Vikings escape with 34-33 win over Clovers

WEST TERRE HAUTE — In a wild game filled with several lead changes, explosive long touchdown plays and practically non-stop penalties, West Vigo had the ball last and was able to escape with a thrilling 34-33 victory over Cloverdale.

The loss improved the Vikings to 3-5 overall, while Cloverdale fell to 4-3.

Early on, it looked as if the Clovers would win this contest in a rout as they held the Vikings without a first down on their first possession and sandwiched that with touchdown runs by Landon Duncan and Levi Johnson for a 14-0 lead with 3:51 left in the first quarter.

The Vikings bounced back, though, and got one of their biggest plays of the night as Connor Wallace broke through the Clover defense for a 48-yard score late in the first period. The conversion pass from Landon Fields to Alan Ramirez was good, and the Vikings cut the deficit to 14-8.

The Vikings marched from their own seven-yard line after a good Clover punt and scored just before halftime on a 37-yard halfback pass from Chase Hedden to Ramirez for a 16-14 halftime lead after the conversion.

While the second period was devoid of scoring except for that final TD, the third quarter made up for it.

Cloverdale's speedy Tayt Jackson took a handoff on the first play of the second half and blew past everyone for a 66-yard touchdown and a 21-16 lead.

The Vikings gathered themselves up and drove 63 yards to regain the lead, with Fields scoring from 10 yards out with 8:02 left in the third period. The conversion failed, and West Vigo led 22-21.

The Clovers regained the lead at 27-22 on a 20-yard touchdown by Johnson, and after holding West Vigo on downs, Jackson decided to go on another stroll to the end zone, this time from 79 yards out to put the Clovers up 33-22.

The Clovers missed conversion attempts on both scores.

After holding the Vikings on downs, Cloverdale made it to the Viking 11-yard line before fumbling.

Fields then drove West Vigo 89 yards down the field, hitting Ramirez on a 13-yard score to cut the deficit to 33-28.

West Vigo's Blake Elkins recovered a Clover fumble at the Viking 39-yard line and Fields marched his team back down the field again, hitting Hedden on a 33-yard pass for a first down to get deep into Clover territory.

Three plays later, Wallace plunged into the middle of the line for the game-winning score with 10 seconds left.

Cloverdale completed a long pass to Jackson in the final seconds, but time ran out.

The Clovers will host South Putnam on Friday, while West Vigo closes out its regular season at Sullivan. Both teams will be anxiously awaiting the outcome of Sunday night's sectional pairings.

1st Quarter

C -- Duncan 13 run (Jackson kick)

C -- Johnson 6 run (Jackson kick)

WV -- Wallace 48 run (Ramirez pass from Fields)

2nd Quarter

WV -- Ramirez 37 pass from Fields (Fields run)

3rd Quarter

C -- Jackson 67 run (Jackson kick)

WV -- Fields 10 run (pass failed)

C -- Johnson 2 run (kick failed)

C -- Jackson 79 run (kick failed)

4th Quarter

WV -- Ramirez 13 pass from Fields (run failed)

WV -- Wallace 1 run (pass failed)