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South Tahoe Vikings football seeking 1st win, hosts Fernley tonight

South Tahoe ball carrier James Knudson looks for running room earlier this season.
Bill Rozak / Tahoe Daily Tribune

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — South Tahoe has navigated through a tough early season football schedule.

The young Vikings suffered through their fourth consecutive loss last week to start the season, falling 41-12 to host Spring Creek.

The combined record of South Tahoe’s first four opponents is 11-3. That includes undefeated records from Bear River (4-0) and Elko (3-0) and also Spring Creek (2-1) and Sparks (2-2).



The combined record of the Vikings last six opponents is 9-12 with the schedule seeming to get a little softer with the exception of Truckee (2-1) and Churchill County (3-0).

Fernley (1-3), Lowry (2-2), North Valleys (1-2) and Dayton (0-4) round out the remaining opponents for the Vikings.



While 0-4 is not the most attractive record, playoffs are still not out of the question with six teams qualifying from the 10-team 3A Northern League. Last season Elko won four games and reached postseason.

But first South Tahoe is just trying to get into the win column. The Vikings will go for their first victory Friday night when the Fernley Vaqueros come to the South Shore for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

In its loss last week, South Tahoe gained nearly as many yards as Spring Creek, including a big night from senior receiver Gio Medina Morales who hauled in eight catches for 175 yards. Medina Morales doubled his season output against the Spartans and now has 16 receptions for 243 yards.

Senior Kody Griffis leads all Viking receivers with 22 catches for 391 yards and didn’t play last week.

Vikings quarterback Jake Tarwater completed 14 of 27 pass attempts for 205 yards and two touchdowns. The sophomore for the season has thrown for 727 yards and four TDs while completing 52 of 105 passes.

James Knudson rushed 17 times for 58 yards and sophomore Kaden Leake added six carries for 34 yards. Knudson has gained 250 yards on 65 attempts this season.

South Tahoe’s defense stuffed the Spring Creek passing attack, allowing just two completions, but again it was the running game that hurt the Vikings, surrendering over 300 yards.

After Friday night, the Vikings will have just three remaining home games, Sept. 21 vs. Churchill, Oct. 12 vs. Dayton and Oct. 19 against rival Truckee to end the regular season.


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