Bashed on Broadway: Carr and Co. Steamroll the Vikes

VIKINGS LOOK TO REGROUP AFTER 51-0 LOSS TO JACKSON

By Mike Anderton
Lake Stevens Journal Contributing Writer/Purple and Gold Pigskin

Lake Stevens was a team needing a hug, not a boot in the butt, following a 51-0 loss to Jackson at Everett Memorial Stadium last Friday night.

Lake looks to shrug this one off and move forward in its fight to earn a spot in the Playoffs. Just about the only "good" thing that could be said of the blowout against Jackson is that it was a non-league game. Lake remains at 2-0 in Wesco North, 3-2 overall, heading to undefeated Marysville on Friday where the Vikings will be monumental underdogs.

Maybe it was the full moon that disoriented the Vikings against the unbeaten and state-ranked Timberwolves, or maybe the latter were itching for payback after they were shellacked by Lake in last season's basketball District Tournament.

Whatever -- the first time that Jackson had possession it marched down the field with shocking ease to record its first (of seven) touchdowns. Lake's body language noticeably slumped at that point and it was all downhill from there.

Nothing worked for Lake. The passing game, its biggest asset, only managed to net exactly 100 yards when reserve sophomore quarterback Jake Nelson completed 6 of 9 passes for 57 yards late in the game.

Lake's rushing attack? With star running back Brennan Frost, who suffered a late-game concussion in the previous week's win over Arlington, on the sidelines in street clothes, no Viking back netted more than 3 yards, and overall (with quarterback sacks and bad snaps factored in) Lake netted MINUS 47 yards -- quite possibly a school record for futility in that department.

The Viking defense? Poor tackling and missed assignments allowed Jackson to run over and around Lake all night, with 6-0, 225-pound Riley Carr rambling for 93 yards in 13 carries and three touchdowns. Carr also caught one of quarterback Andy Gay's three touchdown passes as the latter and his backup shredded the Viking secondary for 253 yards on 20 of 29 completions, with no interceptions.

Jackson led 28-0 after the first quarter and 44-0 at halftime. Lake surrendered a safety in the second quarter when one of a series of wild snaps went through the Viking end zone for a 13-yard loss.

The halftime stats reflected the devastation. Jackson had 20 first downs, Lake one. Jackson had 309 net yards, Lake zero.

Lake did hold its own for much of the second half. After Jackson scored on its first possession of the third quarter, the two teams played pretty much even-up.

Highlights for Lake included two sacks of Gay by Viking lineman Garek Stuart, for losses by Gay totaling 24 yards. Viking quarterback Bryson Daggett broke a 20-yard run for Lake's only first down of the first half. Chameron Lackey caught 9 passes for 81 yards, including a 26-yarder from Nelson.

Lackey also led Lake in tackles with 13 (though it is not usually a good thing when your safety leads the team in this department!). Brandon Belcher had a couple of nice kickoff returns, including one of 42 yards. Vasya Bogdanoff filled in for Frost as punter and booted four punts for a respectable 36.5 average (he also executed the kickoffs).