Sports
Andy Long Leads Vikings To Overtime Win Over Alexander
By: Nathan Wiseman
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On the first Friday night of October, Vinton County quarterback Andy Long shined by leading the Vikings (4-2) to a 40-34 overtime victory over the Alexander Spartans (1-5).
The Vikings entered halftime, leading Alexander, 18-14. The two teams traded punches for most of the second half, which ultimately led to a 34-34 tie at the end of regulation. Both teams battled hard in overtime, but the game came down to Long executing on a 5-yard quarterback keeper for the game-winning touchdown.
Hit songs from Macklemore filled Spartan Stadium on Homecoming night at Alexander before the Spartans sprinted out of a smoky tunnel to begin TVC play. The ceiling couldn’t hold Long early in the game, as he quieted the rowdy Spartan crowd by trudging his way into the end zone from three yards out. Two possessions later, Long connected with wide receiver Tim Ousley on a 3-yard pass with 2:02 remaining in the first quarter, giving the Vikings an early 12-0 lead.
Alexander’s Brody McGrath fired back by leading his team on a 67-yard drive down the field before finding Josh Barnes in the end zone, narrowing their deficit to seven. On the second play of the Spartan’s next drive, McGrath found Lukas Thompson for a 25-yard touchdown, giving them a 14-12 lead. Later in the second quarter, Vinton County’s run game proved to be too much to handle for Alexander after Levi Thompsan trudged five yards into the end zone, giving the Vikings an 18-14 lead with 1:35 left in the second quarter.
Alexander put together an 8-play drive before the end of the half but was stopped twice at the goal line by a relentless Vinton County defense.
Alexander will travel to Basil Rutter Field next Friday night to battle the Athens Bulldogs. Vinton County will hit the road to face the Meigs Marauders.