STORY BY: KEITH KANE
BRYAN — Injured starters were sorely missed Friday (9/21/12) night as the Bryan Vikings were clobbered by the Pflugerville Hendrickson Hawks 43 to 3 in their final game before beginning the district schedule.
The dual run/pass threat of Chris Johnson plus the removal of a deep threat by moving V.J. Banks from wide receiver to quarterback allowed Hendrickson to pack the line of scrimmage and stuff the Vikings’ running game. That, plus untimely penalties, pass drops, and missed assignments continually stopped drives and forcedBryanto punt six times during the game.
In contrast, Hendrickson scored on six of their first eight possessions and gouged the middle of the Vikings defense for 433 yards rushing, led by their running back tandem of Samaje Perine and Breylin Davis. The absence of Bryan nose tackle Zac Slaydon, who normally anchors the middle of the defense, was notable.
The only highlights for the Vikings on the night were when the defense forced a Hendrickson fumble to take over at the Hawks 35 yard line and when Logan Pottberg entered the game to take over at quarterback and led Bryan on a drive to the Hendrickson 10 yard line where Jose Falcon kicked a 27 yard field goal at the end of the first half.
The Vikings will play the District 14-5A opener on the road next Friday night at Wood Forest Bank Stadium against Conroe Oak Ridge. The game will be broadcast on 1150 The Zone beginning at 7 pm.