LOGGER JV GOES ON A TEAR AGAINST VIKINGS
By Marc Atwood
marcatwood@aol.com
 
(9/14/07 Chico, CA) The Eureka junior varsity football team paid a visit to Pleasant Valley's Asgard Yard Friday and came out of there with a 48-28 win that included a 20-point outburst in the fourth quarter.
 
On the Loggers' first drive of the game, Nikko Mazzotti gained nine yards to give them a first down at the Vikings' 48-yard line. On the next play, Soma Vainuku ran past the PV defense for a first down at the 10-yard line. Two plays later, Vainuku ran five yards to score a touchdown. Matt Russell added the two-point conversion to put Eureka up 8-0.
 
When the Vikings had the ball for the first time, Josephus Allmond caught a seven-yard pass for a first down at the Loggers' 49-yard line. Wes Christensen later gained 18 yards to reach the 15-yard line. The drive ended with 2:22 remaining in the first quarter when Joey Ruth ran a yard to cross the goal line. The extra point was added to bring Pleasant Valley within a point at 8-7.
 
Eureka started its next drive in Viking territory when Russell returned the kickoff to the 43-yard line. A late hit penalty against PV moved the ball up 15 yards. On the second play of the drive, Vainuku ran 20 yards for a touchdown. The two-point conversion attempt was good to put the Loggers ahead 16-7.
 
The Vikings opened up the second quarter on a high note when Christensen connected with Jerrick Wallace on a 50-yard touchdown pass. The extra point was good to bring Pleasant Valley within two points at 16-14. Eureka responded nearly two minutes later when Aric Nelson ran 45 yards for a touchdown. Russell was stopped on the two-point conversion attempt, so the Loggers' lead stood at 22-14.
 
A 12-yard completion to Wallace gave the Vikings a first down at the Eureka 28-yard line. They reached the 8-yard line to set up a first and goal. Ryan Powers then gained a yard on the next play. The drive ended with 3:47 remaining in the second quarter when Powers ran seven yards for a touchdown. Wallace added the two-point conversion to tie the contest at 22-22.
 
With just over two minutes left in the first half, Jeff Faulk caught an 18-yard pass to bring the Loggers to the PV 29-yard line. Another first down was added when Nelson gained six yards to reach the 15-yard line. Finally with 19 seconds left, Nelson plowed his way across the goal line. The two-point conversion was unsuccessful, so Eureka's lead was 28-22 going into halftime.
 
The Vikings faced a second down and 2 at midfield with more than four minutes left in the third quarter, but Christensen threw a long incomplete pass intended for Wallace. On the next play, Powers gained 29 yards to reach the Loggers' 21-yard line. Treavor Rosecrans finished off the drive with 4:06 remaining in the third by going the distance for a touchdown. Pleasant Valley failed on the conversion attempt, so the score was tied at 28-28.
 
The Vikings opened up the fourth quarter with an interception by Allmond that allowed them to take over possession at the Eureka 40-yard line. The drive would be short lived as Erik Sharp returned Christensen's pass and returned it to the end zone. However, a personal foul against the Loggers nullified the touchdown. Eureka would start its drive at the 45-yard line and it ended with Vainuku going 25 yards for a touchdown. The two-point conversion was added to give the Loggers a 36-28.
 
A recovered fumble allowed Eureka to start its next drive on the PV 38-yard line. On third and 9, Levi Jones caught a 16-yard pass for a first down at the 21-yard line. They would face a third and 6, but Jones caught a 13-yard pass to set up a first and goal at the four-yard line. On the next play, the Loggers scored a touchdown, but couldn't get the two-point conversion. As a result, Eureka was ahead 42-28.
 
The Loggers added another touchdown on Faulk's 50-yard run with 2:10 remaining in the game. The extra point attempt was no good, so Eureka had a 20-point advantage. The Vikings tried one last crack at a score as Wallace caught a 30-yard pass to reach the Loggers' 41-yard line with about a minute left in the game. The drive ended on fourth and 10 when Christensen threw an incomplete pass.