WINFIELD — The Winfield Vikings football team put the brakes on Ark City in the second half of both teams’ ceremonious season opener for a 21-13 victory and hoisted the Cowley Cup for the second time in three seasons Friday night inside Richard Jantz Stadium.
The Vikings, coached by Monty Lewis in his third year at Winfield, took first blood on their second possession of the contest via a 4th-down sneak that broke loose into the end zone by senior quarterback Landen Dupras from the Ark City 13-yard line.
The Bulldogs, coached by Chet Pobolish in his first season in Ark City, answered in the second quarter via a 10-yard jet sweep by senior running back Blake Bucher.
Winfield fumbled the return on the ensuing kickoff and the Bulldogs found the end zone moments later with a touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Jordy Pierce to senior tight end Hayden Lucas for 10 yards, however, Ark City missed the extra point.
On the next Winfield possession with halftime near, the Bulldogs had the Vikings held near their own 25 to a 3rd-and-long, but Dupras found a receiver to move the chains and kept the rhythm going all the way to the Ark City 10.
A game clock miscue kept Winfield alive for an opportunity to gamble for a touchdown try before the halftime horn with just two seconds left on the clock and the Vikings capitalized.
Dupras found Hunter Reyes at the goal line chalk, where he was quickly tackled. While initially there was no signal from the officials, it was ruled a touchdown moments later. The kick was good and Winfield went into halftime up 14-13.
But it was the Vikings defense out of the pause and a touchdown run by Cale Lindenman after the Bulldogs failed to convert a fourth down from their own 29 in the fourth quarter that sealed it for Winfield.
Ark City couldn’t get going offensively out of the locker room in the second half and the Bulldogs didn’t notch another first down until the final four minutes of the game, already down 21-13.
Lindeman had 19 carries for 86 yards a touchdown, while Dupras carried the ball eight times for 21 yards and a score. In the air, Dupras was 13-of-25 for 188 yards, a touchdown and one interception.
Drew Graham led Winfield in receiving with four catches for 86 yards. Reyes had five grabs for 51 yards a score.
A Jackson Davis interception for the Vikings in the fourth was key in staving off any Ark City threat in the second half.
For the Bulldogs, Pierce was 15-of-32 for 104 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Pierce was also Ark City’s leading rusher with five carries for 31 yards.
Trace Rider had an interception for Ark City in the first half.
The Vikings had 11 penalties for 63 yards while the Bulldogs drew just three for 25 yards, however, Winfield had 19 first downs compared to Ark City’s 12.
Winfield will travel to Coffeyville Friday night. Ark City will be home vs Andover.
