By Dave Ryan

CAMBRIDGE – The Cambridge-South Dorchester High School varsity Vikings traveled to Salisbury on Thursday to play Parkside High School for a back-and-forth contest that went down to the final seconds. The Vikings came away with a 28-20 win, holding off a last-minute challenge from the home team.

The Vikings came into the game with a record of 1-1, coming off a win the previous week against Century High School in Sykesville.

The Rams were still looking for their first win, at 0-2, having lost to North Caroline 34-0 on Sept. 8, and dropping their season opener on Sept. 2 to Kent Island, 43-20.

The teams traded scores and effective special teams plays in the first half, with the Vikings on the scoreboard first, with a 37-yard throw from quarterback Blake LaBelle to LaShaun Moody to make it 6-0 after a failed 2-point conversion.

When C-SD recovered a Parkside fumble on the ensuing kickoff, they didn’t miss the chance to widen their lead. A repeat performance, LaBelle to Moody, resulted in a 12-0 tally with 3:37 to play in the first period.

Elijah Donaldson put the Rams on the board with only a minute gone in the second quarter, and it was 12-7 after the extra point.

The Vikings didn’t score on their next possession. Jayvine Blake and Jairyn Lewis combined for a sack when the Rams got possession again, not the last time Lewis would hear his name over the PA after a good play.

But Parkside quarterback Nasir Mapp broke free for a long run to the C-SD 1-yard line, and on the next play, rumbled into the end zone for a TD and the Rams’ first lead of the night, 14-13.

The Vikings’ Sterling Perkins caught a 10-yard throw for a score, and after a successful 2-point conversion throw to Majestic Jones, the Vikes were back on top, 20-14.

The Vikings lost one of their top offensive threats in the period, when LaShaun Moody left the game, helped off the field not putting weight on his right foot. He was seen on the sideline later, using crutches.

He joined Anthony Hughes, who dislocated his elbow in the first game, and has been out since then.

A long return on the kickoff put the Rams at the Vikings’ 40-yard line, but Lewis and Kayion Marine combined to stall the drive with strong tackles and a sack. But the Rams still moved the ball downfield, and Nasir Holden carried the ball into the end zone to make it 21-20.

Parkside recovered a fumble on C-SD’s kickoff return, taking possession at the Vikings’ 25, but time expired in the first half before the Rams could capitalize.

The third quarter ended with neither team scoring.

A hard-fought fourth quarter led to a long Vikings drive that ended with a LaBelle carry from the 2-yard line for a touchdown, followed by a successful conversion throw to Jairyn Lewis, and a tally of 28-20 with four and a half minutes left to play.

With two minutes left, Parkside was threatening with a first down at the Vikings’ 10-yard line. A third-down carry by Donaldson brought the ball to the 5-yard line with 51 seconds left, and the Vikings called time out.

A Parkside rush neared the end zone, but a penalty set the Rams back by 10 yards for another fourth-down attempt from the 14-yard line. An incomplete pass ended the Rams’ drive and their chance for a win.

NOTES:

• C-SD’s junior varsity team beat Parkside on Wednesday, 26-16.
• The Vikings varsity 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. 22, C-SD will be at Colonel Richardson, game time 6 p.m.