MOUNT BERRY, Ga. - In their home opener, the Berry College football team escaped with a win in a playoff rematch with the LaGrange College Panthers as they won 20-17 in front of a packed home crowd at Valhalla Stadium.
The Vikings had the first drive of the game to welcome the new season in Valhalla. Berry was on schedule following a big play by Eli Harrington to the halfway mark, but the engine stalled out, and they were forced to end the first drive with a punt. The Panthers pounced on the opportunity, finding the endzone after two big plays to put themselves on the board first, the score 7-0 after the extra point. The Viking's offensive struggles continued through the first quarter, but the Panthers struggled to overcome the Viking's defense failing to extend their lead before the end of the quarter.
Berry sustained a drive between quarters to respond early in the second after
Andrew Hunter found
John David Peacock for the first touchdown of the day, but the Vikings remained behind after a failed two-point conversion. Fortunately for the home team LaGrange's struggles continued, and the Vikings got the ball back near the 50-yard line. With their first quarter struggles fully behind them the Viking offense pounded it down the field, and the sure hands of
Jake Turner ran the ball into the endzone to put the Vikings ahead by a touchdown, the extra point after making the score 13-7.
Now without the lead, LaGrange once again found success through the air, putting themselves within three yards of the endzone, but a successful stand at the goal line held the Panthers to just three points for their last drive of the quarter. With a minute left, Berry elected to run the ball to end the first half as they wen into the locker room up 13-10.
Exiting the break LaGrange had a big return setting themselves up with excellent position in Berry's redzone. They wasted no time regaining the lead, finding success up the middle to go back ahead by a touchdown, the score 17-13. Looking to put together a response after getting punched in the mouth, the Vikings made it down the Panther's 30-yard line before giving it back on an interception. Despite the opportunity Lagrange couldn't extend their advantage, and the Vikings seized the chance to go deliver a counter as
Andrew Hunter found
David Ortiz-Ramirez in the back of the endzone for the Vikings from 18-yards out to make the score 20-17.
Down by three points and without the ball as the fourth quarter began, the Panther's defense needed to step up to give themselves a chance early. They did exactly that stuffing a Vikings run to force a punt. On offense the Panther's tried to find the success they had through the air, but the Vikings defense was a no-fly zone forcing four straight incompletions to lockdown the airspace including a huge fourth down pass breakup by
Brooks Thompson with 1:42 to go in the game. The Vikings then closed out the quarter with Hunter taking a couple of kneel downs as they won 20-17.
Andrew Hunter led the Vikings under center going 12-for-18 with 157 yards and two touchdowns while adding 73 yards on the ground. Jake Turner had another fantastic day on the ground, finishing with 108 yards and a score.
The Vikings will remain at home to take on the Carnegie Mellon University Tartans next Saturday, September 19th. The game will kick off at 12:00 p.m.
