ARGYLE - It's hard to imagine Belmont players had to go door-to-door selling football to teammates at the start of the season.
Many Belmont players are probably glad they did after the Braves steamrolled the Vikings, 28-0, Saturday to spoil Argyle's homecoming and deal a blow to the Vikings' playoff hopes. The Belmont defense shut down Pecatonica-Argyle, limiting them to just 90 total yards and stifling the running game to a 74 yards.
"We didn't come prepared today. That's all there is to it," Pecatonica-Argyle senior quarterback Jeremy Meudt said, who had 59 of the Vikings' 90 total yards - 43 rushing yards on 10 carries, 3 of 12 passing for 16 yards.
Belmont (6-2, 6-1 Six Rivers) has gone from being in danger of having its season terminated due to a lack of players to playing Potosi (8-0, 7-0) for a share of the conference title this week.
If Pecatonica-Argyle (3-5, 3-4) can beat Benton-Scales Mound (Ill.) (5-3, 5-2) to get back to .500 in conference, the Vikings would be playoff eligible.
"We knew they (Belmont) had a good defense and flowed to the ball well," Pecatonica-Argyle coach Larry Green said. "We just didn't execute and get the job done. Hats off to Belmont. We just need to continue to work hard in practice on Monday so we can try to continue our season."
Belmont marched 63 yards in nine plays on its opening drive, which was capped by a 3-yard touchdown run from senior Josh Eastlick. Belmont racked up 374 total yards, including 298 on the ground.
After giving up the opening scoring drive, the Vikings defense stiffened and forced two first half turnovers, but Pecatonica-Argyle could not capitalize on the scoring opportunities.
One of the turnovers came late in the second quarter. Belmont fumbled and junior Tannar Johnson recovered at the Braves' 29-yard line. Pecatonica-Argyle's scoring opportunity was thwarted when Jeremy Meudt's 5-yard run on fourth-and-6 came up just short of the first down markers.
The Vikings' defense forced three turnovers, but the offense couldn't take advantage of the turnovers.
"We just couldn't put anything together to capitalize on their mistakes," Green said. "We just had too many (mistakes)."
The Braves drove 43 yards on their second possession, but the drive sputtered when Meudt recovered a fumble at the Vikings' 43-yard line. Three plays later, Meudt threw an interception as the Vikings' offense struggled to get on track.
"They (Belmont) didn't come out with anything new," Meudt said. "We just didn't execute. If we would have executed, we would have had a better game."
The Pecatonica-Argyle offense went three-plays-and-out on the team's first two possessions of the third quarter. The Vikings' defense stepped up and forced Belmont into two three-and-outs. After the second three-and-out of the third quarter, the Braves boomed a 42-yard punt to pin the Vikings at their 20-yard line.
After another three-and-out by the Vikings, the Braves capitalized on some strong field position by capping a 12-play, 47-yard drive when senior running back Jordan Farrey rammed in a 3-yard touchdown run. Farrey rushed for 109 yards on 23 carries and scored two touchdowns. Teammate Ethan Steinhoff rushed for 110 yards on 17 carries. The scoring drive was highlighted by Mike Andrews' 19-yard screen pass to Eastlick on third-and-12 from the Vikings' 39-yard line.
Disaster struck the Vikings on the ensuing kickoff when sophomore Jared Johnson had the ball ripped away by Eastlick and the Braves took over at the Vikings' 28-yard line. Four plays later, Farrey scored his second touchdown on a 1-yard run on fourth-and-goal to give the Braves an insurmountable 21-0 lead with 10:35 to go in the fourth quarter.
"Any time you have turnovers, it's a big momentum change," Green said.
Many Belmont players are probably glad they did after the Braves steamrolled the Vikings, 28-0, Saturday to spoil Argyle's homecoming and deal a blow to the Vikings' playoff hopes. The Belmont defense shut down Pecatonica-Argyle, limiting them to just 90 total yards and stifling the running game to a 74 yards.
"We didn't come prepared today. That's all there is to it," Pecatonica-Argyle senior quarterback Jeremy Meudt said, who had 59 of the Vikings' 90 total yards - 43 rushing yards on 10 carries, 3 of 12 passing for 16 yards.
Belmont (6-2, 6-1 Six Rivers) has gone from being in danger of having its season terminated due to a lack of players to playing Potosi (8-0, 7-0) for a share of the conference title this week.
If Pecatonica-Argyle (3-5, 3-4) can beat Benton-Scales Mound (Ill.) (5-3, 5-2) to get back to .500 in conference, the Vikings would be playoff eligible.
"We knew they (Belmont) had a good defense and flowed to the ball well," Pecatonica-Argyle coach Larry Green said. "We just didn't execute and get the job done. Hats off to Belmont. We just need to continue to work hard in practice on Monday so we can try to continue our season."
Belmont marched 63 yards in nine plays on its opening drive, which was capped by a 3-yard touchdown run from senior Josh Eastlick. Belmont racked up 374 total yards, including 298 on the ground.
After giving up the opening scoring drive, the Vikings defense stiffened and forced two first half turnovers, but Pecatonica-Argyle could not capitalize on the scoring opportunities.
One of the turnovers came late in the second quarter. Belmont fumbled and junior Tannar Johnson recovered at the Braves' 29-yard line. Pecatonica-Argyle's scoring opportunity was thwarted when Jeremy Meudt's 5-yard run on fourth-and-6 came up just short of the first down markers.
The Vikings' defense forced three turnovers, but the offense couldn't take advantage of the turnovers.
"We just couldn't put anything together to capitalize on their mistakes," Green said. "We just had too many (mistakes)."
The Braves drove 43 yards on their second possession, but the drive sputtered when Meudt recovered a fumble at the Vikings' 43-yard line. Three plays later, Meudt threw an interception as the Vikings' offense struggled to get on track.
"They (Belmont) didn't come out with anything new," Meudt said. "We just didn't execute. If we would have executed, we would have had a better game."
The Pecatonica-Argyle offense went three-plays-and-out on the team's first two possessions of the third quarter. The Vikings' defense stepped up and forced Belmont into two three-and-outs. After the second three-and-out of the third quarter, the Braves boomed a 42-yard punt to pin the Vikings at their 20-yard line.
After another three-and-out by the Vikings, the Braves capitalized on some strong field position by capping a 12-play, 47-yard drive when senior running back Jordan Farrey rammed in a 3-yard touchdown run. Farrey rushed for 109 yards on 23 carries and scored two touchdowns. Teammate Ethan Steinhoff rushed for 110 yards on 17 carries. The scoring drive was highlighted by Mike Andrews' 19-yard screen pass to Eastlick on third-and-12 from the Vikings' 39-yard line.
Disaster struck the Vikings on the ensuing kickoff when sophomore Jared Johnson had the ball ripped away by Eastlick and the Braves took over at the Vikings' 28-yard line. Four plays later, Farrey scored his second touchdown on a 1-yard run on fourth-and-goal to give the Braves an insurmountable 21-0 lead with 10:35 to go in the fourth quarter.
"Any time you have turnovers, it's a big momentum change," Green said.
