Vikings, Mohawks both ranked on the gridiron

The high school football season has begun with all three Medicine Hat-area teams in action leading up to their first home dates.

Both Crescent Heights and Hat High earned top-10 positions in the first Football Alberta power rankings of the season. Released Monday, the Vikings were No. 6 among Tier 3-size schools while the Mohawks came in at No. 7 among Tier 2 schools.

According to the Vikings’ website, they beat Airdrie’s George McDougall at the Methanex Bowl, winning 49-6. Running back Kalen Rieger’s 143 yards on 11 carries including four touchdowns led the way offensively, while fellow rushers Hunter Patrick, Riley Rutledge and Kobe Willis also had majors. Willis was among three quarterbacks to see time, though they only combined to throw the ball 12 times, with eight completions.

Defensively, Terek Hieb had two interceptions and Tylen Hieb another.

Crescent Heights was scheduled to play Ross Sheppard this past Friday and won 28-10 according to Football Alberta. They open against Brooks at the Methanex Bowl this Friday at 5 p.m.

Hat High’s website showed a huge 44-0 blanking of the Rams in Lacombe Saturday. Grade 10 running back Elic Ayomanor ran a team-high 45 yards and caught a 20-yard touchdown pass. Brody Brandham threw for 188 yards on 7-for-14 passing, doling out other majors to Zach Campbell (70 yards), Lachlan Hardiker and Josh Howe. Piercen Meier ran for another major.

That doesn’t account for all the points. A story by the Lacombe Express said Howe returned a punt for a touchdown and the Mohawks defence got a safety as well.

The Mohawks play McCoy in the second game Friday night. The Colts beat Pincher Creek 15-13 Saturday according to a post on the Mustangs’ Facebook page and played at home against Chestermere Aug. 25, though no score was reported.