Sports
PHOTOS: Hoover Vikings Defeat Jackson Polar Bears
The Hoover Vikings football team defeated the rival Jackson Polar Bears 34-28 Friday night. Check out our gallery to see game action and the after-game celebration!
The Vikings looked to end their season on a high note with a win against their local rival Jackson Polar Bears. Jackson scored first in the contest with a short rushing touchdown at 6:50 in the first quarter. The Polar Bears recovered a Hoover fumble at 4:46 in the first quarter. Jackson drove down the field and scored again with another rushing touchdown to make the score 14-0. Hoover took over and drove down the field close to Jackson's end zone as the first quarter ended.
The second quarter started a Hoover scoring spree with a rushing touchdown by Viking running back Justin Smith at 11:29. The Polar Bears got the ball back but their drive stalled. Jackson tried a faked field goal on 4th and 2 but were stopped by Hoover. The Vikings wasted no time with a quick touchdown pass from to Stephen Denissoff to tie the game at 14-14. Jackson didn't waste their next possession and scored on a rushing touchdown by quarterback Cooper Merrill. The Vikings immediately answered with several long runs by Justin Smith, including his second touchdown of the night at the 2-minute warning. The score at the half was tied 21-21.
The Vikings started the third quarter the same way they started the second with Justin Smith's third touchdown of the game at 5:07. Hoover then recovered a Jackson fumble with 3:36 remaining to the delight of the home crowd. Viking quarterback Austin Appleby completed a long touchdown pass to Austin Feinberg to make the score 34-21 in favor of the Vikings. Hoover missed the extra point attempt. The Polar Bears hadn't given up yet and drove down the field near the Vikings end zone as time ran out in the third.
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Jackson quickly scored as the fourth quarter began with a rushing touchdown by Jimmy Dehnke to bring the tally 34-28. Jackson looked to work their way down the field in an attempt to score again but their drive stalled with a 3rd-down sack by the Vikings. On 4th and long, Jackson quarterback Cooper Merrill tossed a desperation pass while scrambling to . Hoover ran out the clock with several strong runs to win the game.
The Hoover Vikings finished their season with an overall record of 3-7 and 2-4 in the Federal League. The Jackson Polar Bears likely ended their season with the loss, finishing with a 6-4 overall record and 2-4 in the Federal League.