By Dave Ryan

CAMBRIDGE – The Cambridge-South Dorchester High School varsity Vikings boosted their record to 4-2 on Friday, with a 28-14 win over visiting Wicomico High School.

The Vikings (1A) under Head Coach Toby Peer came into the game at 3-2, after the previous week’s drubbing of visiting Kent County. The Wicomico Indians were 1-4 overall, 1-3 in Region 3A/2A.

The Indians have had trouble putting points on the board, shown in their preceding game, when they lost, 28-0, against Kent Island.

WiHi came to Cambridge having scored 43 points, while allowing 110. C-SD had scored 149, allowing 76.

In Friday’s contest, C-SD was behind early in the first quarter, after the Indians scored with a little more than 10 minutes remaining. Viking wide receiver Darren Belizaire put the Vikes on the board a couple minutes later, and kicker Luke Reinbold evened the tally with an extra point.

WiHi kept the game competitive throughout, as the visitors next scored at the end of the period, making it 14-7. But Kayion Marine didn’t waste time responding – he returned the kickoff nearly the length of the field as the crowd went wild. Another Reinbold kick, and it was 14-14.

A word about the crowd: This was the most vocal and involved group of fans the Vikings have had in some time. With lots of gold visible – it was Gold Rush Night – to honor students and families from Sandy Hill Elementary School, chanting, clapping and shouting filled the air.

Much credit for that surely goes to the  members of the cheerleading team, whose coach is Missy Kenny. They have learned many new routines recently, after being instructed by Ms. Kenny’s daughter Jade, herself a professional cheerleader.

The energy from the cheer squad and the crowd seemed to go back and forth, helping to keep the players hyped up and energized.

That enthusiasm showed nowhere more than a series when the Vikings, playing defense and backed up to their own end zone, played tough and stopped the Indians at the three-yard line on fourth down, to regain possession of the ball and shut down the visitors’ drive.

And then it was the Antonio Blueford show. One catch followed another, and playing on defense, Blueford created happy havoc for the Vikings.

Like an interception on one play to stop the Indians, and on the very next down, playing offense this time, catching a Blake LaBelle throw in the end zone for a 22-yard TD.

The final score came late in the third quarter, when Anthony Hughes put an exclamation mark on his return from a Game 1 arm injury. The senior receiver sealed the deal with a long run to score, followed by a Belizaire reception on the 2-point conversion to make it 28-14.

NOTES:

• The Vikings beat Kent County the previous week, 52-0.
• The Vikings opened the regular season with a 28-14 loss to North Caroline on Sept. 1, followed by a victory over Century High School, 42-13, on Sept. 8. On Sept. 14, C-SD was at Parkside, where they beat the Rams, 28-21. On Sept. 22, C-SD was at Colonel Richardson, where the Vikings lost, 14-13.