The Victoria football team avenged a 50-point loss from last year to Cheylin on Tuesday night as they defeated the Cougars 36-18 in the opening round of the 8-Man Division II State Playoffs.

The return trip to Bird City started out slow for the Knights as they turned the ball over three times in the first half. Victoria trailed 12-8 at halftime.

Victoria would score on their opening possession of the second half on a drive that went 41 yards and took up over four minutes. The drive was capped off by an eight-yard run by senior Corey Dinkel. Dinkel had a career night as he rushed for 248 yards and completed 10 passes for 87 yards and another score.

With the Knights leading by two, Cheylin would respond early in the fourth quarter with a 47-yard touchdown pass from senior Kenan Reeh to junior Ethan Young. After the failed two-point conversion, the Cougars (8-2) would hold an 18-14 lead with just over 10 minutes to play in the game.

Victoria would answer 86 seconds later when junior Dalton Dreiling recorded a two-yard touchdown to eventually regain the lead by four.

The Knights (6-4) came up with a stop on defense and then on their very next possession they converted on 4th-and-9 with a 22-yard touchdown pass from Dinkel to sophomore Tanner Hobbs. Dreiling would seal things by coming up with an interception on the following Cheylin drive.

The Knights move on to the next round where they will host Otis-Bison. Otis-Bison destroyed Moscow Tuesday night 68-20. The game can be heard on 101.9 FM, The Country Bull, Y102 on Saturday with a 6pm kickoff.

Coach Doug Oberle’s Post-game Comments:
Doug Oberle Sound, 11-1-11 #2

Touchdown 1
TD1

Touchdown 2
TD2

Touchdown 3
TD3

Touchdown 4
TD4

Interception
PICK

Touchdown 5
TD5