BLANCHARDVILLE - Pecatonica-Argyle junior quarterback Drew Schliem tossed three touchdowns to propel the Vikings to a 48-22 homecoming win over Highland Saturday, Sept. 21.
With the win, Pecatonica-Argyle (5-0, 4-0 Six Rivers) stayed unbeaten and in the hunt for a conference championship. Schliem completed 6-of-10 passes for 168 yards and three touchdowns.
"It was a little bit of a tough start," Schliem said. "We got the homecoming nerves out of us in the second quarter. Obviously, being undefeated you can't ask for anything better than that. We know we have a tough schedule ahead. We have to keep our heads straight, keep winning and keep the run going."
Schliem wasn't the only big playmaker for the Vikings. Senior Tylor Henneman had 150 total yards (93 rushing yards with two touchdowns) and 57 yards receiving with one touchdown). Senior Alec Treuthardt had 138 total yards (67 rushing yards and 71 yards receiving) to go along with two touchdowns. Henneman took over at running back after the season opener and has combined with Treuthardt to give the Vikings a formidable one-two punch.
"He (Henneman) has good quickness and strength," Pecatonica-Argyle coach Larry Green said. "He runs with his pad level low and he likes contact. He and Alec are multi-dimensional and that is better for our offense. Any time you can you have to get your playmakers the ball whether it's rushing or receiving."
The Vikings' defense stepped up and made plays when it mattered most in the second half. The Vikings stopped the Cardinals on two fourth down plays that led to turnovers on downs and stuffed a fake punt by the Cardinals on fourth down. The three straight turnovers by the Cardinals in the second half led to 21 points by the Vikings.
"Just holding them and having them turn it over was key," Green said. "Three and outs are important especially when they had some momentum running the ball. Every team strives for that. To do it that many times was important."
The Vikings cashed in on their opening 10-play, 60-yard drive with Schliem tossing a 14-yard TD pass to Treuthardt. Treuthardt went up with one hand to control the ball just before the pylon and hauled in the pass for the touchdown to give the Vikings a 6-0 lead. The Cardinals answered with quarterback Blake Bomkamp scoring on an 8-yard run. The big play of the drive was Bomkamp's 25-yard run on fourth-and-9 from the Vikings' 35-yard line.
Schliem hooked up with Treuthardt on a 58-yard pass early in the second quarter to set up the next score. Henneman then rammed in for a 2-yard TD run. He also scored on a two-point conversion to give the Vikings a 14-6 lead with 11 minutes, 17 seconds left in the second quarter.
Treuthardt had a 3-yard TD run midway through the second quarter to give the Vikings a 20-6 lead. The big play of the drive was Henneman's 34-yard run. The Cardinals responded with a nine-play, 54-yard drive, culminating in Austin Yager's 7-yard TD run to cut the Vikings' lead to 20-14 at the half.
The Vikings stymied the Cardinals on fourth-and-3 from the Vikings' 29-yard line early in the third quarter. Schliem made the Cardinals pay after the turnover on downs as he connected with Henneman on a 53-yard TD pass. Henneman ran in the two-point conversion to give the Vikings a 28-14 lead.
With the Cardinals facing fourth-and-3 from their own 47-yard line, the Vikings stuffed Bomkamp on a fake punt. The Vikings went to some razzle-dazzle to build the lead. Treuthardt took a handoff and handed off to Brooks Chandler who flipped it back to Schliem. Schliem then tossed a 37-yard TD pass to Kyle Emberson to give the Vikings a 35-14 lead.
"Drew is a smart decision maker and he runs our offense well," Green said. "He did a good job of getting the ball where it needed to go."
Schliem said the flea flicker type pass has always been a play the Vikings have ran over the last few years.
"It's a play we have run the last couple of weeks in practice," Schliem said. "I wasn't expecting them to call it. They called it and it worked out in our favor."
Pecatonica-Argyle's Cam Treuthardt capped the scoring when he bolted for an 80-yard TD run. Pecatonica-Argyle will play at Cassville Friday, Sept. 27 and then they have two big Six Rivers games against Black Hawk and Potosi which will determine the conference champion.
