After a long bus ride from Oslo to Örebro, the Vikings took the field against the Black Knights for both teams’ second game of the season. Expectations in the Vikings camp were high after a solid offensive outing against Tyresö Royal Crowns. The weather would provide no help to receivers, and windy conditions might also have contributed to an offensive outing below expectations. Dropped passes and runs going for only 1-2 yards stalled promising drives, putting the Vikings offense into tough 3rd and long situations. On the day, the Vikings would only convert 1 of 12 3rd downs, and only 2 of 6 4th downs. The Vikings would also go scoreless in the second half of the game.
The Vikings defense showed some marked improvements in the game. The Black Knights run game never really got going until late in the game, and the Vikings solid pass rush often forced QB #12 Trevor Vasey out of the pocket, who was held to a 48.8% completion rate in the game. Defensively the Vikings showed they have the pieces to turn into a solid defense, forcing a fumble two games in a row, along with an interception in the latest outing. Some minor adjustments and this unit is looking like its in good shape for the remainder of the season.
Injuries to key players really took a toll on the Vikings in this game. Defensively, the Vikings lost #60 Thomas Holt Sundby early in the game, weakening a Vikings defensive line that was creating some trouble for the Black Knights. On the offensive side of the ball, #15 Niklas Fengler was forced to leave the game after racking up a ton of yards in the first half. His absence clearly showed in the second half, with the Vikings offense looking far less potent.
Standout performances
LB/RB #1 Will Sewell: What can’t this do-it-all playmaker do? Sewell provided juice both on offense and defense. Offensively, Sewell scored twice, once rushing and once receiving, while churning out 97 all-purpose yards. He was also everywhere to be found defensively, racking up 10 solo tackles, 2 for loss as well as a sack, a pass breakup deep down the middle of the field, topped off with a forced fumble.
QB #12 Trevor Vasey: Don’t be fooled by his completion %, Vasey created a lot of yards and opportunities for the Black Knights offense. Vasey would leave the pocket time after time, creating time for his receivers to get open. He distributed the ball to 6 different pass catchers on the day, passing for 299 yards with 2 touchdowns, while also rushing for another.
WR #15 Niklas Fengler: He had himself a great day in the first half before exiting the game with an injury. Fengler would first show off his speed on a 78 yard catch and run before breaking tackles and grinding out tough yards on the perimeter on multiple occasions. In just one half of football he caught 5 balls for 107 yards.
Game recap
Vikings started things off with a solid first run, but ended up going 3 and out on the first drive. The Black Knights looked sharp early and marched
down the field for 7 points. The Vikings perhaps needed to shake off a long bus ride, because on their second go around, #12 C.J Fowler found #15 Niklas Fengler for a 78 catch and run, and on the next play, # 8 Rune Nilsen ran it in for 6. With #7 Vegard Tysse converting the extra point, the game was tied at 7-7.
The Vikings defense showed some signs of life with #1 Will Sewell leading the charge, shutting down the Black Knights run game early. Black Knights quarterback #12 Trevor Vasey kept firing off accurate passes and the Black Knights eventually scored. Score was 13-7.
Both offenses struggled, but the Black Knights found a way to move into field goal range and put up 3 points. Score 16-7. On the ensuing Vikings drive, the Black Knights defense committed three penalties in one drive and the Vikings capitalized as #1 Will Sewell scampered for six. The ensuing PAT was disastrous and the Black Knights picked up the ball and returned it for two points. The Black Knights then led 18-13.
With 3:48 left in the first half, #20 Vetle Skagmo picks off a forced Vasey pass and gave the Vikings an opportunity to take the lead. Fowler kept feeding his favorite target Fengler, on short throws. The German receiver showed that he can do more than run deep routes and kept muscling his way for extra yards on multiple catches on the drive. Sewell checked back into the game on offense and ran an outside zone to convert a critical fourth down. He stayed in the game and Fowler hit him with a checkdown pass after evading the rush, which Sewell walked in for another TD. With 1:35 left in the first half, the Vikings had taken their first lead of the game, 19-18.
The Black Knights offense could not capitalize on their two-minute drill, though it seemed the Vikings were doing their best to help them do so. They committed three offsides penalties on the drive, but ended up holding strong to hold the one point lead going into half time.
The Vikings D came out in the second half fired up and force a turnover on downs after Sewell flew around making tackles and recording pass breakups. The Vikings O struggle, but the punt unit somehow manages to come up with the ball, giving the Vikings offense a second chance with a fresh set of downs. The Vikings would not be able to score, turning the ball over to the Black Knights. A long pass from Vasey to #2 Eric Murphy sets the Black Knights up with a first and goal from the 9 yard line, and eventually Vasey was able to scramble into the end zone to put the Black Knights back up, 25-19.
The Vikings offense continued to struggle, dropping passes and running into a Black Knights defensive line that resembled a brick wall. The DL persistently pressured Fowler, then forced (and recovered) a fumble. Örebro took advantage of a short field and quickly scored again extending the lead to 31-19 which is how the game would end.
The Vikings are now on a much needed bye week, during which they look to nurse injuries and prepare for their next opponent – the Carlstad Crusaders. That game goes Saturday, April 27th in Carlstad
**Article photos credit: @shotbyanika (Instagram). Cover photo credit: Jonas Domfors (Facebook)**