News Photo by Jonny Zawacki Posen quarterback George Kroll (9) stiff arms Big Rapids Crossroads Academy defender David Burley (44) during an 8-player football game on Thursday at Posen High School.

POSEN — The Posen football team could not have asked for a much better start to its season.

The Vikings kicked off the 2018 season on Thursday and dominated Big Rapids Crossroads Charter Academy, shellacking the Cougars by a final score of 69-0.

“Our kids came out firing. They’ve been really grinding out at practice and they were just itching to play ball. They came out here on fire, just wanting to play and we were hitting, running and we were just ready,” Posen coach Greg Pietsch said. “We have some things to work on, but overall we played pretty tough.”

The Vikings received the opening kickoff and wasted little time putting points on the board.

Posen needed just five plays to cover 46 yards on the opening drive that ended with Mark Wisniewski scampering his way to the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown.

The Viking defense was stingy all night and forced a three and out on Big Rapids’ first possession.

Posen had a big play on its second possession as quarterback George Kroll rolled to his right and found a wide open Sam Brunet along the sidelines and Brunet broke two tackles and sprinted 74 yards to pay dirt.

“That’s kind of what we’ve been trying to do is just come out of the gates swinging and firing on all cylinders and just focus on football and we did that today,” Pietsch said. “I think our mind was right from the start and we have potential to be a really good team.”

The Vikings’ defense continue to make life miserable for Big Rapids as it kept the Cougars in check all night and forced them into some bad situations and capitalized on mistakes.

Posen scored two more times in the opening quarter as Chase Dubie ran for a 10-yard touchdown and Kroll tossed his second touchdown of the game with under two minutes to play in the quarter as he found a wide open Eyan Hincka in the end zone for a 22-yard pass and catch to put the Vikings up 30-0 after one quarter.

The rout continued as the second quarter was much of the same for both sides as Posen found the end zone four more times.

Wisniewski added a 25-yard and nine yard touchdown run to begin the quarter. Dubie intercepted a ball and returned it 20 yards for a score and Tyler Hincka sprinted into the end zone from 36 yards out to end Posen’s first half with a bang as they led 55-0 at the break.

“We just went back to basics, playing tough defense with a power running game and both of them were working tonight,” Pietsch said. “The defense was swarming the football, the offensive line was holding onto their blocks and the backs were holding the ball and running hard. What more could you ask for in the first game? We’ll never be satisfied and we’re just taking it a week at a time.”

Wisniewski finished the night with 105 yards rushing on 11 carries and three scores. Dubie carried the ball seven times and rushed for 112 yards while adding a pair of touchdowns. Hincka rushed for 62 yards and a score and AJ Brunet capped off the Vikings night with 33 yard run and finished with a one yard plunge into the end zone.

Kroll completed his only two pass attempts of the game and both went for a touchdowns as he finish with 96 yards through the air.

Gage Kaszubowski led the defense with nine tackles.

“Tonight we were able to find out that we have a lot of capable playmakers on this team. We have some depth on this team,” Pietsch said. “It’s a lot of drilling and a lot of live scrimmaging and a lot of open competition and when you have that at practice you get in the games and these guys are just licking their chops to play ball.”

The Vikings welcome Pellston next Friday night in a Week 2 matchup. Posen has beaten the Hornets each of their last three meetings and will be looking to keep things rolling next week as they open up play in the Midwest Central Michigan 8-Man Conference.

“Pellston was much improved last year and we’re just expecting the same this year. I know they’re well coached and they’re going to be a tough game,” Pietsch said. “I know we’ve had their number the last couple years, but I also know that they’re thinking payback and it’s going to be tough. We’ll have a game plan and have the kids ready and we’ll see what we can do.”