Heartbreaker: Vikings lose quarterfinal to Baker, 34-28

In a quarterfinal matchup between No. 2 and No. 3, the second seed came out on top.

The Bigfork Vikings came out on the short end of a 34-28 score at home Saturday.

The Vikings’ defense could not stop Baker’s wishbone running attack as the Spartans racked up 429 yards on 66 carries, a 6.5-yard average.

Bigfork almost held on for the win, but a shanked punt gave Baker good field position at the Vikings’ 25 and the rest, as they say, is history.

“I was proud of the fact we were there at the end and had a chance to win,” BHS coach Todd Emslie said.

Baker controlled time of possession, 30:13 to 17:47, and made 20 first downs to 11 for Bigfork. The Spartans had one turnover and the Vikings none.

Bigfork took the opening kickoff but was unable to get a first down. Josh Sandry sent off a 48-yard punt that was not returned, and Bakers started on its own 15.

After the Vikes forced a punt, Sandry made a nice return to the Baker 48. Seven plays later, Sandry connected with Isaac Martel from 35 yards out for the score. Jonathan Landon’s PAT kick gave Bigfork a 7-0 lead.

Baker took the ensuing kickoff and marched down the field in 10 plays, scoring on a one-yard run by Mason Melby. The PAT kick was no good and Bigfork clung to a 7-6 lead.

Baker then made the first of a number of squib kicks, which Bigfork recovered on its 27.

The Vikings made two first downs before their drive bogged down at the Spartans’ 41. Sandry’s punt went out of bounds at the Spartans’ 16.

Four plays later, Baker’s Joe Fisher broke loose on a 78-yard TD run to put the visitors ahead. Quarterback Jordan Walker was stuffed on the conversion run, and it was 12-7.

The Spartans then recovered a squib kick at the Bigfork 35. Two plays later Melby ran around right end for the score from 32 yards out. Mason added a two-point conversion run to make it 20-7 and Bigfork was behind by two scores for the first time all year.

Christian Ruiz covered a squib kick on the next play and Bigfork took over on its own 43.

A 53-yard pass from Sandry to Martel was called back due to offsetting penalties. On the next play, Cameron Nissen lateralled to Boyd Rieke after catching a pass from Sandry. The play went for 35 yards. On the Spartans’ 22, Sandry rolled to his left and then scrambled back to his right, diving for the pylon in the corner of the end zone. The touchdown and Landon’s PAT kick made it 20-14.

After the kickoff, Baker took over on their own 20 and proceeded to march down the field in 13 plays. The drive ended on fourth-and-goal from the 10 when Ruiz tackled Melby for a two-yard loss.

With 11 seconds left in the half, Sandry took a knee to run out the clock.

Bigfork kicked off to start the second half. After gaining a first down, Jonathan Wiseman fumbled and Rieke picked it up and returned it 18 yards to the Baker 17.

Vinny Quirk gained 16 yards on first down. Two plays later, Sandry ran it in from five yards out of shotgun formation. With Landon’s PAT kick, it was 21-20, Bigfork, with 9:15 to go in the third period.

The teams exchanged punts before Baker got the ball back on its 12 after a 23-yard Sandry punt on fourth-and-11 from the Spartans’ 35. The Spartans commenced a 17-play drive that included its first completed pass of the afternoon. Wiseman scored from a yard out to put Baker ahead, but Adam Jordt intercepted the conversion pass to make it 26-20.

After covering the squib kick, Bigfork wasted no time. Vinny Quirk — who led the team in rushing with 90 yards on 12 carries — ran for 15, 27 and 14 yards before crossing over from four yards out for the score. With Landon’s PAT, it was 28-26, Bigfork, with 8:56 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Bigfork tried a squib kick of its own, but Baker covered at its 46. Eleven plays later, the Spartans faced fourth-and-eight from the Vikings’ 13. Fullback Seth Barkley dropped a pass in the end zone, however, and Bigfork took over on its own 13 with 3:31 left.

Two runs netted five yards before Sandry’s pass was tipped by a defender and fell incomplete. On fourth down, Sandry’s punt went off the side of his foot out of bounds and Baker took over at the Vikings’ 25 with 1:52 remaining.

Four plays later, Walker ran it in from a yard out. Melby added a conversion run to make it 34-28, Baker, with 55 seconds left.

The ensuing kickoff went out of bounds, and the Vikings took over on their own 35. Sandry scrambled for a two-yard loss on first down and Bigfork called its last timeout with 45 seconds left.

An incompletion on second down preceded an 8-yard sack and another incompletion to account for the final score.

Baker’s contingent on the north side of the field chanted, “Beast from the East!”

Baker will host Glasgow this week in one semifinal, while No. 1 Loyola hosts Boulder in the other.