Vikings stopped in bid for Section title game at Fargodome

Pictured, number 8 Peyton Blakeway—filling in for injured quarterback Tim Guler—found himself hurting after the game. He is carried off the field after the heartbreaking 27-12 loss, by teammates Andrew Checco De Souza and, right, Jerett Stetz.
PHOTOS BY LOUIS HOGLUND
These photos capture the somber end of the Pelican Rapids High School football team’s 2022 season. The Vikings won the district championship for the first time in 15 years, but injuries sapped the team of some of its key players. The result: a playoff loss to Crookston, which halted Pelican from a trip to the Fargodome this week for the Section title.
Up in the air for a deflected pass, Carter Johnson, number 22, and Jack Paulson, number 7, background.

A heartbreaking end to the season for the Pelican Rapids football team, as they fell to Crookston 27-12 in a home playoff loss. 

Ousted in the semifinal round, amid a half dozen crucial injuries, the Vikings were eliminated from the Section 8AA Tournament—one game away from the Section title game at the Fargodome.

The Vikings opened the game with a 60-yard drive and a 12-yard touchdown run by Jack Kapenga in the first quarter.

Crookston pulled even with a scoring drive early in the second quarter, capped by a 2-yard TD run. The Pirates had a 13-6 halftime advantage.

Less than thirty seconds into the second half, Crookston increased their lead to 20-6 on a 76-yard touchdown run.

Pelican Rapids cut the lead to 20-12 in the fourth quarter when Carter Johnson caught a 4-yard TD pass from Peyton Blakeway. Crookston wrapped up the scoring with an 8-yard run to put the score at 27-12.

Pelican Rapids ends their season with a 7-2 record. Crookston will move on to face Barnesville for the Section 8AA title, scheduled for 8 p.m. Friday at the Fargodome.

Pelican defenseman Kaden Holt takes aim at Crookston quarterback Jack Doda.
On a reverse play, running back Treyvon Benson looks for an open receiver.
Peyton Blakeway, calling the signals following the injury to starting quarterback Tim Guler, unloads a pass under pressure from Crookston.
Crookston’s Ethan Boll sneaks in for a touchdown, deflecting a tackle from Pelican’s Carter Johnson.