The Stone Castle was glowing with neon last Friday for the homecoming matchup with David Crockett.

The Vikings were coming in with a 3-3 record,winning three in a row after dropping their first few games of the season against West Ridge, Elizabethton, and Science Hill, but winning the next three matchups against Cocke County, Virginia High, and Abingdon, outscoring those three opponents 121-14 combined.

The matchup always looked favorable for the Vikings, and the team certainly delivered with another statement win, this time blanking Crockett for a 42-0 blowout on homecoming.

The Vikings set the tone early, forcing a quick three-and-out on defense after a Crockett false start set up third and long and an eventual punt. On offense, the Vikings quickly established the run with Elijah Plumbar carrying the ball four straight times with a score on his last carry of the short four play drive.

On Crockett’s second possession of the first quarter, Crockett’s quarterback broke off a big run with a read option keeper on first down, but was then forced into three straight incompletions and a throwaway on third down after a pressure and quarterback hit by Cooper Booher.

Crockett then brought out the field goal team for a 48-yard field goal attempt but the snap was over the holder’s head and right into the kicker’s hands who gave himself up resulting in a turnover on downs.

The ensuing drive was shaky for the Vikings, resulting in a three-and-out where quarterback Jack Richardson, who is also the Viking’s punter, laid a punt down inside the five yard line that was downed at the two yard line.

The next time Crockett’s offense hit the field was when the Viking defense really took over the game with Crockett opting to attempt a slip screen to their running back which was picked off and taken to the house by Cooper Booher.

Following the pick-six, the turnover party began for the Vikings because on Crockett’s very next drive, the Pioneer’s quarterback dropped the snap and heaved the ball deep out of desperation and was picked off by Barron Harkleroad,who made a great play on the ball in a 50/50 scenario.

The Vikings next possession resulted in another score, with quarterback Jack Richardson showing off his legs and making a couple of Crockett defenders miss, juking his way to the endzone for a 41 yard rushing touchdown stretching the lead to 22-0 with 7:05 left in the first half.

An interesting note after the Vikings forced yet another punt and regained possession of the ball: starting offensive tackle Kai Allison was ejected and disqualified for the rest of the game due to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and sophomore inside linebacker and now-backup offensive tackle Alex Carey completely switched jerseys on the sideline from number 13 to number 51, and replaced Allison on offense for the remainder of the game.

Alex Carey has played linebacker his entire football career, but would be the first to tell you he is not so used to playing offensive line. In fact, Carey hasn’t ever played offensive line in his football career until this season.

“I started the first two games [at right tackle] when our right tackle, Peyton Lomans, got injured,” Carey said.“He sprained his ankle, almost like a hairline fracture. So I started the first two games and I had about two weeks of practice during the summer, [and] spring ball. So I was just ready.”

The quick jersey switch is something the coaches have prepared coming into every game now, and Carey prides himself on his preparation and readiness to jump in on the offensive line in situations like this.

“I keep my 51 jersey on the sidelines for when I have to exchange it for 13 and I’m just always ready,” Carey said.

Defensive coordinator and linebacker Coach Matt Chandler describes Carey as “just that kind of player,” who is going to step in wherever and whenever the team needs him, just like he did on Friday night.

Chandler has always spoken highly of Carey, and Friday he said more of the same.

“Oh, Carey is going to be something special,” Chandler said. “He’s going to be a great linebacker, but he just had to step in as an offensive lineman and he has done whatever the team’s needed. Just a guy who’s never really played it before and he steps in there and plays it.”

This change in the trenches didn’t stop the Vikings from rolling though, halting the Crockett offense yet again and going into the locker room at the half still up 22-0 on the visiting Pioneers.

At halftime, the homecoming festivities began and court members and their escorts walked out across the field. Several football players were involved in the festivities as well.

The second half kicked off with Crockett attempting a surprise onside kick, but getting called for illegal touching before the ball travelled 10 yards and the Vikings took over possession with great starting field position.

Sophomore Carter Smith received his first carry of the game on first down, and broke off a strong 24-yard run and was brought down by his facemask for an extra 15 yards on the end of the play.

Backup quarterback Knox Keesee checked into the game carrying the ball four times in the red zone and on third and goal fumbled the ball into the endzone on a quarterback keeper, but the ball was recovered by receiver Dayne Musick for a touchdown to make the score 29-0 after the ensuing extra point make.

