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Vikes beat Orme again, down Valley to make state

With their backs to the wall and facing possible elimination from playoff consideration, the Vikings found a way to beat Orme — again.

Williams High School had downed the Warriors before that school's own homecoming crowd earlier this month, 14-13. After Mogollon accomplished the same feat against the Vikings on Senior Night, 23-6, the three schools found themselves in a three-way tie for second place in the Canyon Region because Orme had beaten the Wildcats earlier in the season.

But only two teams could go to the Class 2A playoffs. Meeting at a neutral site in Winslow, the Vikings and Warriors started things with one half of football.

For two full quarters, neither team reached the end zone. An overtime period would be necessary to determine the winner.

Under overtime rules, each team begins a drive at the 10-yard line. Williams got the ball first. On third down from the 5, quarterback Chris Loxterman ran wide and would not be caught. The touchdown put the Vikes up 6-0 and the team wanted to add a two-point conversion to make sure they ended the OT in at least a tie.

But the team was flagged for illegal motion, moved back and the conversion failed. It would be up to the defense.

Orme's turn from the 10 followed and the Warriors got down to the 2-yard line. On fourth down, Orme's star player, Mark Crandell, tried a sweep to the left. No dice, the Vikings gang-tackled him and the game was over.

"They tried sweeping left which surprised me because they didn't have success going that way the entire game," WHS coach Rick Shipley said. "For me as coach, I would stick with something where we were having success."

In the next game, Orme had to hope Williams could knock off Mogollon to force another game. But the Wildcats beat the Vikings, 13-0, and those two teams clinched the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds out of the Canyon Region.

Mogollon scored on a long run in the first quarter against the Vikings and then the game stayed that way until only a few minutes left in the half. The Wildcats picked up a WHS pass and returned it 60 yards for a touchdown to clinch the win.

The win over Orme will be remembered by coaches and players.

"Orme said we had the best defensive scheme against them out of all their opponents," Shipley said. "I've always said to be successful at any level, you have to be able to run the ball and stop the other team from running the ball. We did that."

Williams played in a mini-playoff back in 1992 when playing eight-man ball. Mogollon and Fredonia beat the Vikes that year.

Williams still didn't have a playoff spot wrapped up just yet, however. As the No. 3 seed out of the Canyon Region, the Vikings had to play Valley, the No. 2 seed out of the Four Corners Region.

Although Williams got off to a slow start, the team became focused in the second half and took a 34-8 victory. The win reserved Williams a spot in the playoffs.

"I think the kids took Valley a little lightly," Shipley said. "We struggled a little bit early."

Valley, which lost to Queen Creek 19-18 in the playoffs last year, was actually a different team for the Williams game. Five previously ineligible players who started on last year's exceptional team were on the field for the Vikes.

"We had trouble moving the ball. Valley did a good job hitting our kids," Shipley said. "In the second half, we definitely took control of the game."

Williams took a 14-0 lead by halftime a 17-yard touchdown run by Loxterman and a 20-yard touchdown pass from Loxterman to Juaquin Ortiz.

In the third quarter, Gil Pacheco scored two TDs to put the game away. The senior scored on an eight-yard run and then hit paydirt on a 51-yard pass from Loxterman. By the end of the quarter, Williams led 26-0.

Travis Fuller then picked off a pass and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Valley scored a TD late on a freak play in punt formation, which included what appeared to be a forward lateral and an ineligible receiver downfield.

The Viking defense allowed only about 60 yards the entire game — 40 passing and 20 rushing. Offensively, Williams had about 80 yards rushing and well over 150 yards passing. But the team also had to overcome 100-plus yards in penalties.

"I think Valley was the best team from their region," Shipley said. "We had to play them on the road, but we'll take the win."

Coming back to play a full game only three days after the mini-playoff was a challenge.

"The kids were sore on Wednesday and Thursday was their last day of school that week," Shipley said. "But all things aside, I'm happy we did what we had to do."


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