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The Valparaiso High School football team went into a chilly Demaree Stadium at Merrillville High School and came away with a hard-fought 20-14 victory over the Merrillville Pirates.
The Vikings started off with a strong first quarter, netting 17 points off a Sam Ficken field goal, followed by a touchdown by Andrew Kittridge, followed then by a 50-yard pass from Paul Andrie to Dom Coatsolonia.
Valpo’s second half featured Ficken 46-yard field goal was sandwiched in between two Merrillville touchdowns, and the place started to go crazy as the game went on. After a Merrillville defensive stop with under four minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Valpo was relieved by a Chad Barton Dom Coastolonia interception to give Valpo the ball back with under two minutes to go. (Update: I didn't get a clear view of the interceptor, who was actually senor Dom Coastolonia. Apologies!)
The VHS defense and running game really stepped up in the stead of a struggling passing attack as the game became chippy between the two squads toward the end of the game. Congratulations to Valpo on the big win over a talented DAC rival!
Be sure to join us next Friday as Valpo hosts Crown Point in the Sectional Championship at Valparaiso High School!
Photos from the game available here. All photos are 25% off until December 31st!