Game Story - Jayden Limar and the #1 Vikings Deliver in Statement Game
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Game Story - Jayden Limar and the #1 Vikings Deliver in Statement Game
VIKINGS REBOUND -- BEAT BELLEVUE 37-28
Lake Stevens, sluggish and seemingly uninspired in its season-opening loss vs. Garfield the week before, came out roaring and ready to play vs. perennial state title contender Bellevue at packed Viking Stadium last Friday night, edging the Wolverines 37-28.
It was a high-octane thriller from start to finish as the two teams racked up nearly a thousand yards of combined offense.
Yet is was the Viking defense which made the difference in the second half, holding the Wolverines to a mere three first downs during that span (though those three were for big yardage). This, after Bellevue's vaunted Wing-T ground attack had racked up nearly 300 rushing yards in the first half, propelling the visitors to a 21-17 halftime lead. An inspired Viking defensive line and linebackers virtually put a stop to Bellevue's rushing onslaught after halftime.
Bellevue took the game-opening kickoff and immediately drove 62 yards in eight plays to the Viking 14 where on fourth-and-three quarterback Lucas Razore's pass into the end zone was seemingly complete for a touchdown before Lake's David Brown wrestled the ball away from Bellevue's receiver for an interception. This proved to be a crucial play in Lake's eventual victory.
Lake then drove 80 yards in eight plays for a touchdown, keyed by a 32-yard run by Jayden Limar (who had been relatively shut down by Garfield the week before) and Kolton Matson completions of 13 and 17 yards to Isaac Redford and Brown. This was the start of a superb effort byJayden Limar, who finished the game with 242 net yards in 22 carries and two TDs plus five receptions for 52 yards and another TD. Jayden's brother Jayshon finished off the drive with a six-yard scoring run. Macray Flanders' PAT kick made it 7-0 at 4:30 of the first quarter.
That Viking lead lasted until 1:35 of the first quarter when Bellevue's Ishaan Daniels, who punished Lake game-long for 208 net rushing yards in 13 carries including two touchdowns, swept left for a 39-yard TD. Luke Scoma's PAT boot tied it at 7-7.
Jaden Limar broke several tackles for a brilliant 44-yard gain to the Bellevue 36 on Lake's ensuing first play from scrimmage. Matson then completed passes of five and 30 yards to Cole Becker and Jayden Limar, the latter for a TD. 14-7 Lake, at 1:04 of the first quarter.
Daniel's 34-yard TD burst thrugh the middle knotted it at 14-14 a minute and a half into the second quarter.
Lake subsequently drove to the Bellevue 14 before a holding penalty forced a 42-yard Flanders field goal (which would have been good from 50). 17-14 Lake, at 6:32 of the second quarter.
Bellevue took what proved to be a 21-17 lead 19 seconds before halftime by driving 74 yards in 14 plays to score on Razore's one-yard pass to Carson Rubin. The drive included a 19-yard Razore to Daniels completion to the Viking 12.
The second half belonged to Lake. The Vikings took the kickoff and marched 69 yards in eight plays, scoring on Jayden Limar's five-yard run. The drive actually saw Lake gain 84 yards since it was set back 15 yards on the fifth play by a personal foul penalty. Flanders' PAT try was blocked, leaving the score 23-21 Lake at 8:50 of the third quarter.
Bellevue's following possession saw Daniels break free for 64 yards before he was hauled down by Redford on the Viking 11. That proved to be a key stop. After three short rushing gains made it fourth and two on the three a 15-yard penalty pushed Bellevue back to the 18. Scoma's field goal try from the 25 was wide right. Lake's lead remained 23-21 at 5:30 of the third quarter.
Lake's following possession began with Cassidy Bolong-Banks' 20-yard reverse but ended two plays later when when Matson's pass was intercepted by Grant Wilwerding on the Bellevue 47.
Viking defense then dug in stop Bellevue on downs on the LS 44. Key stops in that chapter were by Mason Turner (3 tackles), Micah Avery (2 tackles), Redford and Jayshon Limar.
It took Lake just four plays to up its lead to 30-21. Runs of 16, 21, and 2 yards by Jaden Limar preceded Matson's five-yard scoring toss to Becker. Flanders added the PAT. Fifty-three second remained in the third quarter.
Lake then once again held Bellevue on downs including consecutive stops for no gain, forcing a Bellevue punt to the Viking 37.
Matson's pass to Jayden Limar covered 15 yards. Runs by the latter of 24, nine and three yards netted Lake a first down on the Bellevue 12, where an ill-advised Matson pass headed straight into the arms of a Wolverine for a supposed interception on the 11. "Supposed" because the interception should not have been allowed since the ball was juggled then dropped.
But it was allowed, and it turned out to be a 14-point turnaround favoring the visitors when Daniels immediately rushed for 20 yards followed by Razore's 69-yard TD pass to a wide-open Ryken Moon. Suddenly it was 30-28 with 7:52left to play.
Lake was, however, able to salt away the victory on its next possession. Esteban Sedano returned the kickoff 20 yards to the Viking 40. Lake then methodically executed 12 plays to paydirt. Seven of those plays were Jayden Limar rushes, cluminating in his one-yard scoring dash at 2:24. Two other plays in the drive were Matson completions to Bolong-Banks totaling 17 yards. 37-28.
Bellevue could only muster seven yards after that, the game virtually ending on Paul Varela's interception of a Razore pass on the Wolverine 35.
In addition to Jayden Limar's 242 yards rushing and two TDs (as noted above), his brother Jayshon netted 52 yards (with one TD) in eight carries. Overall Lake netted 321 yards in 34 carries, Bellevue 387 yards in 47 carries.
Lake gained 25 first downs, Bellevue 18.
Matson was 14 for 19 (two interceptions) for 144 yards and two TDs. Razore was three for eight (two interceptions) for 89 yards. Redford, Brown, Becker and Bolong-Banks combined for nine catches for 75 total yards and Becker's TD.
Leading in tackles for Lake were Jayshon Limar and Joe McGinnis with 11 each.
To top it all off, Jayden Limar was serenaded in the Viking locker-room after the game with an enthusiastic "Happy Birthday" song by Coach Tom Tri and the entire Viking team.
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