Viking raid

Like their historical namesakes, the Kindred Vikings were in attack mode, and there wasn't much left of the Carrington Cardinals when Thor's hammer came crashing down.

The top-ranked team in Class A certainly showed it Saturday, Oct. 26, scoring 42 first half points and rolling over the Cards, 48-14, in the opening round of playoff action at Kindred's Jerlow Field.

Try as they might, the Cardinal running game could not muster any kind of success, whether laterally or straight ahead against the fleet Viking defense.

Those quick early possessions left CHS with the task of trying to contain the KHS playmakers, and missed tackles led to big plays galore for the undefeated titans of the 'A' division.

Kindred (10-0) got on the board with a Kylan Swenson 31-yard run, and they were just getting started. KHS quarterback Gabe Whipple then found Brooks Bakko for a touchdown covering 23 yards, and Bakko scored again on a 46-yard punt return to give the home team a 21-0 first quarter lead.

Following a Josh Bickett interception to Hunter Bindas, Kindred went right back to work, finishing off a drive with a Tyson Johnson one-yard score to make it 28-0.

Bindas kept the relentless Viking momentum going with a 35-yard touchdown pass from Whipple, and KHS finished out the half with a Swenson two-yard run with just seconds remaining.

Kicker Andrew Haley hit all six of his extra points in the first half, giving the Vikings a 42-0 cushion.

Kindred put in their junior varsity defense in for much of the third quarter and part of the fourth, and the Cards' passing game found some success in that time frame.

Junior wide receiver Maddox McIlonie caught his first career touchdown pass from Josh Bickett, a 43-yard bomb over the Viking secondary.

On the next drive, it was Tate Wolsky's turn to find the end zone, with a 15-yard catch and run. Peyton Harrington added the two-point try, making the score 42-14.

In an attempt to stop the growing CHS confidence, Kindred put the first team defense back in, and that gambit succeeded with a stop.

The Vikings' third-stringers got into the scoring column late in the game, when backup quarterback Jackson Schlieman connected on a nicely-executed fade route to Eli Maack in the corner of the end zone for a 10-yard pass to conclude the scoring.

Josh Bickett finished 16-for-23 for 159 yards with two touchdowns and a pick, and McIlonie was his top receiver with 63 yards on three receptions.

Kindred completely shut down the Cardinal running game to minus-12 rushing yards, to the point where backup quarterback Parker Bickett was the leading rusher with one carry for four yards.

One highlight from the game was senior Ryder Bickett setting a school record with a 61-yard punt.

Wolsky had 10 tackles and four assists for CHS, and McIlonie had eight combined tackles. Alec Threadgold had seven tackles and a sack, and Drew Matt made two tackles for loss.

Seven seniors saw their CHS careers come to an end, those being Josh and Ryder Bickett, Kanin Zieman, Grady Idland, Ethan Roller and Dylan Bachmeier. All-State linebacker Corbin Clifton, also a senior, was out with a season-ending injury and was unable to take the field.

With the loss, the Cards' season finished with an overall record of 6-4.

Class A Playoffs - First Round

Kindred 48, Carrington 14

Cgtn. 0 0 14 0 14

Kindred 21 21 0 6 48

First Quarter

Kindred: Kylan Swenson 31 yard run (Andrew Haley kick)

Kindred: Brooks Bakko 23 yard pass from Gabe Whipple (Haley kick)

Kindred: Bakko 46 yard punt return (Haley kick)

Second Quarter

Kindred: Tyson Johnson 1 yard run (Haley kick)

Kindred: Hunter Bindas 35 yard pass from Whipple (Haley kick)

Kindred: Swenson 2 yard run (Haley kick)

Third Quarter

Carrington: Maddox McIlonie 43 yard pass from Josh Bickett (kick failed)

Carrington: Tate Wolsky 15 yard pass from J. Bickett (Peyton Harrington run)

Fourth Quarter

Kindred: Eli Maack 10 yard pass from Jackson Schlieman (run failed)

Carrington Statistics

Offense

Passing: J. Bickett 16-23-159 yards-2 TD-INT

Rushing: Parker Bickett 1-4; Jacob Boeshans 1-3; Hayden Hagel 1-2; Chase Ova 1-1; McKade Zink 2-(-4); Harrington 5-(-4); Ryder Bickett 1-(-5); J. Bickett 3-(-9)

Receiving: McIlonie 3-63-TD; R. Bickett 3-26; Wolsky 3-23-TD; Zink 3-21; Grady Idland 1-14; Harrington 3-12

Defense

Tackles (unassisted/assisted): Wolsky (10-4); McIlonie (6-2); Drew Matt (5-1); Alec Threadgold (5-2); Zink (4-2); Hayden Hagel (3-2); R. Bickett (2-0); Cody Otto (2-2); J. Bickett (1-0); Harrington (1-1); Dylan Bachmeier (0-2)

Sack: Threadgold

Tackles for Loss: Matt 2, R. Bickett and Otto 1