Leipsic’s Quin Schroeder eludes Allen East’s Jordan Scott during Friday night’s game at Leipsic.
Nate Reynolds | The Lima News.
LEIPSIC — The host Vikings used stellar defense to shut out the defending Northwest Conference Champion Allen East Mustangs 21-0 Friday night at John Edwards Field.
Leipsic (4-0) limited the Mustangs to 123 yards of total offense.
The hosts got off to a rough start with two turnovers on their first two possessions; the first coming on an interception on their first play from scrimmage, then after a four and out defensive stand, the Vikings fumbled the punt; giving the Mustangs the ball on the Vikings 35 yard line.
“We came out and tried to do a little too much, but we came out and didn’t panic. We played with a great bit of physicality up front, we forced them to run it at us and it didn’t work, just a testament to our kids playing very hard and discipline football,” Vikings head coach Joe Kirkendalll said.
After a scoreless first period that saw Leipsic commit two turnovers and Allen East one, the Vikings took over at their 26 at 11:09 of the second period. On play 14, quarterback Quin Schroeder kept it off right guard for the score and added the conversion for a 7-0 lead at 4:47 of the half.
With time running out in the half, a punt for no yards set up the Vikings at the Mustang 35 with 11 seconds showing in the half. A 21-yard connection from Tyler Lammers to Jacob Schecklehoff set up a 14-yard pass to Trent Siefker with no time left. Schroeder made it 14-0 at the half.
“It’s always good when you can score in the last 2 minutes and a 1/2 with the last play in the half,” Kirkendall said. “Those are always huge swings, you know, for the guys to execute like they did. “
On Allen East’s first drive of the third period, Tavis Bejarano picked off Allen East quarterback Jackson Thompson (5 of 20 passing, 39 yards) at the Leipsic 22. The hosts would take advantage of the Allen East miscue by going on an 8-play drive — all on the ground — to go up 21-0. Schroeder dove over left guard from the Mustang 1-yard-line and added the point-after with 4:55 showing in the third.
“We are getting better every week, you know, and we told them all week, you know, you can’t win a league title until you go 1-0, you know, you got to win your first league game, and you know what we had a huge opponent today in the defending league champs,” Kirkendall said.
Game summary
Score by quarters:
Allen East 0 0 0 0 – 0
Ottawa-Glandorf 0 14 7 0 – 21
Scoring:
L- Q. Schroeder 2 run (Q. Schroeder kick)
L- Siefker 14 pass from Lammers (Q. Schroeder kick)
L- Q. Schroeder 1 run (Q. Schroeder kick)
Individual leaders
Passing: Leipsic- Lammers 7-13-74-1; Allen East- Thompson 5-20-39
Rushing: Leipsic- Schroeder 11-5-2; Allen East- Thompson 15-67
Receiving: Leipsic Siefker 2-26-1; Allen East- Clum 2-34
Dave Boninsegna wrote this story for LimaScores.com. Reach The Lima News sports department at 567-242-0451.
