Published: November 01, 2009 03:01 am      

Vikings annihilate Spartans

Danville will play Oak Lawn Richards in second round

DANVILLE — While watching film this week on the Danville defense, Oak Lawn coach Ron Thornburgh knew his Spartans had a big challenge.

Thornburgh saw a defensive unit that came into Saturday’s Class 6A first-round playoff game allowing just over 100 yards per game and just five first downs per game in the month of October.

Those numbers probably looked pretty good to him after the third-rated Vikings got done beating the Spartans 50-0 at Ned Whitesell Field.

“That is one of the best defensive lines we have seen all year, that’s for sure,’’ said Thornburgh, whose team managed just 37 yards of total offense and three first downs. “They play well as a unit. They are just a great group of kids. They are strong. They are fast. They know the game. They are well coached, and they get after it.

“We knew that we were going to have our work cut out for us.’’

The Spartans (5-5) had only their only scoring opportunity in the game’s first possession.

Danville (10-0) mishandled the opening kickoff and Oak Lawn’s Dimitri Frazier recovered it on the Vikings 28.

“We came out tentative with the kickoff return and they caught us off guard,’’ said Danville senior Cameron Ford, who had the ball bounce over his head on that kickoff. “Defensively, we got mad. We were not going to let them score the first points.’’

The Spartans tried three running plays which netted four yards, setting up a fourth down-and-6 at the Danville 24.

“There was no pressure on us in that situation,’’ said Danville senior defensive tackle Keith Mayfield. “We were ready to play.’’

Oak Lawn quarterback Mike Emanuelson found that out on the fourth down play.

Emanuelson was called for intentional grounding as Danville senior linebacker Quintin Brown blitzed and chased him toward the sideline.

“We just had to do our job and get the ball into the hands of our offense,’’ said Brown, who had 10 tackles in the contest.

Thornburgh was hoping that his Spartans could turn that early miscue by the third-rated Vikings into points.

“It would have been nice to punch one in there and get the old uncle momentum on our side,’’ he said.

Instead, Danville coach B.J. Luke saw his defensive unit turn into firemen.

“Defense went out and did what we call put the fire out,’’ Luke said. “They had the ball down there close and they had an opportunity to put it in.

“Our kids got after them and kept them out of the end zone.’’

The Viking offense didn’t get started as quickly as their defense until Mayfield recorded his first-ever interception. The 10-yard return by the 6-foot, 240-pound defensive tackle gave Danville the ball on the Oak Lawn 11.

“We wanted to put pressure on their quarterback and their running backs,’’ said Mayfield, who also had 10 tackles in the contest.

Two plays later, Justin March blasted into the end zone on an 11-yard run giving Danville a 7-0 lead.

The Vikings would score on three of their next four possessions and sophomore Dennis Hightower, making his first varsity start, became the fifth different player to return an interception for a touchdown as Danville carried a 35-0 lead into the halftime lockerroom.

“Jealously is a strong emotion,’’ said Brown, who still hasn’t scored a touchdown or gotten an interception. “No, I’m just kidding about that. Give him credit, he stepped up and made a big play in a big game.’’

The Danville offense followed its trite but true gameplan of relying on the ground attack.

Senior quarterback Malcolm Anderson needed only four carries to lead the Vikings with 91 yards, while the three-headed running back position held by Eddie Clark, Mario Crosby and March combined for 103 yards and four scores.

“Those are good numbers for a playoff game, especially with the short field the defense gave us on a number of opportunities,’’ Luke said. “We didn’t have to go 80 or 90 yards to score.

“They gave us a short porch and we put it in the end zone.’’

The only bright spot for Oak Lawn came in the second half when running back John Robinson escaped a gaggle of Danville tacklers on a 40-yard scamper.

It was the longest play from scrimmage for the Spartans, who had just 20 plays for positive yardage out of 45 in the game.

“That’s what you are trying to do,’’ Luke said. “We are very aggressive on both sides of the football and very physical on both sides of the football.’’

The playoff victory was the first for Danville since 1996 and it snapped the Vikings string of three straight first-round losses.

“It’s a big accomplishment for us,’’ Brown said. “Ever since I’ve been here, we haven’t gotten past the first round.

“We have an opportunity to do something special this season.’’

Up next for the Viking is a second-round contest with the Oak Lawn Richards Bulldogs.

Earlier this season, Richards defeated Oak Lawn Community 44-0.

So, coach Thornburgh, how do these two teams compare?

“It’s going to be a great matchup,’’ he said. “Richards has a really good offensive line, they have a very good quarterback and a good corp of receivers. It’s going to be a very good offense against a very good defense.

“Richards is sound on defensive side of the ball, just like Danville is sound on the offensive side of the ball. It will be a great matchup and I look forward to going to the game.’’

According to Luke, the game will be played at Richards High School in Oak Lawn next Saturday at 7 p.m.