Vikings knock off Redhawks on homecoming game

PALOUSE — With homecoming happening over last weekend, the Garfield-Palouse (GAR-PAL) Vikings had their homecoming football game on Friday, Oct. 6.

The game was played in Palouse, and was against the Touchet Redhawks.

The Vikings announced their homecoming royalty members, as well as the homecoming king and queen during halftime of the football game.

The freshman homecoming prince and princess were Max Mitzimberg and Arabella Sievers.

The Sophomore prince and princess were Kaeden Pogue and HettyLee Laughary.

For the junior class, their homeoming prince and princess were Macent Rardon and Emma Moore.

For the seniors, the overall homeoming King and Queen were Colton Pfaff and Lola Edwards.

In the football game, the Vikings started off slow, but found their groove in the second half, scoring 30 points in the second half to cruise to the 44-20 victory.

With the win, the Vikings are now 4-2 on the season, comfortably holding the best record of any Whitman County football team.

The Vikings would start with the ball to begin the game. They would turn the ball over on a failed fourth down attempt, giving possession to Touchet.

The Redhawks would also fail their fourth down conversion on their first drive.

After another turnover on downs from the Vikings, the first quarter would end 0-0.

In the second quarter the Redhawks scored on a 70-yard touchdown run, now leading 8-0 with 7:43 left in the half.

The Vikings had a long touchdown catch by Lane Collier to put the Vikings within two points with just over half the quarter to play.

Later in the quarter, Collier caught another touchdown pass, this time with a converted two-point. The Vikings now lead 14-8 heading into halftime.

Coming out of the halftime royalty festivities, the Vikings celebrated with a 16 point quarter. They would score two touchdowns in the quarter, but also give up two touchdowns to Touchet. As the third quarter ended, the Vikings would lead 30-20.

In the fourth quarter, the Vikings would score two more touchdowns again, but this time hold the Redhawks scoreless, winning the game 44-20.

The Vikings are now ranked as the 19th best team in the state for 1B football, according to the RPI standings from the WIAA.

The next game for the Vikings will be a district game, as the Vikings travel to Toppenish to take on the 0-4 Yakama Nation Tribal Eagles. Kick off is set for 4 p.m.