The Hopkins varsity football team will play another round of three games against O-K Silver Conference opponents over the next three weeks, and if the Vikings do as well as they did the first time around, they will be undefeated league champs and will land a berth in the post-season playoffs.
Coach Cody Francis and Company Friday won a storm-shortened rout at Kelloggsville, 42-0. The contest was limited to three quarters because of lightning and inclement weather.
Hopkins now has defeated Belding, Godwin and Kelloggsville by a combined score of 111 to 6. The second round against the same three foes is necessary because Silver members Calvin Christian, NorthPointe Christian and Wyoming Lee chose not to compete in the sport this fall in the league, but have independent schedules.
The outcome of the game Friday was not in doubt from the get-go. The Vikings, now 5-0 overall for the season, piled on a 22-0 lead in the first quarter and cruised the rest of the way.
The first touchdown was a 62-yard pass from QB Trevor Smith to Colin Weber. Then came a one-yard plunge by Carson Delao and a 15-yard scoring strike from Drew Weber to Nathan Tew.
Mixing things up even more and showing off versatility, Hopkins struck again in the second period on a 37-yard pass from Colin Weber to Hunter Braford.
Kelloggsville fans probably were wondering at that point just who is the Vikings quarterback.
Colin Weber added two touchdowns, a one-yard wedge into the end zone and a 30-yard return of an intercepted pass, in the third quarter before a fall thunderstorm that included lots of lightning halted the game. It was agreed to just let the score stand because it was so lopsided and not pick it up the following day.
The Vikings grounded out 331 yards in total offense and their defense, in posting their second straight shutout, limited the Rockets to just 55. DeLao led individual rushers with 90 yards in just six carries.
Sharing honors in total tackles defensively with four were Braford, Trey Collins, Ethan Gilder and Kyle Pierce. T. Perry had two stops behind the line of scrimmage.
The Vikings will be shooting for their sixth consecutive victory to clinch a playoff berth at Godwin next Friday night.
Hopkins plays at Godwin next week at 5pm!
Sorry, and thanks.