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Posen wins a thriller

Vikings beat Au Gres in shootout to stay in playoff hunt

News Photo by James Andersen Posen running back Tyler Hincka, left, tries to avoid being tackled by Au Gres defender Tony Duncan as he races toward the end zone during a football game on Friday in Posen.

POSEN–Posen’s defense made big plays at the right time.

George Kroll took care of the rest.

Posen’s senior quarterback scored on a four-yard plunge on fourth down and ran in a two-point conversion with 1:27 left to give the Vikings a 70-68 win during a homecoming shootout at Posen High School on Friday.

Needing a win to keep its playoff hopes alive, Posen (5-3) got it in a game that saw both teams combine for 138 points and more than 350 rushing yards apiece.

The Vikings trailed by 14 with 10:31 to play, but put together a miraculous rally in arguably one of the best wins of coach Greg Pietsch’s tenure.

“The game was like a roller coaster. Wow! Man am I proud of my linemen, my backs, everyone stuck with it even when it seemed like the worst was to come,” Kroll said. “It was so emotional toward the end. One second you think there is no chance at playoffs, and we are back in the playoff drive. We are back in it baby.”

Tyler Hincka had 334 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 29 carries for the Vikings, who now have a chance to make the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2003-2004.

Kroll was also a perfect 6-for-6 passing for 111 yards and threw three touchdown passes–one each to Chase Dubie, Wyatt Romel and Eyan Hincka–to go with his game-winner.

For most of the game, Posen struggled to contain Au Gres’ playmakers, who held a noticeable size advantage over the Vikings. Posen made two costly first half turnovers that threatened to derail its chances of winning.

But the Vikings always found a way to answer back, kept pushing and saved its best football for the last 10 minutes of the contest.

Trailing 68-62 with 10:03 to play, the Vikings began a defensive stand that ultimately turned the tide of the game.

Starting on its own 44, Au Gres gained 25 yards on its first plays to set up 1st-and-10 on Posen’s 34. From there, the Vikings stopped Au Gres for a four-yard loss, a two-yard loss, allowed a 14 yard pass to set up 4th-and-2 and then stuffed Au Goes quarterback Issiah Thomas for a four-yard loss and a turnover on downs.

“I really think we woke up. We were able to win with heart,” Pietsch said of the defensive stand. “They came out in a formation we weren’t expecting because they were slamming double tight on us. We were able to make a play. It gave us life.”

With the ball on its own 31 with 6:58 remaining, Posen moved methodically down the field, running the ball 13 times right at a tiring and banged-up Au Gres defense.

With the ball on the Au Gres 8, Posen ran three plays and gained four yards to set up 4th-and-goal.

Kroll kept the ball on the snap, rolled slightly to his right and then plunged up the middle for the go-ahead score.

He pulled off the same move again on the conversion attempt, giving Posen the crucial two points it needed for the win.

“We called a play that we practice that has been successful on the goal line. George saw an opening and took it,” Pietsch said. “It’s a great win for us. It’s a great win for us. I am proud of everybody tonight.”

Kroll’s was the last of four fourth quarter touchdowns between the two teams. Kroll found Dubie for a five-yard strike and Hincka added a conversion to make it 62-54 in the opening seconds of the period.

Au Gres answered back when Thomas hit Bryce Harmon with a pass and Harmon dragged several Posen defenders with him to the end zone for a 38 yard touchdown to make it 68-54.

That was Au Gres’ last score of the night as Hincka scored for the final time with 10:06 left on a 14-yard run. A conversion pass from Kroll to Dubie was good, leaving Au Gres with a 68-62 lead.

Posen scored the game’s first touchdown–a 46 yard pass from Kroll to Romel–but much of the early going belonged to the Wolverines.

Thomas ran for an eight-yard score and a conversion to tie it and Au Gres used two Posen fumbles–one on a run, the other on a kickoff return–to score twice more and take a 22-8 lead with 9:45 left in the first half.

Posen got a shot in the arm when Hincka took a handoff 76 yards to pay dirt and an added conversion pass made it 22-16. From there, the two sides traded scores and Posen got the last one of the first half as Kroll found Eyan Hincka for an 18-yard touchdown pass to make it 38-30 at halftime.

Buoyed by a solid kick return from Taylen Abbott helped Au Gres strike fast to open the second half with a touchdown, but Posen found a way to keep the game with one score against an Au Gres defense that dealt with several injuries, including ones to Thomas, Harmon and running back Cameron Sanchez.

Kroll and Hincka each had a touchdown run in the third quarter and Au Gres led 62-46 after three quarters.

Thomas ran for 167 yards and six touchdowns to lead Au Gres. He was also 8-of-11 passing for 137 yards and a score.

Sanchez had 137 yards and two scores on 20 carries.

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