass later in the quarter when the Vikings had cut the deficit to 24-21. Facing a third-and-seven at the 50-yard line late in the game, Jackson lofted a pass to a wide receiver, also named Andre Jackson, who made an over-the-shoulder catch at the 18-yard line for a first down. With four more downs, the Ravens were able to run out the clock to secure the victory.

“He (quarterback Jackson) has been with us for a few weeks,” coach Jackson said. “He has some great legs. He can move around and has a great arm.”

Renton has struggled to put up points when its gets inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.

“We’ve just having a problem getting in the end zone,” coach Jackson said. “(Wide receiver) Andre Jackson has been catching balls left and right, going up and down the field. We just can’t punch it in. … They just pulled it together today.”

While the Ravens were celebrating, the Vikings were left wondering: What if?

Fischer decided on two occasions to not attempt a field goal deep in Renton territory. Both times Snohomish County could not convert on fourth and short.

If he had it over to do again, Fischer said he would have sent out kicker Larry Moody.

“If we had gone for those, I think I was almost guaranteed a six there between the two of them,” Fischer said. “I didn’t call them because the last two weeks … we’ve been going on fourth-and-three and (making it). I called my kicker off the field twice. That just wasn’t good percentage football. I really feel it was my fault.”

Snohomish County (3-5) and Renton (2-6) both won’t be in the playoffs this season as Puget Sound (8-0) and Seattle (6-2) have clinched the two North Division berths. For the Vikings and Ravens, the remaining games are about laying a foundation for the future and both teams are optimistic.

“We’ve talked with most of the guys and most of the guys are going to be back with us next season,” Fischer said. “I think we’ll just be able to build on what we’ve done so far.”

Jackson noted that the Ravens recently had some players leave the team. Renton suited up noticably fewer players than Snohomish County.

“We figured out it’s easier to play with guys who want to play with us,” coach Jackson said. “You don’t have to have 80 guys on your sidelines to win football games. You need 11 guys on both sides that want to play football. … We’re looking for a cast of guys to stick around that’ll come back next season, already know the program and help the younger guys catch on.”

Quarterback Jackson scored on a 1-yard run to give Renton a 6-0 lead midway through the first quarter. Renton went for two points on all four of their touchdowns but did not convert on any of them. Snohomish County responded with a 14-play, 59-yard scoring drive that was capped by a 14-yard touchdown pass by quarterback Hal Bisnett to tight end Mike Seekins. Moody’s extra point gave the Vikings a 7-6 lead with 49 seconds left in the first quarter.

The Vikings took a 14-6 lead when Bisnett scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak three minutes into the second quarter. Renton cut the lead to 14-12 on a 4-yard touchdown run by running back Willie McGee with 1:42 left in the first half.

Snohomish County returned the kickoff to its own 41 and then Bisnett engineered a drive down to the Renton 5 when the Vikings called a timeout.

Instead of kicking a field goal, Snohomish County tried a halfback option play that ended in a sack as time ran out.

Snohomish County missed another scoring opportunity early in the third quarter. A botched punt attempt in which the Renton punter was forced to throw an incomplete pass gave the Vikings the ball on the Renton 18, but the Vikings turned the ball over on downs when they could not convert on a fourth-and-three at the 11. Snohomish County was about a yard short on fourth down.

Renton then mounted an 18-play, 91-yard scoring drive to take an 18-14 lead. Running back Johnny King scored on an 8-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter. Snohomish County’s offense went three-and-out on its next series and Renton added to its lead with the Jackson-to-Gray touchdown.

The Vikings cut the deficit to 24-21 on a 31-yard pass from Bisnett to wide receiver Jimmy McCollum at the 6:48 mark of the fourth quarter and then the Snohomish County defense forced a Renton fumble on the first play from scrimmage. Snohomish County recovered the ball on the Raven 43 but only advanced the ball to the 36 turning it over on downs. The Vikings were unable to convert on a fourth-and-three.

“They shut us down,” Fischer said of the Ravens.

Fischer has been pleased with the progress of Bisnett, who is in his first season with the team. Bissett completed 9-of-16 passes for 88 yards and two touchdowns.

The addition of three wide receivers has given the Vikings’ offense a boost.

“We do have the personnel to be able to throw now,” Fischer said. “Hal is really starting to feel comfortable as a quarterback and he’s stepping up.”

Snohomish County faces the Seattle Stallions at 6 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 9 at Ingraham High School.

“I do know that they’ve got an awful lot of talent on that ball club,” Fischer said. “I think we’re going to have to stick to our run game and keep their offense off the field.”

The Vikings wrap up the regular season against Puget Sound at 6 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 16 at Edmonds Stadium.