Vikings stifle Silverwolves' comeback bid

RIVERTON — In a game where Pleasant Grove's offense — particularly Brian Schonbeck — responded whenever it needed to, it was the Vikings' defense that finally sealed Friday's win over Riverton.

After going ahead by a touchdown on a 32-yard screen pass reception by Schonbeck early in the fourth quarter, Pleasant Grove's defense stopped Riverton on its final two drives and prevailed 20-13.

The first of those two drives ended in a punt as defensive end Christian Devereaux came up with a huge sack on third and eight. Riverton's last gasp with two minutes remaining ended when a pair of Viking defenders clobbered Riverton quarterback Davis Johnson as he heaved a desperation pass up for grabs on fourth down.

"We're playing OK defense, and that's keeping us where we need to be," said Viking coach Dale Sampson. "It was great team defense. When you play that kind of an offense, you have to have everyone on the same page."

The win helped Pleasant Grove improve to 2-1 with two preseason games remaining, whereas Riverton fell to 2-1 with the loss.

The game Sampson referred to as a "slugfest" ironically enough got under way with a little trickery.

On the Vikings' second play from scrimmage, a reverse flee-flicker fooled every Riverton defender as Jared Keele connected with Quade Frampton on a 44-yard touchdown strike.

"We kind of wanted to have a wrinkle," said Sampson. "I was a little surprised it was called that early by coach (Kyle) Sanderson, but, hey, it looked good on the board."

The Vikings missed the extra point and led 6-0. Riverton eventually tied it at 6-6 late in the half as Danny Hoffman barrelled his way into the end zone on a 1-yard plunge.

"I told them at halftime, 6-6, that's respectable, but it's like kissing your sister, it doesn't mean anything," said Sampson. "We've got to come out and prove something ourselves."

The Vikings did that by playing power football. It started with a 47-yard scoring drive capped by LeSean Wilcox's five-yard run to go up 13-6. Even though Riverton tied it at 13-13 a minute later on a four-yard TD run by Paydon Newman, a score set up by Blake Baer's 70-yard run, Pleasant Grove had already set the tone with its rushing offense.

On the Vikings' next possession, they went ahead for good 20-13 on an 80-yard drive in which Schonbeck rushed for 34 yards of those yards and then capped it with his 32-yard screen pass. He finished the game with 140 yards on 20 carries as the Vikings totaled 250 rushing yards on 44 carries.

Riverton finished with 198 rushing yards, with Bear leading the way with 82 yards.

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