Vikes drop league opener, losses have come to opponents with a combined record of 14-0

The Viking football team could not overcome some poorly timed fumbles, mistackles, and the explosiveness of Au Gres running back Brandon Kelly, in a 36-12 road loss. With an 0-4 record heading into week five action, head coach Glenn Budnick still had some positive remarks for his troops after the loss in the North Star League opener. ?I told them I was proud of them that they came out and played an inspired second half,? said Budnick, moments after congratulating Au Gres coach Scott McAlindon. ?They played with one of the top teams in the state for the entire second half and never gave up.? The combined record of the four teams the Vikings have lost to in ?06 is 14-0. St. Basil won their second game of the season, 15-6, while Cedarville, Rogers City, and Au Gres were unbeaten and ranked at the beginning of the week. The Vikings take on winless Twining Arenac Eastern Friday at 7 p.m., a time change confirmed Wednesday morning by Posen athletic director Dru Milliron.

Posen trailed 28-6 at halftime, but came back to play inspired football in the third quarter. They put a quick score on the board and then the defense bent, but did not break on a long Au Gres drive to the Posen 24, keeping the score, 28-12. Big runs by junior Nathan Strzelecki and senior Jason Romel put the Vikings at the Au Gres 18, but a fumble on a pitch play on first-and-10, not only gave up the ball, but the momentum as well. ?I don?t know if we are snake bitten or what; turnovers are happening at the most inopportune times for us right now. It is hard to overcome giving other teams extra possessions,? said Budnick.

THE POSEN defense stopped Au Gres on its first offensive possession on the night, but the Viking offense fumbled the ball to the Wolverines at their own 22. Au Gres took the ball in a few plays later and led 7-0. The Posen offense failed to get on track and punted the ball to the Wolverines, who drove the ball to the Posen 20, before the defense came up with another stop. Senior Matt Styma made a nice tackle on a third down run by Kelly. It set up a 37-yard field goal attempt that went wide left. The Vikings then put together a nice drive. A screen pass to junior Paul Kroll got it going on a 3-and-8, and then near midfield, Romel found a hole up the middle, and with some good hard running, gained 30 yards down to the 19. The drive went backwards on the next few plays, before Au Gres got the ball back on downs at their own 23. The Wolverines moved the ball to the 38 when Kelly broke his first big play of the game for a 62-yard score. The PAT was good and the Wolverines were up by 14. A few minutes later, Posen came back with a big play themselves, as Romel connected with Styma on a 65-yard scoring strike. Styma was wide open after cutting across the middle and nobody in front of him as he sprinted down the Posen sideline. The conversion failed and Posen trailed by only eight.

AU GRES ANSWERED on their next possession as quarterback Isaiah Kauffman ran for a 35-yard score. He was met behind the line of scrimmage, but kept his balance and went the rest of the way for six. Kelly would score again for Au Gres, weaving through defenders, and leaving tacklers in his wake, on his way to a 56-yard touchdown run. The score was 28-6 heading into the break. The Vikings answered the bell at the start of the third quarter. The offense took the ball in on their first possession. Strzelecki set up the TD on a 26-yard run. Romel ran in the ball the final nine yards. The score was 28-12 with 9:24 left in the third. The Wolverines put together a methodical drive, converting three third down plays as well as a fourth down play, before the Vikings ended it at the Posen 24. Kroll had a tackle in the backfield and Romel jarred the ball from a receiver in deep on the final set of downs. Au Gres turned the ball over on downs and the Posen offense went to work again.

STRZELECKI HAD a 24-yard run to midfield, and on a fourth-and-six, Romel found Styma in heavy coverage for 30 yards to the Au Gres 18. On the first play of the fourth quarter, a pitch play went bad and the ball was fumbled away. The Wolverines had a pass completion called back on a penalty, but moments later, Kelly broke free for a 78-yard run to add to his 193-yard r

ushing night. The Posen coaches believe there should have been a penalty on Kelly?s run, as the receiver repositioned himself near the Posen sideline. The flag stayed in the official?s pocket on that play, but was thrown to the turf when Romel appeared to score on a 26-yard jaunt a few minutes later. It was called back on an illegal block in the back. ?It is gut-check time for us right now,? said Budnick. ?They have to come back and decide whether or not they want to have a successful season. There is no doubt in my mind this team is not going to roll over for anybody. They are going to come out inspired at Arenac.?

Statistics: Total offense: Posen 182 rushing, 106 passing, 288 total. Au Gres 288 rushing, 115 passing, 403 total. Rushing: Strzelecki 13/82, Kroll 12/45, Romel 8/44/TD, Brandon Hentkowski 3/9, Justin LaPointe 2/2. Passing: Romel 4/10/TD. Receiving: Styma 2/94/TD, Kroll 1/9, Nathan Street 1/3. Defense: Jordan Hincka 10 tackles, Romel 6, Kroll 6, Nick Idalski 6.

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