By Dave Ryan

Dorchester Banner

FEDERALSBURG – The Vikings got back to their winning ways on Friday, earning their first win on the gridiron for the 2017 season as they beat Colonel Richardson, 28-14. The result brought both teams to a 1-3 record.

Senior running back Tajh Molock was the man of the hour, as he scored all of Cambridge-South Dorchester’s points, both as touchdowns and 2-point conversions. Nearly all of C-SD’s offensive effort was on the ground. Coaches chose to keep their attack conservative in the absence of starting quarterback Ty Harding, who was out after suffering a concussion against North Caroline the previous week.

Junior Jyquan Farrare took over behind center. Running back/linebacker Ethan Carmine handled punting duties for the recovering Harding, who is also the usually the team’s kicker.

Colonel Richardson led early, when a 6-minute drive to start the game ended with a 1-yard plunge by Jordan Gabriel. A 2-point conversion made it 8-0 for the home team.

The Vikings kept things interesting in their own backfield, with snaps sometimes going to Farrare, and others directly to Molock, who evened the tally at 8-8 with a 6-yard run as the first quarter ticked away.

During the scoreless second quarter, the Colonels hit hard for the home crowd, and the Vikings tried to build momentum despite the effect of six penalties before the break.

C-SD kept the ball on the ground in the second half, allowing Farrare to gain experience in his first-ever varsity start. Then with 4:31 to go in the third quarter, Molock swung around left end for a 27-yard score.

When a 2-point try was denied, the scoreboard said 14-8, the Vikings had their first lead of the season, and they never trailed in the game after that.

The C-SD men put together methodical drives, grinding out gains on the ground, and that began to wear down the Colonels. Many of the CR men played on offense, defense, and special teams, so as the defense began to tire, the Vikings dominated.

Halfway through the final period, Molock carried the ball into the end zone on a first and goal from the 6, and then thumped it in for an extra 2, making it 22-8. Less than two and a half minutes later, Tajh broke away for a 32-yard run and TD. An unsuccessful 2-point conversion followed, resulting in a tally of 28-8.

The Colonels’ Robert Thompson III made it a two-score game when he ran 30 yards for a touchdown at the 5:15 mark. A failed 2-point try gave the final score of 28-14.

Tomorrow, Colonel Richardson will be in Oak Hall, Va., to play Arcadia (2-2). Game time is 7:00 p.m.

Cambridge-South Dorchester has a home, non-conference game tomorrow, against Nandua (2-3). It could be something of a grudge match for the men from Onley, Va.

Emotions were raw among the visitors on Sept. 30 last year, when in a visit to C-SD, they lost to the Vikings 72-14.

All Nandua’s points came in the first quarter, when C-SD also scored 19. After that, the Vikings put 53 unanswered points on the board.

Game time in Viking Stadium on Sept. 28 is 7 p.m.