KINDRED, ND – In a battle of the best, Kindred needed until the end to secure a win in its season opener.
The No. 1-seeded Vikings defeated the No. 2-seeded Velva-Drake-Anamoose-Garrison Aggies 13-6 in a North Dakota Division A interregional football game at Jerlow Field on Friday.
“We knew we had to go out there and play our ball,” Kindred quarterback Jake Starcevic said. “We’re definitely not happy with what we showed, but a win is a win and we’re off to a 1-0 start.”
With a 7-6 lead, Vikings running back Kylan Swenson scored the game-winning touchdown. On the opening play of a fourth-quarter drive, Swenson broke free and scored a 38-yard touchdown with 6 minutes and 2 seconds left in the game.
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Kindred took a 13-6 lead after the extra point was missed. The Vikings were strong defensively on VDAG’s final drive, with defensive lineman Lincoln Swenson recording a sack for a 9-yard loss.
The Vikings’ defense played a crucial role in the game, allowing only one point on the Aggies’ first drive.
“We knew they had a lot of firepower,” Kindred head coach Eric Burgad said. “One of the things we wanted to do was try to impact the quarterback in the pocket… If we just take those two extra steps and keep our energy and our motor running, we’ll take him down by the end of the game.”
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On the opening drive, the Aggies stormed down the field and gained many yards as VDAG quarterback Ben Schepp fought his way through. Schepp threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to receiver Reggie Bruner.
The Aggies failed to convert the two-point conversion and led 6-0 at 7:46 in the first quarter.
Kindred responded quickly when Starcevic found running back Matt Jochim for a 30-yard pass. Starcevic capped the drive with a 3-yard rushing score. The Vikings kicked the extra point and took a 7-6 lead that lasted until the final quarter.
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Starcevic rushed for 210 yards in the game, including 80 yards through the air and 130 yards on the ground. He completed 8 of 16 passes and intercepted one pass. Kylan Swenson rushed for 66 yards on nine attempts.
Burgad said Starcevic’s dual threat nature helps open plays on offense.
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“He is super dynamic and has an incredibly good overview of the field,” said Burgad. “We go the way he goes.”
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Schepp completed 7 of 13 passes for 59 yards and added 62 yards on the ground. Running back Hank Bodine added 19 yards on 10 carries.
Kindred (1-0) will face the Wahpeton Huskies of Division AA on Friday, August 30th.
“We hope we get off to a good start, go there and get another win,” said Starcevic.
“We have to be a much sharper team,” Burgad added.
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Alyssa Goelzer/The Forum
Alyssa Goelzer/The Forum
Alyssa Goelzer/The Forum
After graduating from North Dakota State University, Haugland joined the Forum in January 2023. Readers can reach him at 701-241-5508 or by email at [email protected].
