The football team dropped its record to 2-2 this Friday after losing 7-6 to the Wootton Patriots in a defensive struggle.

Running back Gunnar Morton had another stellar game, as he got the start in place of suspended running back Jacob Pittsenberger. He rushed for 158 yards, including a 52-yard dash in the first quarter.

The teams were locked in a scoreless battle for most of the game, with the first points coming late in the third quarter.

The Patriots struck first, scoring a touchdown on a quarterback draw from inside the ten yard-line.

Down 7-0, the Viking offense continued to stall at the beginning of the fourth quarter.

With just over three minutes left in the game, the Vikings finally moved the ball, marching from their own 35 yard-line to deep into the Patriot red zone. Quarterback Evan Smith had a key run on fourth-and-long to extend the drive.

With eight seconds left, Smith tossed a touchdown pass to receiver Nolan Hanessian. The Vikings initially lined up for a two-point conversion that would have given them the lead, however were pushed back five yards for an illegal substitution.

The Vikes missed the tying extra point on the next play and couldn’t recover an onside kick to keep the game going.

“Our offense didn’t pick up until the last drive of the game,” receiver Alex Hosker said. “We fought hard the whole way but unfortunately we came up short.”

The 2-2 Vikings will look to get back above .500 when they face the 1-3 Richard Montgomery Rockets next Friday.