"We talk every week about getting better every day in practice and games," Green said. "If we want to become one of the elite teams we have to start practicing like them. We are not there yet, but we are getting better."
With the win, Pecatonica-Argyle (5-0, 4-0 Six Rivers) stayed unbeaten and in the hunt for a conference championship. Schliem completed 6-of-10 passes for 168 yards and three touchdowns.
"It was a little bit of a tough start," Schliem said. "We got the homecoming nerves out of us in the second quarter. Obviously, being undefeated you can't ask for anything better than that. We know we have a tough schedule ahead. We have to keep our heads straight, keep winning and keep the run going."
Schliem wasn't the only big playmaker for the Vikings. Senior Tylor Henneman had 150 total yards (93 rushing yards with two touchdowns) and 57 yards receiving with one touchdown). Senior Alec Treuthardt had 138 total yards (67 rushing yards and 71 yards receiving) to go along with two touchdowns. Henneman took over at running back after the season opener and has combined with Treuthardt to give the Vikings a formidable one-two punch.
"He (Henneman) has good quickness and strength," Pecatonica-Argyle coach Larry Green said. "He runs with his pad level low and he likes contact. He and Alec are multi-dimensional and that is better for our offense. Any time you can you have to get your playmakers the ball whether it's rushing or receiving."
The Vikings' defense stepped up and made plays when it mattered most in the second half. The Vikings stopped the Cardinals on two fourth down plays that led to turnovers on downs and stuffed a fake punt by the Cardinals on fourth down. The three straight turnovers by the Cardinals in the second half led to 21 points by the Vikings.
"Just holding them and having them turn it over was key," Green said. "Three and outs are important especially when they had some momentum running the ball. Every team strives for that. To do it that many times was important."
The Vikings cashed in on their opening 10-play, 60-yard drive with Schliem tossing a 14-yard TD pass to Treuthardt. Treuthardt went up with one hand to control the ball just before the pylon and hauled in the pass for the touchdown to give the Vikings a 6-0 lead. The Cardinals answered with quarterback Blake Bomkamp scoring on an 8-yard run. The big play of the drive was Bomkamp's 25-yard run on fourth-and-9 from the Vikings' 35-yard line.
Schliem hooked up with Treuthardt on a 58-yard pass early in the second quarter to set up the next score. Henneman then rammed in for a 2-yard TD run. He also scored on a two-point conversion to give the Vikings a 14-6 lead with 11 minutes, 17 seconds left in the second quarter.
Treuthardt had a 3-yard TD run midway through the second quarter to give the Vikings a 20-6 lead. The big play of the drive was Henneman's 34-yard run. The Cardinals responded with a nine-play, 54-yard drive, culminating in Austin Yager's 7-yard TD run to cut the Vikings' lead to 20-14 at the half.
The Vikings stymied the Cardinals on fourth-and-3 from the Vikings' 29-yard line early in the third quarter. Schliem made the Cardinals pay after the turnover on downs as he connected with Henneman on a 53-yard TD pass. Henneman ran in the two-point conversion to give the Vikings a 28-14 lead.
With the Cardinals facing fourth-and-3 from their own 47-yard line, the Vikings stuffed Bomkamp on a fake punt. The Vikings went to some razzle-dazzle to build the lead. Treuthardt took a handoff and handed off to Brooks Chandler who flipped it back to Schliem. Schliem then tossed a 37-yard TD pass to Kyle Emberson to give the Vikings a 35-14 lead.
"Drew is a smart decision maker and he runs our offense well," Green said. "He did a good job of getting the ball where it needed to go."
Schliem said the flea flicker type pass has always been a play the Vikings have ran over the last few years.
"It's a play we have run the last couple of weeks in practice," Schliem said. "I wasn't expecting them to call it. They called it and it worked out in our favor."
Pecatonica-Argyle's Cam Treuthardt capped the scoring when he bolted for an 80-yard TD run. Pecatonica-Argyle will play at Cassville Friday, Sept. 27 and then they have two big Six Rivers games against Black Hawk and Potosi which will determine the conference champion.
"We talk every week about getting better every day in practice and games," Green said. "If we want to become one of the elite teams we have to start practicing like them. We are not there yet, but we are getting better."
