ODA falls in district opener

The Out-of-Door Academy varsity football team fell to Bishop Verot 56-0 under the lights Friday night.

In the first quarter, Bishop Verot racked up two touchdowns for the Vikings. The first touchdown was scored on a punt return. Junior Jimmy Dwyer then ran in a 20-yard touchdown to put the Vikings up 14-0.

Thunder quarterback David Grain struggled to find open receivers due to the Vikings strong defense. Vikings linebacker Pierce LaPrey was able to keep the pressure on the Thunder’s offensive line, causing the first interception of the game against the Thunder. 

“We need to give David more time in the pocket, when he has time, he is able to maneuver his way down the field,” sophomore Trenton Radigan says. “In order to get back in this ball game we need to make something happen on offense.”

Within the first four minutes of the second quarter the Vikings were able to add another two touchdowns to the scoreboard. Vikings quarterback Quinn Farrell, connected a pass to senior CJ Spiro for a gain of 20 yards, putting the Vikings in scoring position. On the Next play running back Tommy Dean ran the ball in for a 7-yard touchdown. At this point the Vikings lead 21-0.

On the next drive the Thunder’s offense went four and out, and was forced to punt. Two plays into the Vikings drive Dwyer moved the ball down field, eventually getting a 10-yard rushing touchdown to put the Vikings up 28-0.

Just before the end of the first half, Farrell connected a pass to Spiro for a 20-yard touchdown. The Vikings led the Thunder 35-0 at the end of the first half.

As the Thunder pushed on into the second quarter, the Vikings scored their next two touchdowns within the first six minutes of play. Dwyer scored a pair of rushing touchdowns, making the score 49-0. 

The Thunder would be forced to punt on its next drive; but after a strong defensive performance, defensive lineman Chris Poole made a fumble recovery putting the Thunder in good offensive position.

Freshman Jason Fineberg led the Thunder in the third quarter with five tackles.

Senior Kevin Grathwohl told us “We just need to work harder because most of our team is underclassmen and inexperienced at the varsity level,” says senior Kevin Grathwohl, who has been sidelined after his recent torn ACL 

On the Vikings last drive Alex McDougall ran the ball in on a quarterback sneak for the final touchdown of the game.

At the end of the fourth quarter, the Vikings defeated the Thunder 56-0.