Lackluster Vikings buried by Camdenton

Camdenton Defensive Penetration 250x187 Lackluster Vikings buried by Camdenton

Camdenton's defensive front had little trouble getting into the Parkview backfield and shutting the Vikings down.

Coming into tonight Camdenton – Parkview looked like a decent matchup. The Vikings’ quirky, deception-based, score a ton offense against a supposedly “down” Lakers squad. It had the makings of a good finish before a a down had been played, but then sometime on Friday we must have time warped. It played out like a game from two or three years ago. Camdenton tossed a doughnut on the Vikings big offense. Parkview managed just one redzone trip, while Camdenton scored on its first three possessions en route to a 30-0 blowout.

Camdenton quarterback Spencer Carlock, senior, said last week’s 21-7 loss to Nixa was a “warm up” for the season. The Lakers (1-1, 1-0 OC) looked pretty loose. The Vikings (0-2, 0-1 OC) scored 35 points against Rolla last week, so where was their offense? That’s the first of just a few things to pull from an otherwise drowsy game of football.

Parkview Formation 250x187 Lackluster Vikings buried by Camdenton

Yes, that yellow blur is really all 11 of Parkview's offensive players. And no, they weren't taking a knee.

* The News-Leader’s Kary Booher and I couldn’t figure out what the appropriate term was for Parkview’s offensive set before the game, before guru Art Hains told me the Vikings run the “Double Wingback“. For a few downs, it’s kind of fun to watch, a visual puzzle of “who really has the ball”. Too bad for them, it wasn’t too successful. They never went away from it until late in the fourth quarter. Everybody is packed into an area the size of a picnic table, with PHS quarterback Cory Faz surrounded by running backs. There’s not a soul spread wide. Faz will fake a couple times to the backs, then either handoff, pitch or keep it himself. It’s designed to fool you. Camdenton, however, was not fooled. Even if the linebackers were confused, the Lakers front four got so much penetration Viking rushers had no room to navigate. The Vikings actually used play-action a couple times late with some success (Surprise! That can happen if you balance things a bit).

* Camdenton was downright dominant in the trenches. The offensive line got the early push on nearly every snap, and as previously mentioned the defensive front was nasty on Friday. Those guys deserve a pizza and a 2-liter of soda each. Just watch the Camdenton touchdown highlight package below – the hole on sophomore Murphy Ward‘s 50-yard touchdown is massive. Needless to say, Carlock sounded pleased when talking about his protection.

* Speaking of Carlock … while the Lakers were picking and choosing when to pass, he’s got a strong arm and makes good reads. He had tons of time in the pocket, but delivered the ball accurately. I was impressed with his longer throws, as well. He only chalked up 77 yards by air – on efficient 9-of-12 passing, but the coaches took their foot off the gas pretty early in this one. Carlock, 6-foot-3, is poised and gives Camdenton quick strike capability, especially with junior Jon Manning (listed as a quarterback) on the outside. Manning made a ridiculous catch on the sideline to convert a 3rd and 18 – the play that I think ultimately slayed the already bumbling Vikings.

* Speaking of quick strike capability … Parkview solidified that it’s something they have not. Touched on this already, but generally when a team trails by multiple touchdowns it will spread things out and try to find a way to get back in the ballgame. Not the case with the Vikings. Instead they crawled into the Double Wingback shell and proved they will live and die by the long drive.

* Going into the game, Darin Francis was the name on my mind. He had 1,800+ yards a year ago and 20+ TDs. He never emerged during the game and finished with 32 yards on the ground.