By Dave Ryan

CAMBRIDGE – The Cambridge-South Dorchester High School Vikings (1A) varsity football team fell to the North Caroline Bulldogs (2A) on Friday, 28-14. The first game of the season took place before classes will begin on Tuesday, leaving C-SD with a record of 0-1, and North Caroline 1-0.

Scoring started early, with the visitors’ Zymear Smith running 58 yards into the end zone with only two minutes elapsed in the game.

Early in the second quarter, a Vikings’ score was called back on a penalty, and on the next play, Zymir was back in action, with a pick at the Bulldogs’ 2-yard line to shut down the home team’s drive.

There were scary moments halfway through the quarter, when C-SD’s Anthony Hughes ran off the field shouting in pain. With an apparently dislocated elbow, Hughes left the stadium in an ambulance, headed for treatment.

The Bulldog’s drive continued, until Tyson Weber ran it in from the 5-yard line, leaving the tally 14-0 at the half.

Early in the third period, NC’s QB Nasai Bell scrambled on a broken play, found some daylight, and 34 yards later, was in the end zone. Another good kick and it was 21-0

But the Vikes weren’t done yet – LaShaun Moody took the kickoff the length of the field for the home team’s first score, electrifying the crowd and leading to a 2-point conversion by Jairyn Lewis to put 21-8 on the board.

In final quarter, the Bulldogs lined up for a punt, then faked the kick, with Bell running for a first down to extend their drive. With 8:42 left to play, Weber scored again, and it was 28-8.

A 55-yard return by Majestic Jones to the Bulldog 35 looked like the Vikes might have a chance at some late-game magic, but the drive gained only 10 yards and C-SD turned over the ball on downs.

Darren Belizaire got the Vikings on the scoreboard one more time with a minute and a half left in the game. The following 2-point conversion was unsuccessful.

Last season, C-SD compiled a record of 4-6, getting knocked out of the first round of the playoffs. North Caroline made it to the second round, finishing with a record of 5-6.

In junior varsity action on Thursday, Cambridge-South Dorchester lost to North Caroline, 33-14.

Next week, the Vikings will be at Century High School in Sykesville. Game time is 5:30 p.m.