So when was the last time
Hopkins lost a varsity football game by shutout. The Vikings lost 30-0 four years ago to Hastings.
One even more embarrassing question: When was the last time Hopkins was in great peril of being on the wrong side of a running clock? It almost happened Friday night in a 31-0 defeat at the hands of Berrien Springs.
The Vikings already were down 28-0 early in the fourth quarter when Berrien lineman Mason McFarland blocked a punt and returned it deep into Hopkins territory, making a serious threat to widen the gap to 35-0.
But a proud and defiant defensive, led by Zack Blank, Brandon Ryan, Clayton Frank and Caleb Harm line drew a line in the sand and stopped the Shamrocks two yards shy of the goal line in three plays, forcing a 25-yard field goal instead by Brant Rago.
That show of Viking pride, some quality defensive plays from end Devin Smit, linebacker Shawn Marschall and lineman Terry Thomas, and a good job returning four of five kickoffs to almost midfield were about the only consolations for a nasty evening.
Hopkins failed to score on the heels of only putting seven points on the board the previous week in a loss to Allendale.
Berrien Springs, a team that made the Division 5 post-season playoffs last year before losing to eventual champion West Catholic, wasted no time taking command of this nonleague matchup. The Shamrocks took the opening kickoff and marched 76 yards on 11 plays, Malik McIntrye carrying the football into the end zone from 12 yards out.
The drive got big boosts from a couple of successful third down pass plays.
Hopkins responded by taking the ball from its own 41 to the Shamrocks’ 18, only to give up the pigskin on downs.
Nate Nannfeldt, on the first play of the second period, broke loose on an 81-yard run all the way to the Vikings’ one, but it was nullified by a penalty. No matter — McIntyre galloped 75 yards to pay dirt on the very next play and the visiting eleven was up 13-0.
Hopkins moved the football
from its own 42 to the Berrien Springs 27, only to give it up once again on downs.
The Shamrocks then went to the air, with several pass plays covering a lot of ground. In one instance, QB Brennan Boone threw up a Hail Mary while in the grasp of Smit and Rago made a fine leaping catch for a 45-yard gain. But Smit snuffed out threat not much later with a key fourth down sack.
But as the saying goes, “That which does not destroy me merely delays the inevitable, the Vikings gambled and lost on a fake punt attempt, giving Berrien the football only 25 yards away from the end zone and 2:07 showing on the clock.
Boone hit Jeremy Williamson with a 21-yard pass to the 4 and two plays later Nannfeldt took it in from the two to make it 19-0 at intermission.
Hopkins yielded just one touchdown in the second half, a 24-yard scoring strike from Boone to Greg Piedt on a third down and 14 situation.
The other Shamrock scores were Rago’s field goal and a safety when Viking sophomore quarterback Jason Battjes was hunted down and dropped in the end zone. Setting up the two points was an excellent punt by Rago that pinned Hopkins back on its own three.
Hopkins yielded more than 100 yards in the air, but the real story probably was its lack of offense. Berrien Springs came up with 12 plays in the first half alone in which the Vikings had no or negative yardage.
So the big question now is whether Hopkins, now 1-2 overall, can make the post-season playoffs. It has not missed post-season action since it went 4-5 in 2006.
The Vikings probably will learn a lot this Friday night at Comstock Park High School’s field, where they will take on O-K Silver Conference favorite North Pointe Christian.
PHOTOS: Devin Smit (84) drops Berrien Springs QB Brennan Boone (8) for a loss on a fourth down play.
Viking running back Michael Smith finds the going tough through the interior line, as did all runners Friday night. Identifiable blockers include Sid VanderTuin (27) and Jimmy Lipscomb (15).
