Spring Valley shuts out Colfax in conference football opener

COLFAX — With three straight home games to open the 2016 gridiron season, Colfax was looking and hoping for some positive results and a few victories.

Unfortunately, the former have been few resulting in none of the latter for the Vikings.

Much like its previous two contests, Colfax came up well short in its quest for a “W” as it was blanked by Spring Valley at home September 2 despite a strong early showing by the Vikings’ defense and in particular junior linebacker Brett Schindler, who registered a quartet of quarterback sacks in the first quarter that resulted in a pair of fumbles.

The Cardinals, defending conference champions, took advantage of a pair of failed mid-field gambles and a fumble by Vikings to break a scoreless deadlock and put 21 points on the scoreboard in the second quarter. Spring Valley added three more touchdowns in the second half to spoil Colfax’ Parents’ Night with a 41-0 shutout win here last Friday evening.

The loss dropped the Vikings to 0-3 and 0-1 in Dunn-St. Croix action. Spring Valley remained perfect at 3-0 and 1-0.

After a strong first quarter by the defense that kept the game scoreless, things quickly went south for the Vikings.

Colfax was unable to shake free of its bad luck after the halftime break. The Vikings lost three more fumbles and had a punt blocked in the second half resulting in two more Cardinals’ scores. One of the fumbles also snuffed out Colfax’ best scoring opportunity of the game.

With its defense playing so well in the first 12 minutes, Colfax looked primed to deliver an upset and grab its first football win since a 14-0 triumph over Mondovi nearly two years ago.

With just over two minutes left in the opening quarter, Vikings’ linebacker Brett Schindler busted through the Cardinals’ line of protection and sacked their quarterback Sean Borgerding causing the ball to pop out. Colfax teammate Austin Dressel pounced on the free pig skin to give the Vikings the ball at the Cardinals’ 48 yard line.

Two plays later, however, Colfax returned the favor when Valley’s Jarod Rielly recovered a fumble at the Cards’ 44.

Colfax’ defense continued to harass Borgerding and the offense during the ensuing series. Schindler registered a first-down sack and then tackled senior back Seth Schlegel for a loss and caused yet another fumble that was recovered by Viking Tommy Anderson at the Colfax’ own 43.

But just four play later, Colfax turned the ball over on downs after an attempted fourth and four conversion just seconds into the second quarter lost a yard.

Spring Valley went back on the offensive at the Colfax 48.

The only positive yardage the Cardinals found was on a first-down offsides call on the Vikings. Schlegel was stopped for no gain on a first and five run. Then Schindler and Alex Sykora sacked Borgerding for consecutive losses of three and four yards forcing Spring Valley to punt.

Colfax took over at its 29 following the kick but on first down disaster struck. Colfax quarterback Treyton Teige’s pitch to one of his running backs was off the mark and hit the ground. The ball one-hopped into waiting arms of Valley’s Sean Borgerding who returned it  22 yards for the game’s first score. Brock Bune kicked the PAT to make it 7-0 at 8:21.

The Cardinals, much to the chagrin of the Vikings, were just getting started.

Colfax went backwards on its next offensive foray having to punt on a fourth and 21.

A short kick and good return gave Spring Valley the ball inside Colfax territory at the 42. Cruze Hurlburt carried the ball on four of the five plays netting 32 yards including a four-yard run that put the Cardinals ahead 13-0 with 4:22 remaining in the half after the Vikings blocked the extra point kick.

Looking to make something happen, Colfax again gambled on another fourth and four. Teige’s slant pass to senior Tyler Snyder came up a half yard short turning the ball back over to Spring Valley at midfield.

It took the Cardinals just two plays to cover that distance thanks in part to a Vikings’ personal foul. An eight-yard pass from Borgerding to Seth Schlegel ended with 15 more tacked on after Colfax was hit with the unsportsmanlike penalty. With the ball sitting on the 27, Borgerding went back to a wide open Schlegel on a 27-yard touchdown strike with just 46.3 seconds left in the half. Jaydon Nyeggen added the conversion run to make it 21-0 at the break.

Spring Valley received the ball to open the second half but a pair of false starts and a holding call forced it to punt.

After being assessed another personal foul on the punt, Colfax started at its six. On second down, Teige hit Brett Schindler for a four yard gain but the ball came out and the Cardinals’ Seth Schlegel came up with the recovery at the 16.

A ten-yard run by Hurlburt gave Spring Valley a first and goal at the four. On the next play, Borgerding called his own number and took the ball to the end zone on the keeper. Bune added the kick to make it 28-0 at 6:55 of the third.

Colfax would again be forced to punt. Spring Valley broke through and blocked Treyton Teige’s punt. Valley’s Zackary Williams grabbed the football and rumbled 30 yards for the score making it 34-0 with 4:21. The extra point kick was low.

Colfax would finally put together its best drive of the game on the next series. Starting at its own 21, Colfax passed an ran it way down field. Teige ran for 18 yards and passed for another 37 yards, 22 of which went to Tyler Snyder.

Just when it appeared the drive had stalled, Teige connected with Brett Schindler for 12 yards and converted on a fourth and eight that gave the Vikings a first and goal at the Cardinals’ four. But on the next play, another bad pitch brought the drive to an end as Zackary Williams jumped on the loose ball for Spring Valley at the seven.

Spring Valley would have to punt but got the ball back on downs after Colfax, who have moved deep into the opponents territory, came up a yard short on another fourth-down conversion attempt.

The Cardinals needed just one play to add its final score. Tyson Kado to the pitch wide left and went untouched for the 77 yards. Bune’s kick at 3:12 made it 41-0.

Colfax lost yet another fumble on its ensuing first-down play allowing Spring Valley to run out the game clock.

Treyton Teige went 8-for-15 and 86 yards passing and was the Vikings leading rusher with 45 yards.

The Vikings will take to the road for the first time this season when they travel to Glenwood City this Friday to face the unbeaten Hilltoppers who were 30-18 victors in Elk Mound last week.

Spring Valley 41, Colfax 0
Colfax                 0    0     0    0 — 0
Spring Valley 0  21   13    7 — 41