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Blocked Punt Leads to Winning TD as Vikings Defeat Cowboys 16-12

By Craig Olson, 10/22/21, 8:45AM CDT

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The Pelican Rapids Vikings scored a game winning touchdown with 2:51 to play in the game when Nick Haugrud recovered a blocked punt in the end zone to lift the Vikings to a 16-12 win over the Breckenridge Cowboys.  Timmy Guler’s two-point conversion run put the final two points on the board as the Vikings improved to 6-2 with the win.  The Cowboys fell to 4-4.

Guler connected with Peyton Blakeway for a 29 yard touchdown pass with just 45 seconds left in the opening quarter to give Pelican Rapids the early lead.  Guler’s two-point conversion run made it 8-0 after one quarter of play.

Breckenridge cut the gap to 8-6 with 35 seconds left on the clock in the second quarter as Cameron Nieto hooked up with Alex Sanchez on a 15 yard TD pass.

Nieto’s 36 yard TD run with 4:09 remaining in the third quarter gave the Cowboys their first lead at 12-8.

Pelican Rapids had 336 yards of total offense and featured a balanced attack with 180 rushing yards and 156 passing yards.  They also hurt themselves with five turnovers in the game.  Guler completed 9-of-18 passes and led the rushing attack with 127 yards on 24 carries.  Carter Johnson finished with 51 yards on 11 attempts.  Blakeway was the leading receiver with two catches for 41 yards.  Luke Sjolie had a huge game on defense for the Vikings, registering 2.5 sacks, picking off a pass and recovering a fumble.  Carson McNeal (8 solo tackles, 3 assisted tackles) and Hunter Williams (5 solo tackles, 6 assisted tackles) led the team in tackles.  Nick Haugrud was in on 1.5 sacks and recorded 5 tackles on the night.

Breckenridge finished with 155 (42 passing, 113 rushing) total yards.  Nieto led the Cowboys with 115 rushing yards on 26 carries.  Bailey Evans completed 2-of-5 passes for 27 yards and Nieto completed his only throw for 15 yards and a TD.  Sanchez had 2 receptions for 29 yards.  Evans and Jacob Kunkel each intercepted a pass in the game.

Pelican Rapids received the number two seed in Section 8AA and will receive a first round bye.  The Vikings will host the winner of the Frazee at Hawley game in the semifinal round of the playoffs at 2:00pm Saturday, October 30.

Breckenridge is seeded fourth and will host fifth-seeded Underwood in a quarterfinal round contest in Section 6A on Tuesday night at 6:00pm.