PLATTEVILLE - Pecatonica-Argyle quarterback Jon Hendrickson had a game that every quarterback dreams of in the season opener against Cassville at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville's Pioneer Stadium on Saturday.
Hendrickson racked up 358 total yards and scored seven touchdowns to lead the Vikings to a 53-8 thumping of Cassville at the seventh annual Six Rivers Jamboree. Hendrickson completed 14 of 20 passes for 293 yards and five touchdowns, and he rushed for 65 yards on eight carries with two touchdowns. The big-play passing game was clicking on all cylinders.
"After the first three plays we settled in," said Hendrickson, who is also a defensive back. "Coach Green always stresses to look short to long. You never know when it will turn into a long ball. It's a confidence booster for me and everyone else."
The Vikings exploded for 21 first quarter points. Hendrickson connected with Dillon Conwell on a 17-yard TD pass to start the offensive fireworks. Pecatonica-Argyle junior Alec Treuthardt returned a punt 54 yards for a touchdown to give the Vikings a 13-0 lead with 4 and a half minutes to go in the first quarter, and Hendrickson later scored on a 14-yard TD run.
In the second quarter, Hendrickson tossed three touchdowns including two to Conwell from 8 yards and 75 yards out, as well as a 36-yarder to Nathan Loyd to help the Vikings roll to a 39-0 lead at halftime. Conwell finished with six receptions for 132 yards and three touchdowns, and Loyd finished with two catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns.
"We threw the ball a lot," Pecatonica-Argyle coach Larry Green said. "Things were working so we stuck with it. We focused on a lot of short passes and they turned into long passes. It worked out for us. Hopefully, it will continue to work out for us the rest of the season."
In the third quarter, Hendrickson found Loyd again for a 54-yard TD pass to take a 46-0 lead. Hendrickson then capped the scoring with a 5-yard TD run.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Vikings limited the Comets to just 129 total yards and forced two turnovers. Cassville was also plagued by eight penalties for 67 yards.
"Defensively, we flowed to the ball well and gang tackled," Green said. "The bottom line is we controlled the line of scrimmage."
The Vikings, who usually play a 4-3 defense, played a 5-2 to shut down the Comets' rushing attack.
"We just thought that is what we had to play to give us the best chance to stop them," Green said. "We did a great job of stopping them. It may change next week."
Even with the dominating win, Green said there are still areas where the Vikings must improve.
Pecatonica-Argyle will face another run-oriented team when they travel to River Ridge on Friday. River Ridge running back Joel Mezera rushed for 223 yards and scored six touchdowns in a 40-0 season-opening win over Seneca. Against the Vikings last year, Mezera rushed for 199 yards in the Vikings' 35-18 win.
Green is well aware of Mezera's game-breaking ability.
"We have struggled stopping Mezera the last couple of years," Green said. "We hope we can contain him."
Hendrickson is confident the defense can rise to the challenge.
"We have a tough defensive line," Hendrickson said. "If our linebackers play downhill, we will be fine."
Hendrickson racked up 358 total yards and scored seven touchdowns to lead the Vikings to a 53-8 thumping of Cassville at the seventh annual Six Rivers Jamboree. Hendrickson completed 14 of 20 passes for 293 yards and five touchdowns, and he rushed for 65 yards on eight carries with two touchdowns. The big-play passing game was clicking on all cylinders.
"After the first three plays we settled in," said Hendrickson, who is also a defensive back. "Coach Green always stresses to look short to long. You never know when it will turn into a long ball. It's a confidence booster for me and everyone else."
The Vikings exploded for 21 first quarter points. Hendrickson connected with Dillon Conwell on a 17-yard TD pass to start the offensive fireworks. Pecatonica-Argyle junior Alec Treuthardt returned a punt 54 yards for a touchdown to give the Vikings a 13-0 lead with 4 and a half minutes to go in the first quarter, and Hendrickson later scored on a 14-yard TD run.
In the second quarter, Hendrickson tossed three touchdowns including two to Conwell from 8 yards and 75 yards out, as well as a 36-yarder to Nathan Loyd to help the Vikings roll to a 39-0 lead at halftime. Conwell finished with six receptions for 132 yards and three touchdowns, and Loyd finished with two catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns.
"We threw the ball a lot," Pecatonica-Argyle coach Larry Green said. "Things were working so we stuck with it. We focused on a lot of short passes and they turned into long passes. It worked out for us. Hopefully, it will continue to work out for us the rest of the season."
In the third quarter, Hendrickson found Loyd again for a 54-yard TD pass to take a 46-0 lead. Hendrickson then capped the scoring with a 5-yard TD run.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Vikings limited the Comets to just 129 total yards and forced two turnovers. Cassville was also plagued by eight penalties for 67 yards.
"Defensively, we flowed to the ball well and gang tackled," Green said. "The bottom line is we controlled the line of scrimmage."
The Vikings, who usually play a 4-3 defense, played a 5-2 to shut down the Comets' rushing attack.
"We just thought that is what we had to play to give us the best chance to stop them," Green said. "We did a great job of stopping them. It may change next week."
Even with the dominating win, Green said there are still areas where the Vikings must improve.
Pecatonica-Argyle will face another run-oriented team when they travel to River Ridge on Friday. River Ridge running back Joel Mezera rushed for 223 yards and scored six touchdowns in a 40-0 season-opening win over Seneca. Against the Vikings last year, Mezera rushed for 199 yards in the Vikings' 35-18 win.
Green is well aware of Mezera's game-breaking ability.
"We have struggled stopping Mezera the last couple of years," Green said. "We hope we can contain him."
Hendrickson is confident the defense can rise to the challenge.
"We have a tough defensive line," Hendrickson said. "If our linebackers play downhill, we will be fine."
