After trailing by 16 points late in the third quarter, the Treutlen Vikings scored 23 unanswered points to stun the Panthers on the road in Portal to pick up their first win of the season 23 – 16.  The go ahead touchdown happened with just 9 seconds left in the game.

After the Vikings first drive of the night stalled, Portal struck quickly on just their second play from scrimmage when QB Hunter Lanier hit Elijah Colman for a 76 yard touchdown pass.  The PAT was good by sophomore kicker Jose Sanchez and Portal led 7 – 0 with 8:30 left in the first quarter. 

The Vikings were forced to punt on their next possession as well but this time Wilken Washington came off the left side and blocked the punt, then scooped it up and scampered 30 yards for the Panthers second touchdown of the night.  The PAT attempt was no good and Portal led 13 – 0 with 6:52 remaining in the first quarter.

As the Treutlen defense began to slow the Panthers offensive threats, the Viking offense committed 3 turnovers in the second quarter alone, 2 fumbles and 1 interception to stop drives.  Portal carried the 13 – 0 into halftime.

With 6:15 left in the third quarter, Portal kicker Jose Sanchez hit a 20 yard field goal to extend the Panther lead to 16 – 0.  Shortly after that, things began to turn in favor of the Vikings.  The Viking defense forced a fumble on the Panther’s half of the field then got on the scoreboard when RB Qamar Jordan ran it in from 4 yards out for the touchdown.  Jordan also ran in the two point conversion to cut the Panther lead to 16 – 8 with 2:17 remaining in the third quarter.

After the next Viking drive stalled deep in Panther territory, the Treutlen defense got the Vikings on the board.  Lanier completed a pass in the left flat when Viking defender David Blackshear laid a crushing hit on the Panther receiver forcing a fumble that Viking linebacker Danny Clements scooped up and  returned 12 yards for the touchdown.  The two point conversion run was successful by Qamar Jordan again the Treutlen had tied the game at 16 with just 4:51 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Portal mounted a nice drive down the field to try and take the lead but Viking defensive back PJ Smiley intercepted a Lanier pass at the Viking 15 yard line, ending the threat.  Then with just 2:26 left in the game, QB Logan Hughes engineered a long drive, mostly on the ground by Hughes and Jordan, to put the Vikings ahead.  With just 9 seconds remaining, Hughes ran it in from 1 yard out to put the Vikings in front for good.  The PAT was good by Chris Mincey giving the Vikings the 23 – 16 lead.  An onside kick by Treutlen caught the Panthers off guard and was recovered by the Vikings to seal the win.

QB Logan Hughes led Treutlen with 147 yards rushing on 20 carries and RB Qamar Jordan added another 140 yards on 28 carries.

Treutlen ups their record to 1 – 2 on the season while Portal falls to 0 – 3.  The Vikings host Johnson County next Friday night in Soperton at Bobby Driggers Stadium with kickoff set at 7:30.  Be sure to catch all the action on Sweet Onion Country 101.7 FM and online at www.southeastgeorgiatoday.com.