Hopkins lost yet another football game by seven points or less Friday night, this time 21-20 at Belding in its O-K Silver Conference opener.
The Vikings last year had no reliable kicker and too often failed in efforts for two-point conversions in close games. They scored five touchdowns in one game, but lost 36-30 on five failed PATs. In all, four of their losses in 2016 were by seven points or less. They lost 34-30 to Belding a year ago.
Friday night Hopkins picked up 184 yards rushing as a team, and quarterback Nolan Smith passed for 114 yards and a touchdown for nine yards to receiver Hunter Lewellyn. Belding had 33 yards in total offense.
Jake Cleypool led the defensive unit with five tackled and a sack. Nathan Roberts had 3 1/2 tackles and a sack and Smith two tackles and a sack.
Hopkins now is 1-2 overall for the season and will be at home to entertain another O-K Silver Conference rival, Wyoming Godwin Heights, with is off to a 3-0 start.