By Jimmie Kaska
For the Times
BLANCHARDVILLE — Six Rivers Conference play opened with a long, high-scoring, and competitive game for Pecatonica-Argyle, taking down conference newcomer Boscobel 42-32.
The Vikings were able to overcome four turnovers and over 400 yards allowed on defense to get the victory, using short or onside kicks to gain extra possessions and big plays by its star players to put points on the board in the win.
After a scoreless first quarter, PA recovered a fumble on its own six-yard line near the midway point of the second quarter. Nine plays later, Mason McNett scored the first of his two touchdowns to give the Vikings a 6-0 lead.
Boscobel answered back with a 62-yard scoring drive to tie it, but the biggest play from scrimmage for the Vikings on the next possession allowed PA to re-take the lead. Quarterback Martin Anderson found all-conference wide receiver Ike Waage for a 63-yard touchdown to go up 12-6 with 1:27 to play until halftime.
The Vikings recovered an onside kick, but threw an interception to give Boscobel the ball back deep in the Bulldogs’ own territory. Then, Luke Leonard made his first of two interceptions on the night to give the Vikings the ball at the five yard line going in. Anderson took it in to make it a two-possession game just before halftime.
Boscobel covered an onside kick attempt to start the second half, and in two plays was able to cover the short field to bring the game back within one score at 18-12. PA answered right back, taking the ensuing kickoff 75 yards to the house for Waage’s second touchdown of the game, making it 26-14 Vikings just 29 seconds into the third quarter.
The Bulldogs wouldn’t go away, putting together an 8-play, 65-yard drive capped off with a 35-yard touchdown pass to bring the game back to 26-20. A third-quarter interception by the Bulldogs set Boscobel up with another short field, allowing them to tie the game with 2:08 to go in the third quarter at 26.
PA got to work on the next drive, grinding out a 10-play, 60-yard drive that took 3:58 off the clock and spanned the third and fourth quarters. McNett scored his second rushing touchdown of the game to make it a 34-26 game in favor of the Vikings.
On the next kickoff, the Vikings recovered yet another onside kick, setting them up for a quick five-play drive and a scoring play from Anderson to Leonard to make it a two-possession game, 42-26 with 9:01 remaining.
Boscobel answered right back, with its featured back, Bryar Wayne, scoring his fourth touchdown from 77 yards out, part of a 287-yard combined rushing and receiving effort. The two-point conversion failed, however, and kept the game at two possessions, 42-32.
PA hung on and ran out the final three minutes of the clock to get the win to start the season 1-0 in the Six Rivers and 2-1 overall.
Waage finished with five catches for 163 yards and a touchdown, as well as the kick return score, to lead the way. McNett ran for 130 yards and two scores, while Anderson passed for 217 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for one more. Levi Krebs was the leading tackler with eight stops, while Luke Leonard had two interceptions and a receiving touchdown.
