Vikings continue mastery of Pack
| Saturday, Oct 03 2009 12:12 AM
Last Updated Saturday, Oct 03 2009 12:12 AM
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West proved its resilsence by coming back twice to beat the host Ridgeview Wolf Pack 42-35 Friday night in the Southwest Yosemite League opener for both teams.
The Vikings (2-2, 1-0) trailed 35-28 after three quarters but managed to improve to 8-0 all-time against the Wolf Pack with two short fourth-quarter touchdown drives, both set up by their defense.
"Hats off to my kids," West coch Chad Grider said. "They played their hearts out. We had a guy (Sebastian Rivera) go down and go to the hospital. They pulled together. It was a total team effort."
Tyler Dogins had 34 carries for 264 yards and five touchdowns for Ridgeview (4-1, 0-1 SWYL) but West held him in check in the final quarter, forcing two punts that allowest the Vikings' comeback.
"We got off our blitzes a little bit and just played base defense and read our keys," Grider said. "We made a few adjustments here and there with some line stunts and it just so happened to work out for."
Two third-quarter West fumbles helped Ridgeview erase a seven-point deficit and regain the lead with Dogins' fourth and fifth touchdowns of the game.
Mustafaa Cobb had 113 yards rushing on 24 carries, and a touchdown for West.
West stormed back from a 21-7 second-quarter deficit to score three touchdowns in the final four minutes of the half and take a 28-21 lead into the intermission.
Dogins had 208 yards and three touchdowns plus 56 yards passing in the first half as Ridgeview appeared to be in control.
But after Dogins' third TD with 4:04 remaing in the half, Taiyon Jackson returned the ensuing kickoff 75 yards to cut the Vikings' deficit to seven.
West's defense stiffened on Ridgeview's final two possessions of the first half, quickly forcing a punt and then forcing a turnover by stripping Dogins.
The Vikings turned the good field position on both occassions into quick scoring drives ending with touchdown runs by quarterback Franklin Simmons.
Simmons finished with 11 carries for 51 yards and three rushing touchdowns. He was also 10-of-16 for 157 yards with a touchdown passing.
Ridgeview came out in a no-huddle offense to start the game and scored touchdowns on its first drives.
Dogins had a hand in all 74 yards of the Wolf Pack's first scoring drive, passing for four and rushing for another 70 including a 15-yard touchdown less than two minutes into the game.
On Ridgeview's next possession Dogins again quickly moved Ridgeview down field with a mixture of strong running and acurate passing. After back-to-back completions for 32 yards moved the ball to the West 33 yard line, Dogins carried three times for 27 yards and another touchdown.
Sandwiched inbetween West went on a 67-yard scoring march that was capped off by a 30-yard touch pass from Franklin Simmons to Michael Dunn.
"I think this is huge for our kids going into league," Grider said. "Especially a well coached, talented Ridgeview team."
