By Larnce Barker
Special Contributer

SALADO —Friday night’s 4A-D2 District 13 Football game between the Salado Eagles and the Lago Vista Vikings had a feeling that it would be exciting to watch. Well, the Eagles fans were not disappointed. The Eagles came to the game with a mission and the look of confidence which was visible in pre-game warm up. Coach Beaty had a plan for his players and stuck to the script.

The Eagles first series on offense ended in a punt as the Viking reciprocated. Despite the turnovers by both teams in which Salado had 7 turnovers: 5-Fumbles-2 Interceptions and Lago Vista 8 turnovers: 3-Fumbles-5 Interceptions, this district contest would see scoring and great defensive play throughout the game.
The Eagles’ second offensive series, the offensive lineman LT- Brandon Lopez, LG Daniel Hernandez, C-Austin Ackerman, RG-Conner Cooper, RT-Christian Norcross, OL-Sam Nail, would provide great blocking for QB Landon Owens, RB-Luke Bingham and Landen Noske to drive the football to the Vikings 2-yard line. Then Noske in the wildcat position would score on a 2-yard touchdown run at the 5:26 mark in the 1st quarter and with the Max Gist PAT, Salado would take the early lead 7-0. The Vikings would answer with FB-Reed Herring 6 run would answer with a touchdown of their own at 5:26 in the 1st Quarter and Zeke Moore added the extra point to even the score 7-7.
Lago Vista QB-Tripp Henderson would connect with TE-Casey Rothenbury for 15 yards for the Viking’s touchdown. Lago Vista’s K-Moore added the point after and take the lead 14-7 at 11:31 in the 2nd quarter. The Viking’s kick-off after the score, Moore booted the football to WR-Gabrielle Merriman (“Swiss Army”) took the football 80 yards to the endzone in 14 seconds for an Eagle touchdown and K-Gist extra point and just like that it was 14-14 at 11:17 in the 2nd quarter. The Vikings’ next offensive drive would take 61 seconds when QB-Henderson would find WR-Cedric Griffin for a 25-yard TD pass and Moore would the PAT to take the lead 21-14 at the 10:16 in 2nd quarter.
The 3rd quarter would be a defensive struggle with a plethora of turnovers by both teams, and the score would still be Vikings 21 Eagles 14. Midway through the 4th quarter would be the start of “Noske Time”. The Eagles offense needed to score to tie the game, Noske would take the direct snap and ran 38 yards for the touchdown and with the Gist kick the score would be 21-21 with 6:12 remaining in the 4th quarter. But for Salado, 4 quarters was not enough time for the Eagles to accomplish their agenda on this night. In Overtime, Salado won the toss again and elected to play defense first.
Lago Vista Vikings would drive the football, and Vikings Aaden Vasquez 17 run would score the TD and convert the PAT to go ahead 28-21 in OT. Salado’s overtime on offense, the Eagles would get a couple of 1st downs when Noske would score his 3rd touchdown on a 17-yard run. Then decision time for Coach Beaty and the FG/PAT squad got on the field when Lago Vista called a timeout. Then Coach Beaty called out OFFENSE, the offense grabbed their helmets as the Eagles were going for the “W”. Then the Eagles decided it was “NOSKE TIME” again for the 2-point conversion and with the offensive line drove the defense back for Noske to score the 2- point conversion and the WIN. What a Game 29-28 and take the 1st District win in a thriller and Congrats to the Eagles that this was a total team WIN.
The Eagles’ defense played with the bend but didn’t break to prevent the Vikings scoreless in the 3rd and 4th quarter. Salado defensive leaders were Damonte Foster 15-tackles- 2-forced fumbles and 1-interception, Michael Edmondson 10-tackles – 2 interceptions, Cade Fenoglio 6 tackles- 1-forced fumble and 1-interception, Luke Bauser 5 tackles, Ethan Robledo 5 Tackles and 1 pass break-up, Hays Ramsey 1 tackle- 2 pass break-ups and Max Gist fumble recover after the forced fumble by Damonte Foster to stifle the Viking’s offensive drive.

1 2 3 4 OT FINAL

SHS 7 7 0 7 8 29
LHS 7 14 0 0 7 28
SALADO 29, LAGO VISTA 28, OT
Lago Vista 7 14 0 0 -7 — 28
Salado 7 7 0 7 =8 — 29
Sal — Landen Noske run (kick)
LV — Reed Herring 6 run (kick)
LV — Run (kick)
Sal — Gabriel Merriman 80 kickoff return (Max Gist kick)
LV — Cedric Griffin 20 catch (Zeke Moore kick)
Sal — Noske 38 run (Gist kick)
LV — Aaden Vasquez 17 run (kick)
Sal — Noske 13 run (Noske run)
TEAM STATISTICS
Sal LV
Rushes-yards 224 139
Passing yards 90 218
Comp.-Att.-Int. 9-20-2 13-25-5
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Salado: Luke Bingham 26-162, Noske 7-54, Caine Cruddas 4-9, Merriman 1-0, Landen Owens 4-(-1).
PASSING — Salado: Owens 8-19-2-68, Noske 1-1-0-22.
RECEIVING — Salado: Andrew Benavides 2-33, Cruddas 1-21, Noske 4-16, Bingham 1-11, Brayden Dildine 1-9.