BLANCHARDVILLE - With Pecatonica-Argyle senior starting quarterback Drew Schliem sidelined due to a broken ankle after a deer hunting accident in which he fell out of a tree stand, the Vikings turned to a big-play defense to set the tone.
Pecatonica-Argyle forced five turnovers and rolled past Cassville for a 26-14 Homecoming win Saturday at McKellar Park. The Vikings had four interceptions by Cory Linder, Riley Ostby, Brooks Chandler and A.J. Hendrickson, and limited the Comets to just 24 plays on offense. Ostby rushed for 109 yards on 28 carries and scored one touchdown. He also returned an interception for a touchdown in the second half.
"Defense has been our strong point the last couple of games," Pecatonica-Argyle coach Larry Green said. "Any time you hold an explosive offense to 24 plays and get five turnovers it's not a good day for the offense, but an awesome day for the defense. I'm pleased with how we played and hustled to the ball."
With the win, Pecatonica-Argyle (5-1, 4-1 Six Rivers) moves into a four-way tie atop the conference with Black Hawk, Potosi and Belmont with three games to go in the regular season.
"Any of the teams up there are fortunate to be in that position," Green said. "It's unusual to have a cluster like that late in the year. Our motto for the entire season is 1-0 and to take it one week at a time. Anyone of these teams can come out on top. We are not looking ahead to the playoffs. In our league if you look ahead, you get bumped off."
Early on, it looked like Cassville (2-4) was up to the challenge. Junior running back Dallas Esser broke loose and raced for an 80-yard TD run on the first drive to give the Comets a 6-0 lead. The Vikings overcame two interceptions by sophomore quarterback Logan Green in the first half to battle back. Linder came through with a key interception about midway through the second quarter. The Vikings cashed in with Ostby ramming in for a 7-yard TD run to tie the game at 6 at the half.
Logan Green hooked up with Brooks Chandler on a 7-yard TD pass in the third quarter. Green tossed a strike to Chandler on the two-point conversion to give the Vikings a 14-6 lead. Ostby then returned an interception 23-yards for a touchdown.
Green, who is a starter at defensive back for the Vikings, who made his first start at quarterback, completed 8-of-15 passes for 86 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Chandler had three catches for 36 yards and one touchdown. Sophomore A.J. Hendrickson had three catches for 32 yards. Cam Treuthardt rushed for 65 yards on four carries and scored on a 2-yard run as the Vikings outscored the Comets 20-8 in the second half.
Green said for any underclassmen to get tossed into a starting role right away is a challenge.
"For his first start I think he (Logan Green) did pretty good," Larry Green said of his son in his first start at quarterback. "I think with more reps he will get more confident."
Pecatonica-Argyle forced five turnovers and rolled past Cassville for a 26-14 Homecoming win Saturday at McKellar Park. The Vikings had four interceptions by Cory Linder, Riley Ostby, Brooks Chandler and A.J. Hendrickson, and limited the Comets to just 24 plays on offense. Ostby rushed for 109 yards on 28 carries and scored one touchdown. He also returned an interception for a touchdown in the second half.
"Defense has been our strong point the last couple of games," Pecatonica-Argyle coach Larry Green said. "Any time you hold an explosive offense to 24 plays and get five turnovers it's not a good day for the offense, but an awesome day for the defense. I'm pleased with how we played and hustled to the ball."
With the win, Pecatonica-Argyle (5-1, 4-1 Six Rivers) moves into a four-way tie atop the conference with Black Hawk, Potosi and Belmont with three games to go in the regular season.
"Any of the teams up there are fortunate to be in that position," Green said. "It's unusual to have a cluster like that late in the year. Our motto for the entire season is 1-0 and to take it one week at a time. Anyone of these teams can come out on top. We are not looking ahead to the playoffs. In our league if you look ahead, you get bumped off."
Early on, it looked like Cassville (2-4) was up to the challenge. Junior running back Dallas Esser broke loose and raced for an 80-yard TD run on the first drive to give the Comets a 6-0 lead. The Vikings overcame two interceptions by sophomore quarterback Logan Green in the first half to battle back. Linder came through with a key interception about midway through the second quarter. The Vikings cashed in with Ostby ramming in for a 7-yard TD run to tie the game at 6 at the half.
Logan Green hooked up with Brooks Chandler on a 7-yard TD pass in the third quarter. Green tossed a strike to Chandler on the two-point conversion to give the Vikings a 14-6 lead. Ostby then returned an interception 23-yards for a touchdown.
Green, who is a starter at defensive back for the Vikings, who made his first start at quarterback, completed 8-of-15 passes for 86 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Chandler had three catches for 36 yards and one touchdown. Sophomore A.J. Hendrickson had three catches for 32 yards. Cam Treuthardt rushed for 65 yards on four carries and scored on a 2-yard run as the Vikings outscored the Comets 20-8 in the second half.
Green said for any underclassmen to get tossed into a starting role right away is a challenge.
"For his first start I think he (Logan Green) did pretty good," Larry Green said of his son in his first start at quarterback. "I think with more reps he will get more confident."
