The AHSTW Vikings got a strong test from the Earlham Cardinals on Friday night but were able to grind out a 35-7 win. It was a quick moving first half with both teams keeping the ball mostly on the ground and limiting possessions. Both teams had one long scoring drive and it was tied 7-7 at the break.

The grinding battle continued through a good chunk of the third quarter before two big back-to-back scoring plays turned the tide in favor of the Vikings. With 3:54 left in the third quarter AHSTW quarterback Blake Osbahr threw a beautiful 50-yard touchdown pass to Drake Partridge to give the Vikings a lead at 14-7. On the first active play of the next drive Earlham was stripped of the football on an end around and Blake Osbahr scooped it up for the Vikings and returned it 35-yards for another score. That pushed the Vikings lead out to 21-7. In 20 seconds of time off the clock the game went from tied to a 14-point AHSTW lead.  Momentum snowballed in the Vikings direction from that point on as Drake Partridge grabbed a nifty interception on the next Cardinal possession, and three plays later Gabe Pauley punched it into the end zone. The Vikings would tack on one more score in the fourth quarter on another Osbahr to Partridge connection to bring the final score to 35-7.

The Vikings turned the ball over three times with two lost fumbles and an interception. Earlham coughed up the ball three times with two fumbles and one interception. The two teams also combined for five possessions that ended in turnovers on downs.

Blake Osbahr had a big game for the Vikings throwing three touchdown passes, rushing for a score, and returning a fumble for a touchdown. The #3 Vikings improved to 6-0 on the season and 2-0 in Class A District 9. The Vikings return home to host Nodaway Valley next week.

Earlham falls to 2-4 on the season and 0-2 in District play. They will travel to Southwest Valley next Friday.

Listen back to the full game broadcast below.

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