Vikings win first game of the season, 54 to 0

The Orcas Vikings football team launched its 2010 season with a non-league home game against Valley High School from Arizona on Thursday, Sept. 2. The Vikings won, 54 to 0.

September 3, 2010 2:10 pm
Mike Langworthy fends off a Pirates player during the game against Arizona’s Valley High School.
Mike Langworthy fends off a Pirates player during the game against Arizona’s Valley High School.

by BOB PHALAN

Special to the Sounder

The Orcas Vikings opened their 2010 football season on Sept. 2 with a 54-0 win over the Valley High School Pirates from Sanders, Arizona.

Senior Michael Langworthy shined with 296 all purpose yards and scoring 5 touchdowns. Josh Lawson also excited the crowd with a 45-yard punt return for a touchdown and senior linebacker Jacob Hansen returned an interception 28 yards for a touchdown. Hansen added a rushing touchdown to his work on the field. Hansen and Justin Leidecker were fierce leaders on a defense that shut down Valley, allowing a mere 66 total yards on offense. The kicking game was outstanding with both Robbie Padbury and Jake Zier repeatedly burying the Pirates deep in their own territory.

“The hard-fighting stingy defense from 2009 has returned and offensively our guys got an early command of the game,” said head coach Scott Harris. “The entire team played hard and we are really proud of them for that. The opportunity in the first game is to evaluate our team and fine tune different elements of the game. We are excited about the win and looking forward to the upcoming game next Friday night in Friday Harbor.”

The game was really a side note to an amazing trip for the boys from Arizona. Valley High School is a part of the Navajo Nation, which extends into the states of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico, covering over 27,000 square miles. For most of the players, the Wednesday ferry ride to Orcas was their first time on a boat! Harris felt it was an honor to have hosted the Navajo students and their coaches.

“We had a great connection with the players, coaches and fans that traveled 1500 miles to visit our island,” he said.

The pre-game festivities included an exchange of gifts that represented the diverse cultures of each team. After the game both teams and their coaches shared a potluck, which was prepared by the Viking Parents and the Booster Club. Coach Mark Padbury remarked how special it was for all of the players to mingle and eat together after the game. “Sharing stories, eating and laughing together was a perfect ending to a day that transcended the competition on the field,” he said. “It was a day which will not be forgotten anytime soon by any of the student/athletes.”

As the Navajo say: Hozo-go nay-yeltay to. (May we live in peace hereafter.)