Vikings bludgeon Honkers with big plays

Yuba City may have had better field position and won the time of possession battle, but it didn't matter.

Vanden had the big plays — all game.

As a result, the Honkers ended their season with a 48-14 Sac-Joaquin Section Division III loss in Fairfield on Friday.

It wasn't as if Yuba City (6-5) didn't have its chances.

Honkers tailback Raul Lozano broke a 53-yard run to the Vikings' 14-yard line on the second play of the game — three plays later Yuba City coughed it up and the Vikings (10-1) took over.

And boy did they ever.

In the first half, the Vikings' scores came on a 34-yard run, a 70-yard punt return, a 25-yard dance, a 95-yard pass.

Before the Honkers could even catch their breath and settle down into their patient offense, they found themselves down 28-7 at the half. Once Vanden jumped out to a 14-0 lead however, the Honkers dug in and stayed with the No. 16 team in the section and the No. 3 ranked team in the division, thanks to a 26-yard Taylor Rowe touchdown rumble late in the first quarter. Rowe finished with 125 yards on 28 carries. Frank Franco scored the other Yuba City touchdown on an off tackle run from six yards out late in the game

Yuba City's defense, getting help from two tackles for losses by Franco and a Trevor Moffis broken up pass play, then forced Vanden to punt on back-to-back three-and-outs.

That was until Damon Treat displayed video-game like cutbacks and quick bursts down the sidelines. Treat finished the game with 86 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries, plus a 30-yard TD reception and the punt returned for a touchdown.

Yuba City's demise was three turnovers and two crucial turnovers on downs. They were on Vanden's 1-yard line.

The backbreaker was that the Honkers were inside Vanden's 35-yard line 10 times— they scored just twice.

The second half didn't start any better for the Honkers — the big plays continued for Vanden.

The Vikings scored on a 30-yard run, a 30-yard pass and a 60-yard interception return.

Lozano finished the game with 61 yards on the ground, while fellow Honker Bernell Barnore combined on 115 yards receiving and rushing.

Defensively, Vanden's Paul Tablit was a menace to Yuba City all game long — 13 tackles including four for losses and a sack.

For the Honkers, Camden Meganheimer, Darrell Conedy, Harninder Purewal, Hank Kirby, Ryan Lewis and Franco each recorded tackles for losses. Lewis had two, Franco had four.