Success continues for Vikings
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By Kevin Petrochko
For the Mirror
ALEXANDRIA -- Coming off a victory last week, the Glendale Vikings played spoiler to Juniata Valley on senior night with a 27-7 win over the Green Hornets at AR Simkins Memorial Field.
The win was the Vikings first in their last nine meetings against the Hornets, and it improved Glendale's early-season record to 3-0. Valley fell to 1-2.
"It's tough to win football games," Vikings coach Spank Trexler said. "It magnifies when you come in and play a program like (Juniata Valley) Coach (Bill) Musser has."
With 4:20 left in the first quarter, junior quarterback Logan Skebeck racked up a 16-yard touchdown run to give the Vikings an early 7-0 lead.
"I had good blocking on that one," Skebeck said. "I made a short step to the left and came back in."
In the fourth quarter Skebeck connected with senior running back Jimmy Sutton for a 25-yard touchdown pass to boost the Vikings lead to 20-7.
"I lined up in the slot," Sutton said. "Seen no safety over the middle, took it and threw it up and caught it. I knew I was going to get hit, but I had to hold onto it.
Juniata Valley senior wide receiver Lucas Dick hauled in a 45-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter for the Hornets. That tied the game at 7-all.
Glendale scored 20 points in the fourth quarter en route to the win.
Despite the loss, Musser lauded his team's effort.
"They're working hard, they're playing hard," Musser said. "I don't think we saw any quit in anybody tonight.
Play of the game: Gage Myers hauled in a 36-yard interception return for a touchdown to seal the game for the Vikings in the final frame.
Player of the game: Vikings quarterback Logan Skebeck finished the evening completing 7 of 11 passes for 111 yards. He threw two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, one to Sutton and one to Cameron Dreibelbis.
Unsung hero: Myers
Most vital statistic: Glendale finished with 419 total yards on the night.
Trexler: "I'm just proud of the kids and how they fight through the adversity. They don't implode, point fingers, and they just figure things out."
Musser: "As a whole, I think we're doing well. I know the record says 1-2, but on the other hand, we have a lot of learning to do, and we have a lot of work to do in front of us."
Skebeck: "It definitely brings some confidence. We've got to remain calm and still, and just keep pushing through."
Notable: Glendale had six penalties for 40 yards.
Records: Glendale (3-0) Juniata Valley (1-2)
Next week: Glendale hosts Moshannon Valley for homecoming while Juniata Valley welcomes in Claysburg-Kimmel. Mo Valley won its first game Friday night while Claysburg-Kimmel also won its first game of the season.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Glendale 7 0 0 7 -- 7
Juniata Valley 0 0 7 20 -- 27
First Quarter
G-- Skebeck 16 run (Krise kick), 4:20.
Third Quarter
JV--Williams 45 pass to L.Dick (Thompson kick), 6:17.
Fourth Quarter
G--Skebeck 32 pass to Dreibelbis (Krise kick), 10:50.
G--Skebeck 25 pass to Sutton (Kick failed), 8:00.
G - Myers 36 interception return (Krise kick) 7:26
TEAM STATISTICS G JV
First downs 15 6
Total yards 419 251
Rushes-yards 41-206 13-89
Yards passing 213 162
Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 7-14-1 6-20-1
Punts-avg. 1-47 3-40
Fumbles-lost 2 3
Penalties-yards 6-40 4-40
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: Glendale, Sutton 20-82, Skebeck 8-13, Dreibelbis 10-109, Myers 2-2, Ammerman 1-0. Juniata Valley, Neri 1-1, Clark 9-76, Thompson 1-1, Hoover 1-11, Williams 1-0.
PASSING: Glendale, Skebeck 7-14-111-1. Juniata Valley, Williams 3-14-59-1, Rand 3-6-22-0 .
RECEIVING: Glendale, Kitko 1-5, Dreibelbis 2-49, Sutton 3-40, 1-8 . Juniata Valley, L. Dick 1-45, Thompson 1-5, Hoover 3-18, Clark 1-13 .