The Viking defense made another stand after Crockett converted on third down of their next drive, forcing an eventual turnover on downs after Ian Peake soared to tip another slip screen attempt, forcing an incompletion and getting the ball back for the Vikings.

The Vikings then got their third running back of the night involved, handing off to Cannon Stalnaker, who ripped off an 18-yard run setting up backup quarterback Knox Keesee, who is involved in the quarterback run game often, to score his first touchdown of the game, making a man miss and punching it in from eight yards out.

The following extra point try was blocked, but the Viking lead was now 35-0.

Crockett’s final offensive drive of the third quarter pretty much summed up how their night was going.

After dialing up a deep shot and connecting with a receiver downfield for a 47-yard gain, which looked like their first break of the night, the very next play the Viking defense forced yet another turnover when a quick slant over the middle was broken up and the ball fell right into linebacker Jackson “Frank” Reed’s hands who was brought down after a short return after the pick.

At this point with a 35 point deficit, a running clock was instituted so the clock would only stop for charged timeouts, scoring plays, official timeouts, and penalties.

The Viking offense stalled out and their opening drive of the fourth quarter ended in a punt, which was only the Viking’s second punt of the game.

With Crockett back in possession of the ball, the trend continued with safety Brenton Baker this time picking off Crockett’s quarterback after another bad snap forced an errant throw downfield.

With the Vikings back in possession, some freshmen were spotted getting some varsity action including freshman quarterback Gannon Meyer checking into the game.

After a fumble gave Crockett possession of the ball again, the Viking defense still had some fireworks left to end the game with a 93-yard scoop and score touchdown by Lucas Shaffer who picked up the quarterback’s fumble and couldn’t be caught and the game was signed, sealed, delivered, 42-0.

Homecoming was total domination from the Vikings. Stifling defense, plenty of turnovers, and a commitment to the run game, as is the Viking usual, led to a fourth straight game in the win column and a great boost of momentum heading into a critical point in the season and a looming playoff push.

Head Coach Josh Holt and the rest of the staff were certainly proud of the complete game on both sides of the ball from the Vikings.

“We pride ourselves on running the ball on offense and creating turnovers on defense. And you saw that tonight,” Holt said. “We’re going to force turnovers and we’re going to move the ball on the ground. So it’s starting to come together for us kind of right here at the right time. We got this pretty heavy conference push right here at the end of the year to kind of set ourselves up to have a good seat come playoff time.”

Defensive coordinator and linebacker coach Chandler couldn’t be happier with the turnovers his defense forced, and the two defensive touchdowns, which is a big accomplishment in any game.

“I’m so proud of them. Two defensive touchdowns, that doesn’t happen a lot,” Chandler said. “The effort by this defense this year is phenomenal and I’m so proud of it.”

Linebacker Alex Carey, who Chandler previously spoke of, was certainly involved with that effort. Carey prides himself on his football instincts and knowledge of offensive cues he can see from the inside linebacker position.

“I’m just really good at reading the line, like down blocks, block backs, pulls,” Carey said, “I’ve just trained my entire life at linebacker.”

The physicality by the Vikings on both sides of the ball led to a dominant performance on offense, specifically in the run game. Sophomore running back Carter Smith understands the Vikings are a run-heavy team, and loves getting involved with the other talent around him in the backfield, like Elijah Plumbar and Cannon Stalnaker.

“We have such an elite backfield. Me, Plumbar, Stalnaker, Kalel [Honaker]—we have a lot of depth. So I think we have a lot of guys that can get in there and bust some big runs,” Smith said. “ I can rely on any of my guys to go in there and I know they’re going to do their job. I know they’re going to run hard and that’s what makes us good.”

The atmosphere for homecoming was great, with a packed out student section as usual, and great support from the band, cheerleaders, and dance team. The Viking community was out and ready to give that extra boost to the team that has become expected in the Stone Castle each and every week.

Principal Kim Kirk saw much of the same and was proud of the festivities and environment crediting several fellow staff members, administrators, and student groups at Tennessee High.

“What’s great about it is, honestly, I have to give credit to everybody else. We have great people. Mrs. Strong works really hard, gets all the homecoming stuff going. Miss Pendley helped her,” Kirk said. “I can’t take credit for anything. I’m surrounded by great people that do all this to make it a great night. And the students section has been fantastic. The band’s fantastic.”

When all was said and done, Mrs. Kirk had one thing to say.

“It’s always great to beat Crockett 42-0.”