Vikings fall in double OT

Coeur d’Alene High football coach Shawn Amos knew September could be a difficult month.

His Vikings concluded the month with back-to-back losses. But the way the Vikings played Friday in a 14-13 double-overtime loss to visiting Centennial could go far in helping them right the ship.

More than anything, CdA rebounded from one of its most embarrassing losses in recent memory – a 27-7 setback to Sandpoint last week.

“It’s tough to lose that game, but our kids sold out and battled,” Amos said. “It’s still hard, but this is easier to handle.”

The teams battled to a scoreless tie through four quarters. In the first overtime, Centennial was on offense first. On fourth down at the 2-yard line, Patriots quarterback Eric Dzwilewski executed a brilliant fake, taking the ball out of the belly of running back Adam Davis, whom the middle of the Vikings’ defensive front had collapsed on. Dzwilewski could have crawled into the end zone from there because he was all alone. Jeff Aronson added the point-after kick.

CdA (1-3) didn’t waste any time. Quarterback Jeff Turbin’s pass into the end zone was tipped by Pats defensive back Blaine Ottinger, who had stepped in front of Vikings receiver Jackson Seaman. But an alert Seaman, who was lying on the grass, didn’t lose focus, catching the deflected pass. Connor Williams’ extra-point kick forced the second OT.

This time CdA went first on offense. Again, the Vikings scored quickly. Turbin hit Williams on an out pattern in the end zone. But Williams’ kick was wide right.

Centennial (2-2) scored on a Dzwilewski sneak from 1 yard out. CdA jumped offside on the extra-point try that, as it turned out, was pulled left. But on the second attempt from about a yard closer, Aronson chipped it through the middle for the deciding point.

“Both defenses played awesome,” Centennial coach Lee Neumann said. “I thought they both battled their hearts out. The defenses caused a lot of problems for both offenses.”

The Vikings played with emotion on defense, limiting the Patriots to 16 yards rushing on 34 carries.

“I think we all rallied together and decided to play together and care about each other,” said Amos, who put much of the blame for the loss last week on the coaches’ shoulders.

CdA played without starting running back Bubba Goodwin. Amos said he was sitting out with a high ankle sprain and he’s expected to miss two weeks.