So far in 2012, the Swan Valley football team has been driven by its defense. The Vikings picked up shutout wins over their opponents in the first three weeks, before garnering a 31-26 win over Alma in week four and falling to Freeland 16-14 in week five.
“So far, our defense is pretty strong,” second-year head coach Ken Bourbina said. “Against Alma we had to come back. The kids really stepped up in the second half; I was pleased.”
Bourbina isn’t too discouraged that his team gave up their first points of the season, either.
“The plays where we gave up scores, we had players there, we just couldn’t make the plays,” he said.
Week one saw the Vikings trounce St. Charles 38-0. Travis Bell threw for 157 yards and two touchdowns, Alex Grace ran 14 times for 171 yards and three touchdowns. They were led defensively by Taylor Reaume with eight tackles and Alex Dils with seven.
Week two, Swan Valley topped Bullock Creek 21-0 behind a 112-yard rushing performance by Bell, then in week three the Vikings won 35-0 over Ovid-Elsie, with Grace running for 221 yards and four touchdowns and Reume making 15 tackles.
Week four, Swan Valley came from behind to beat Alma 31-26, scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter. Grace again led the offense with 295 yards on 34 carries, running in the end zone four times. Reaume had 13 tackles and Dils added 10.
The Vikings (4-1 overall, 3-1 Tri-Valley Central) are hoping to pick up at least two more wins to qualify for the playoffs after barely missing the postseason last year at 5-4.
“I want the kids to get better and not worry about everything else,” Bourbina said. “If they do that, I think the rest will be there.”