By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

SALEM, Ore.—  Entering the second half of the Junior Varsity game between North Salem and McKay, the Vikings were in full control of the game leading 16-0 as the Scots received the opening kick of the second half.

What North did not expect was the change in quarterback with Jovi Davis jogging out at the helm.

Despite having some success in the third with several quarterback scrambles, the Viks held Davis and McKay scoreless entering the fourth quarter.

But, some success with 4:14 left in the game. As Davis connects on a touchdown pass to cut the lead to 16-6.

“It was just trying to get our team momentum going,” said Davis.  “We knew we were down 16-0 going into the second half but we wanted to, I wanted to switch the mindset up to say that we can comeback and damn near almost did.

“We played our hardest, everyone was really dedicated and wanted to play but we came out with an L, but Sprague is going to be looking for something because this hurts and we’ll give them something.”

The Scots recovered the ensuing onside kick and after battling through a stalemate with the North defense as Davis completed a pass off his back foot for a huge gain on fourth down.

A penalty however on that play would push them back but Davis would once more found a receiver in the crease of North’s defense once more that put them on the three with 37 seconds left as Davis took a hard hit in his way to end zone next play.

The two-point conversion  was good as they lined up for one last onside kick down 16-14 with seconds left on the board.

Both fan bases were on their feet, knowing that this kick decides the fate of the game, North recovery ices the win, McKay recovery, possible game-winner.

The ball was sent, squib up the middle, but instead of taking a Scot bounce or hit off a Viking player, it sat in the mud as North recover the squib kick and downed the ball for the win.

“McKay really came out in the second half and battled,” said Vikings JV Coach Tony Davis. “I mean they had no quit in them and really took it to us and we had to start to get back into our game.

“I thought we had it rolling in the first half, we had to reset gears and get after it in the second half.  It took some time and I think we got it, we made some stops down the stretch and had a couple of plays late in the game that helped get to the end and it went in our favor luckily.

The Vikings improve to 5-3 on the season and will look to go 6-3 this Thursday versus Roseburg.

With Davis and the McKay boys, they know how much this will burn as they go back to work Tuesday in preparation for the Olympians of Sprague.

“It hurts, this one will sting because the Battle of the Northeast.  We wanted this one.  This is the game that we wanted really bad. We just couldn’t come out on top, but we were close enough,” said Davis.

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Photos By Jeremy McDonald