by Fulton Hampton

The Polk County Wolverines kept their conference championship hopes alive with a 28-7 win over the Vikings of Avery. For the third week in a row, the score may not have been indicative of the closeness of the game. Avery helped the Wolverines by fumbling three times on the night. The Vikings consistently moved the ball down field only to give it up on a fumble within the 30-yard line; twice in the third quarter and once in the fourth.
“If they don’t turn the ball over some… it’s a close football game,” Coach Bruce Ollis said.
The Wolverines struck first early when Alec Philpott found a wide-open J.C. Suddeth for a 32-yard touchdown pass with 7:59 left in the first quarter. But the night would be dominated by the run, as Polk continued to rely on the run more than the pass.
“It’s the third week in a row we have not thrown the ball a lot and had not needed to because we have been rushing the ball,” Ollis said. “When we rush the ball it keeps it away from the other team, and I think that’s positive for us.”
Polk rushed the ball 38 times for 236 yards and two TDs and passed 5-8 with 141 yards and two touchdowns, total yardage 377 yards total offense.
A big part of the rushing attack was Tyler Jackson (10 carries for 89 yards). Jackson had the second score for the Wolverines at the 3:05 mark of the second quarter with a 46-yard touchdown as Polk went up 13-0.
Ollis commented on Jackson’s development at the tailback position: “I told him, ‘You looked like a tailback. You set your blocks up, you cut the ball back some and used good vision – I was very pleased with that.’”
Avery came back with a long drive of its own, aided by two long pass plays, with quarterback Trey Jackson sneaking it over to cut the lead to the 13-7 halftime score.
But in the third quarter, Polk went on top for good, as Jackson hauled in a short pass from a scrambling Philpott. With excellent downfield blocking and a good cut back, Jackson turned it into 68-yard score.
Philpott played his usual outstanding game (19-108 yards rushing, 5-8 141 yards passing). He closed out the scoring with a 24-yard scamper in the fourth, once again with a great downfield block (this time by Reese Schlabach.)
Ollis, although concerned about some of the mental mistakes particularly on defense that allowed Avery to continue drives, said he was pleased with the win.
“We’ve still got some work to do, (but) it’s pretty good when you can not play as well as you are capable and still win the game,” Ollis said.
The Vikings slip to 2-6 and remain winless in the conference at 0-4. The Wolverines improve to 6-2 overall and 3-1 in the WHC and will travel to Thomas Jefferson on Friday, Oct. 12.