ARGYLE - Pecatonica-Argyle senior Lee Vlasak jogged along the football field with his teammates, slapping five with fans on the other side of the fence after steamrolling Cassville 35-14 to win a three-way share of the Six Rivers Conference title Thursday.
Vlasak rushed for 110 yards on 12 carries and scored four touchdowns (three rushing, one receiving), all in the first half of a white washing of the Comets.
Pec-Argyle (7-2, 7-1 Six Rivers Conference) earned a co-championship with Potosi (8-1, 7-1) and Benton Scales-Mound (Ill.) in a jumbled conference title chase. After losing to Potosi earlier this season, Vlasak knew co-Six Rivers Conference champion hopes weren't dashed.
"That was our goal at the beginning of the season," Vlasak said. "Luckily we beat Benton. Thankfully, Benton beat Potosi."
The Vikings capped a seven-play, 70-yard opening drive Thursday night when Vlasak punched in a 5-yard run. The drive was set up by senior quarterback Milton Kurschner's 22-yard pass to Taylor Saalsaa.
"It feels like our offense is really starting to click," Saalsaa said. "Once we get going on all cylinders, no one can stop us."
Saalsaa was excited the Vikings battled back to earn a share of the conference title.
"It's what we have worked for all summer," Saalsaa said.
After Pec-Argyle's defense forced a three-and-out, the Vikings' offense answered with a quick strike 57-yard touchdown pass from Kurschner to Vlasak to extend their lead to 14-0 with 8:02 left in the first quarter. Kurschner completed 5 of 7 passes for 120 yards.
Everything went the Vikings' way - including recovering an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff only to have it negated by an illegal touch.
Pec-Argyle cashed in on an 11-play, 73-yard drive with Vlasak waltzing in for an 18-yard TD run to give the Vikings a 21-0 lead with 3:22 to go in the first.
"It's a great feeling," Pec-Argyle coach Larry Green said. "The kids played hard the last three-fourths of the season. They earned the right to share the title."
After the Vikings' defense forced a fumble at the start of the second quarter, the offense capitalized with Saalsaa plunging in for a 1-yard score. Vlasak added his fourth touchdown on a 37-yard scamper to give the Vikings a 35-0 halftime lead.
"There was great blocking," Vlasak said. "Everything was open up the middle and to the outside. I just had to run."
The one-two punch of Vlasak and Saalsaa have accounted for more than 400 yards of total offense the past two games.
"Most people will key on Lee," Green said. "We know that. Sometimes, teams let Taylor go by the wayside. He's (Saalsaa) an explosive runner."
The Comets scored 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to kill a running clock.
Cassville senior Travis Kirschbaum rumbled in for a 22-yard run. The Comets recovered the ensuing onside kick and cashed in with Cody Brinkman's 12-yard run. Kyle Maahs ran in the two-point conversion to cut the Vikings' lead to 35-14 with 6:41 left.
Vlasak rushed for 110 yards on 12 carries and scored four touchdowns (three rushing, one receiving), all in the first half of a white washing of the Comets.
Pec-Argyle (7-2, 7-1 Six Rivers Conference) earned a co-championship with Potosi (8-1, 7-1) and Benton Scales-Mound (Ill.) in a jumbled conference title chase. After losing to Potosi earlier this season, Vlasak knew co-Six Rivers Conference champion hopes weren't dashed.
"That was our goal at the beginning of the season," Vlasak said. "Luckily we beat Benton. Thankfully, Benton beat Potosi."
The Vikings capped a seven-play, 70-yard opening drive Thursday night when Vlasak punched in a 5-yard run. The drive was set up by senior quarterback Milton Kurschner's 22-yard pass to Taylor Saalsaa.
"It feels like our offense is really starting to click," Saalsaa said. "Once we get going on all cylinders, no one can stop us."
Saalsaa was excited the Vikings battled back to earn a share of the conference title.
"It's what we have worked for all summer," Saalsaa said.
After Pec-Argyle's defense forced a three-and-out, the Vikings' offense answered with a quick strike 57-yard touchdown pass from Kurschner to Vlasak to extend their lead to 14-0 with 8:02 left in the first quarter. Kurschner completed 5 of 7 passes for 120 yards.
Everything went the Vikings' way - including recovering an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff only to have it negated by an illegal touch.
Pec-Argyle cashed in on an 11-play, 73-yard drive with Vlasak waltzing in for an 18-yard TD run to give the Vikings a 21-0 lead with 3:22 to go in the first.
"It's a great feeling," Pec-Argyle coach Larry Green said. "The kids played hard the last three-fourths of the season. They earned the right to share the title."
After the Vikings' defense forced a fumble at the start of the second quarter, the offense capitalized with Saalsaa plunging in for a 1-yard score. Vlasak added his fourth touchdown on a 37-yard scamper to give the Vikings a 35-0 halftime lead.
"There was great blocking," Vlasak said. "Everything was open up the middle and to the outside. I just had to run."
The one-two punch of Vlasak and Saalsaa have accounted for more than 400 yards of total offense the past two games.
"Most people will key on Lee," Green said. "We know that. Sometimes, teams let Taylor go by the wayside. He's (Saalsaa) an explosive runner."
The Comets scored 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to kill a running clock.
Cassville senior Travis Kirschbaum rumbled in for a 22-yard run. The Comets recovered the ensuing onside kick and cashed in with Cody Brinkman's 12-yard run. Kyle Maahs ran in the two-point conversion to cut the Vikings' lead to 35-14 with 6:41 left.
