Vikings set sail – for Idaho
FAIRFIELD — Talk about road trips.
The next game for the Vanden High football team is in Moscow . . . Idaho against Highland of Pocatello, Idaho.
The opportunity for the trip and a chance to play in the University of Idaho’s famed Kibbe Dome came about after it was brought to the attention of Vikings coach LeVon Haynes by Whitney of Rocklin coach Mike Jimenez last fall.
Haynes ran the idea by Vanden principal Stephen Liles and athletic director Bill Sarty.
“They were on board. We just started going from there,” the coach said. “A lot of stuff had to be in place up there (in Idaho). They had to find teams that wanted to play. That took awhile. When it finally started going in March, we had to find money, especially for the airlines. They needed their stuff early.
“Getting it all that together took a lot of time, but it’s worth it. They’re excited about getting a chance to play in Idaho.”
The players each fund-raised $450 for the trip. The team will fly out of Oakland today at 9 a.m. to Spokane and then bus 148 miles to Moscow.
Kickoff is at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Fans not making the trip can take in the game at http://idahosports.com/gamestreams/.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our players,” Haynes said. “It’s like, ‘Lets just see what happens.’ They matched us up with one of most prolific teams in Idaho, they’ve been to the most (Idaho State) championship games. They’re well coached, well disciplined. They pose a good challenge for us and our football team. We’re excited to get up there.”
Ironically, though Highland is playing in its home state, it has a much tougher trip than Vanden. The Rams have a choice of driving 537 miles through the heart of the state or 611 by heading north into Montana and then turning west back into Idaho. Both options are nearly 10 hours long.
Yet such a sojourn is nothing new to Highland. It’s one of the most successful programs in Idaho history, having won two state titles and made three other title-game appearances in the last 10 years — all in the Kibbe Dome.
The Rams (3-0) have yet to play an opponent from Idaho, having opened with a 32-14 road victory over Skyview of Smithfield, Utah, and home wins over Carson of Carson City, Nev., (34-0) and Woods Cross, Utah, (30-28).
The last victory was especially impressive in that Highland trailed 14-0 after one quarter and 21-3 in the second before outscoring the Wildcats 27-3 the rest of the way.
Film exchange proved a different challenge for both teams. Instead of the usual meeting halfway — which probably would’ve been in Winnemucca or Battle Mountain — the teams FedExed game copies to each other. When Vanden’s copy of its 29-21 win over Wood from last week broke in transit, Haynes had to scramble to send off another.
As for comparisons, “They kind of remind me a lot of us in a lot of ways,” Haynes said of the Rams, who are coming off their first losing season since 1993, though they still qualified for the Idaho 5A (large school) playoffs. “I feel this will be a great game for both teams. We’re just happy for opportunity. We know the business at hand is to play a football game and win football game, but it’s also to have fun while we’re up there.”
The Vikings (2-0) will have a chance to get acclimatized today. They’re schedule to work out in the Kibbe Dome at 3:45 p.m. and will later move to an outdoor practice field.
“That’s going to be interesting,” Haynes said of playing indoors. “That’s the part to kind of look forward to and the kids are looking forward to it. Every game they’ve ever played has been outside.”
And against a foe from the Golden State.
Reach Paul Farmer at 425-4646 Ext. 264 or pfarmer@dailyrepublic.net.
Short URL: http://www.dailyrepublic.com/?p=87221
Posted by Paul Farmer
on Sep 15 2011.
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