By Dave Ryan

SALISBURY – The Cambridge-South Dorchester High School Vikings overcame the adversity of a 3-4 regular season by beating Parkside in Salisbury on Saturday, 24-12.

The game was the first round of the 1A-2A East Regional playoffs. The Vikings will now face top-seeded 2A school Harford Technical High School in the next round.

Parkside came into Saturday’s contest with a 4-4 record, having beaten strong teams in the Bayside Conference, including North Caroline three weeks previously. But miscues including five fumbles stopped the Rams’ offense at critical moments.

In the first half, the Vikes’ Dario Belizaire and Tayon Fletcher each scored touchdowns, while kicker James Frazier added extra points and a field goal. Parkside’s single TD and missed extra point made it 17-6.

The third quarter was scoreless, though the Rams were threatening with first and goal from the Vikings’ 8-yard line before a fumble recovered by the Vikings shut down the drive.

In the final period, with 11:08 on the clock, Fletcher capped a 51-yard sprint down the field with another score.

With less than seven minutes remaining, Rams tight end Alex Anderson pulled in a 10-yard throw for the final touchdown of the game. A failed 2-point conversion left the score at 24-12.

The Harford Tech Cobras will come to Cambridge on Nov. 12, with a record of 7-1. Game time is 7 p.m.