By Dave Ryan

CAMBRIDGE — The Cambridge-South Dorchester High School Vikings ended their pandemic season — seven games this spring — at home against Easton on Friday. They fell to the visitors, 24-0.

The Vikings finished the year at 5-2, while the Warriors were undefeated at 5-0.
Easton’s first drive led to the end zone, but the touchdown was called back on a penalty. Then C-SD’s defensive back Tayon Fletcher shut down the Warriors, when on 4th-and-goal from the Vikings’ 19, he intercepted Easton quarterback Kevin O’Connor and returned it to the 37.

It was an encouraging start for the Vikings’ D, considering that the talented O’Connor will be playing for D-1 University of Delaware in the fall.
That pick led to a long drive downfield, to fourth down on the Easton goal line, when C-SD Head Coach decided to go for the score. But Shareef Curry intercepted QB John Henry’s pass in the end zone. It would be the first of three on the night for Curry.
The first quarter ended scoreless. In the second quarter, Defensive Coordinator Eric Otey’s squad stepped up, pressuring O’Connor and giving him few targets downfield.

With 6:32 left in the first half, Easton’s Graham Haddaway broke the deadlock with a 5-yard score. A good extra point — not a sure thing in the gusty conditions — made it 7-0.
The third quarter saw O’Connor and the Warriors’ offense hit their stride, with a field goal and a touchdown. C-SD’s defense hung tough, but so did the Warriors’, effectively shutting down the Vikings’ offense between the tackles and throws downfield.

The experience of the seniors on Easton’s defensive line began to pay off, as they stuffed the Vikings’ running game behind the sophomores and juniors up front.
Then, with just a minute and a half left to play, O’Connor connected with a TD throw, leading to the final score of 24-0.
Expectations are that football will return in the fall, as pandemic conditions improve.