A GREAT CAREER...for Sam Smallwood, who rewrote the Viking record books.

By Dwaine Maxson
OCTOBER 24, 2008 - CASSTOWN
Miami East lost a tough one to playoff regular West Jefferson 20-7. The Vikings fought valiantly in what was their 500th official game all time and only their second playoff game, but unfortunately it did not end they the way they wanted. Although early on it looked like it might be their night.

The Vikings opened the game with an over 10 play 80 yard drive that was capped off with a 14 yard touchdown run by Tyler Dunivan to put them up 7-0. They then forced the Roughriders to punt after only three plays. Miami East then started their next drive on their own 16 yard line and moved it all the way to West Jefferson's 14 yard line, but then it stalled. The Vikings' field goal attempt went wide right and the Roughriders took over from there. The first quarter ended with the Vikings up 7-0.

The Roughriders finally got on the scoreboard in the second quarter with a 2 yard run by Shane Cahill. Although for most of the second quarter the Viking defense managed to keep them out of the endzone. The first half ended with the game tied 7-7.

West Jefferson finally took the lead in the third quarter with a 5 yard touchdown run by Cahill. Late in the third quarter the Vikings managed to get a drive going, but then lost a fumble on the Roughriders' 46 yard line. Five plays later West Jefferson scored on a 25 yard touchdown pass from D.J. Mendenhall to Eric Fisher to make the score 20-7.

In the fourth quarter the Roughriders kept the ball on the ground and tried to run out the clock. The Vikings did move the ball some on a couple of drives. Although the closest they got was a first and ten on the Roughrider 31 yard line, but then the Roughriders managed to intercept a Justin Baker pass. Later the Vikings had another drive end when the Roughriders again intercepted a Baker pass this time at the 50 yard line.

"Our boys played hard to the very end. They (the Roughriders) made a few plays in key situations and we did not. So, if those few plays had gone differently it may have been a different result. West Jefferson is a good football team, so I don't want to take anything away from them. Our running game struggled after Tylor Matheson went out with an injury, so our run blocking was not as effective. We did have some missed opportunties that would have helped. We have nothing to be ashamed of, we played hard all night," Miami East Coach Max Current later commented.

West Jefferson's D.J. Mendenhall finished the night 12 of 20 passing for 212 yards and a touchdown. Eric Love was their leading receiver with 6 catches for 136 yards. The Roughriders' leading rushing Shane Cahill had 23 carries for 99 yards and two touchdowns.

Sam Smallwood lead the Vikings in rushing with only 35 yards on 16 carries. The Vikings' Justin Baker was 7 of 21 passing for 126 yards, but threw two interceptions. Miami East's leading receiver was Logan Carey with 4 catches for 83 yards.

The Vikings' end the season 9-2 overall, 9-0 in the CCC, and as CCC Champions. West Jefferson moves on with a 9-2 record and will play Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy at a site to later be determined.

Score by Quarters:
.........................1....2.....3....4......Final
Miami East...........7....0.....0....0..........7
West Jefferson.....0....7....13...0.........20

Scoring Summary:
ME-Tyler Dunivan 14 yard run (Josh Snyder kick).
WJ-Shane Cahill 2 yard run (Jake Williams kick).
WJ-Cahill 5 yard run (Williams kick).
WJ-Eric Fisher 25 yard pass from D.J. Mendenhall (kick failed).