Vikings now share lead of KLAA North with 44-21 victory

Walled Lake Central held off Waterford Mott, 44-21, at home on Friday, Sept. 14 to move into a tie for first-place in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association (KLAA) North Division.

“This was a great win for us,” said Central Head Coach Robert Meyer. “We have several positions that are gaining experience each week and the boys are working hard and things are coming together.”

Meanwhile, Mott now finds itself mired in a three-game losing streak.

The first half was hotly contested as Nick Krumm scored on a 7-yard touchdown run for Central (3-1 overall, 2-0 in the KLAA North) before Mott quarterback Dakota Kupp scored on a 12-yard touchdown run to help tie the score at 7-7 in the first quarter.

Zac Goor then scored on a 2-yard touchdown run and the Vikings had a 13-7 lead in the first after a failed two-point conversion.

The Corsairs (1-3, 0-2 in the KLAA North) would then grab a 14-13 lead in the second quarter on Kupp’s 17-yard touchdown pass to Justice Bolling. The Vikings would then throw an interception and Mott took over possession at its own 7-yard line.

However, an errant snap by Mott’s center that went past Kupp through the end zone resulted in a safety for Central, swinging the pendulum in its favor as that play was followed up by an 8-yard touchdown run by Goor, Krumm’s 27-yard touchdown pass to Matt Rostek and a two-point conversion by Goor.

And just like that, the Vikings had a 29-14 halftime lead.

“The game was very close,” said Mott Head Coach Chris Fahr. “We had five touchdowns called back and we made key mistakes that cost us the game.”

Goor would score his third touchdown of the night on a 15-yard run in the third quarter and Krumm scored on a two-point conversion to put the Vikings up 37-14.

Alex Moorer scored on a 36-yard touchdown run in the fourth for Mott before Central put the game away on Krumm’s second touchdown run of the night from 65 yards out.

Central outgained Mott on the ground with 236 rushing yards compared to 49 for the Corsairs.

Krumm completed 8-of-9 passes for 112 yards, a touchdown and an interception in addition to rushing for 146 yards on 18 carries for Central. Goor finished with 63 yards rushing on 12 carries.

Rostek also had four catches for 75 yards, while Matt Bolus and Alex Palafox each had 3 tackles on defense. John Glenn and Jeturi Brown each registered a sack.

Adam Dennis also had an interception for the Vikings.

Moorer finished with 51 yards rushing on seven carries for Mott, while Bolling had five catches for 96 yards.

Central’s victory sets up a showdown with Walled Lake Northern on Friday, Sept. 21 in which the winner will claim sole possession of first-place in the KLAA North and put itself in pole position to claim the title.

The Vikings have a perfect 8-0 record all-time against the Knights, but Northern is coming off a stunning victory against defending KLAA North champion Walled Lake Western.

“We are halfway towards our goal of at least six wins for the season,” Meyer said.

As for Mott, the Corsairs will return home to welcome Huron Valley Lakeland on Friday, Sept. 21.

Fahr had said after Mott’s first two losses that his coaching staff was getting used to working with each other and that things have improved.

“The staff is coming along and progressing well, but I have high expectations and I’m not going to sugarcoat things,” Fahr said.