Newton displayed a better than average offense against Dodge City, despite a 30-19 loss, and appears ready to shut out the brief silver lining over Winfield.
The Vikes opened the 1957 season on the right end of a 19-0 score, and altho much improved over last year's anemic entry, still chalked up the triumph over a not too powerful class A school, Valley Center.
This Valley victory, first for the Vikings since 1955, put Coach Vann's squad in a first-place tie with Eldorado in Ark Valley play. El Dorado turned back the Hawks at Hutchinson last nicht, 21-19. In non-valley play Arkansas City defeated Kapaun of Wichita 7-0, and Welleington bowed to Derby 13-20.
Winfield, unable to score in the first, roared back in the second heat. David Norris sneaked over center for the first Viking touchdown. The kick was blocked. Melburn Brown soon ran 15 yards around end to score and Norris added the extra point, Winfield going ahead, 13-7.
The third Viking touchdown, also in the second stanza, came when Larry Brown passed to Melburn Brown. The extra point was added and Winfield led at the half, 20-7.
The teams maintained that same ratio of scoring in the last half. In the third period Winfield recovered a Newton fumble and Buddy Akin rammed through the line on a 2-yard plunge to score another Viking marker. Akin in the fourth repeated his scoring and added to the Viking total. Chuch Hauber ran 65 yards for the final Winfield score and pushed the final total up to an even 40 points.
The triumphant Vikings carried their coaches off the field at the conclusion of play.
The Vikings ran nearly 400 yards from scimmage to 91 for the Railers. Two Viking touchdowns were called back and the team was penalized. Winfield drew 75 yards in penalties.
The Winfield team played hard aggressive ball all the way. It was the second victory of the season for the Vikings to no defeats. The team meets Wellington at Winfield next Friday night in another Ark Valley League encounter.
Win New
First downs ----------- 18 11
Net yards rushing ----- 399
Forwards attempted ---- 6 14
Net yards forwards -- 30 81
Forwards completed ---- 2 7
Punts, average -------- 40 30
Fumbles recovered ----- 3 1
Yards lost, penalties - 75 30
Scoring by periods;
Winfield -------- 0 20 7 13--40
Newton ---------- 7 0 0 6--13
Touchdowns,
Winfield:
Norris,
M. Brown 2
Akin 2
Hauber
Newton:
Cobb,
Kern.
Led by bulldozing 185-pound Melburn Brown and 150-pound running mate Mel Akin, Winfield ammassed 398 yards rushing. (more than all last season)
In all, the Vikings scored six touchdowns - Brown and Akin accounting for two apiece - and two others were called back.
Newton had little to cheer about. One bright spot in an otherwise dismal Railroader picture was a 96-yard touchdown gallop with the opening kickoff by halfback Elbert Cobbs. The other came with just 2:31 left in the final quarter when Bob Kern skirted left end for a six-yard score.
Winfield drove 40 yards in 16 plays after Cobbs' dramatic burst, but relinquished the ball on downs at the Railer 27. Newton looked considerably sharper, covering 57 yards in just five plays (the big play was a 28-yard completion from Billy Townsend to Jerry Crain), but Winfield took over on its 16 by recovering a fumble.
Brown and fullback Jim Davis sparked the Vikes drive to their own 49. Then Aken saw daylight at left and scampered 46 yards to the Newton five. Brown punched to the one, from where Norris dove across on the first play of the second quarter. Railer lineman Hardy Seacat blocked Norris' conversion attempt to save Newton's 7-6 lead and make Cobbs' point-after-pass to Dan Walters appear mighty important.
But not long thereafter, the Vikings once avain were on the move. Akin gained37 around left end before being felled on the Railer 15. Norris lost a yard, but Brown took it all the way on the succeeding play. Norris' kink was good this time and Winfield led 13-7.
Holding cost Davis a 21-yard TD run, but with eight second left in the first half, Norris hit Brown in the end zone and again booted the extra point to the Vikes a 20-7 halftime advantage.
Winfield stalled after advancing 28 yards early in the second half. Norris punding out of bounds on the Newton seven. The Railers advanced five yards in three plays before Vike end Leon Ahlerich batted an attempted lateral to the ground. The loose ball was recovered on the two by tackle Jack Meyers, and Akin squirted into the end zone on the next play. Norris' kink made it 27-7
Winfield finall lost the ball when Railer tackle Casey Cook recovered a Viking fumble on the Newton 24, but Wells intercepted another Townsend pass - and this time it counted. He legged it back from midfield to the Newton 22. Five plays later, Akin scored from the one.
First Downs ----------- 12 10 Net Yards Rushing ----- 398 92 Net Yards Passing ----- 30 82 Total Offense --------- 428 174 Passes Attempted ------ 6 13 Passes Completed ------ 2 7 Passes Intercepted by-- 1 0 Punts ----------------- 2 2 Average Yards Punts --- 24 33 Fumbles Lost ---------- 1 2 Penalties ------------- 10 4 Yards Lost Penalties -- 86 20 -------------------------------------- Score by periods: Winfield ----------- 0 20 7 13--40 Newton ------------- 7 0 0 6--13 -------------------------------------- Winfield Touchdowns Norris, Brown 2, Akin 2, Hauber 1. Conversions Norris Newton Touchdowns Cobbs, Kern. Conversion Walters.
Winfield
Carries Net Yds. Avg.
Davis ------------- 13 49 3.8
Norris ------------ 12 28 2.3
Brown ------------- 16 140 8.8
Akin -------------- 9 105 11.7
Price ------------- 2 3 1.5
Hauber ------------ 2 68 34.0
Cobble ------------ 1 5 5.0
Newton
Cobbs ------------- 7 35 5.0
Kern -------------- 5 16 3.2
Schmidt ----------- 6 18 3.0
Townsend ---------- 2 4 2.0
Smith ------------- 2 9 4.5
Weas -------------- 2 7 3.5
Kaufman ----------- 1 3 3.0
Winfield
Att. Comp. Yards
Brown ------- 2 0 0
Norris ------ 4 2 30
Newton
+Townsend --- 4 2 24
Smith ------- 9 5 58
+One intercetion
Winfield
Received Yards
Wells ------------- 1 20
Brown ------------- 1 10
Newton
Crane ------------- 1 20
Cobbs ------------- 2 7
Kern -------------- 2 36
Weas -------------- 1 13
Schmidt ----------- 1 12
email the Bill Bottorff
bbott@ausbcomp.com