Quick start fuels rout for Hampshire
Hampshire did not want North Boone to get its offense going. And the Whips made sure it didn't.
Two early interceptions helped bolster a stellar offensive attack and eventually led to a running clock in Hampshire's 47-13 home victory over the Vikings in Big Northern Conference East action Friday night.
"Our defense did a great job all night," Whips' coach Dan Cavanaugh said. "They never really got things going. Those two picks were huge."
Ryan Burke took Vikings' quarterback Alex Albrecht's pass to the house to extend Hampshire's lead to 13-0 with 1:35 left in the first quarter.
The touchdown came exactly 42 seconds after quarterback Evan Brenner hooked up with Burke on a 42-yard bomb to put Hampshire (4-3, 3-0) up 6-0, then 7-0 with Brenner's extra point. The touchdowns were the first 2 on the season for the junior.
"We tried to start the game with a lot of intensity," Burke said. "Those were my first 2 touchdowns of the season. What a better way to have them. "
Brenner nabbed a pick from the sophomore quarterback on the Vikings' next series and returned it to the North Boone 17, which eventually set up Joe Moore's 2-yard touchdown run with 10:32, putting the Whips up 20-0 after the extra point.
Hampshire finished with 270 yards in the first half, splitting 135 on the ground and in the air. Brenner found Bo Price (2 receptions, 2 TDS, 115 yards) on a 93-yard bomb with 6:24 left in the first half. Moore added another 1-yard touchdown run 1:24 before halftime.
"We really put things together," Brenner said. "This is a big win for us. We started off a little flat, but the momentum changed with the interceptions. They were big."
North Boone (3-4, 1-2) finished the first half with 139 yards, and scored once when Alex Albrecht found brother Jon Albrecht on a 4-yard touchdown pass with 5:56 left in the second quarter. A missed extra point allowed Hampshire to take a 34-6 lead at the half.
Brenner (4 for 5, 184 yards, 2 TDs) added a 24-yard touchdown pass to Price and James Goebbert pounded in a 1-yard touchdown run in the second half. Goebbert led the Whips with 63 yards on 10 carries, while Moore added 54 yards on 15 carries.
Hampshire finished with 384 yards in the game. North Boone was limited to 201 total yards in the game, and only 30 on the ground.
The Vikings added a late score when Alex Albrecht (16 for 31, 171 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs) found Tyler Bielski on a 14-yard strike with 27 seconds remaining.