The Essexville Garber Dukes and Swan Valley Vikings met three weeks ago in a regular season game that saw the Dukes emerge victorious after some second-half play. On Friday night, the late-game heroics were back on full display as the Dukes won by just seven points, 21-14.
After a scoreless first quarter, Garber was inside the five yard line when they fumbled the football out of the end zone. They got the scoring started midway through the second quarter as Tommy Szczepanski and Logan Hugo paired up for a five-yard touchdown pass to give the Dukes the seven point edge. Less than a minute of game time later, Avery Goldensoph and Brady Alverson paired up on a deep-ball. The seventy-two yard touchdown evened the score at seven heading into halftime.
Khryee Harris was able to give the Vikings the lead as the third quarter ensued. With just two minutes completed in the quarter, he rushed ten yards for a touchdown. Garber would tie the game with 2:18 to play in the third as Szczepanski and Logan Anthony scored on a twenty-six yard pass.
Tied at fourteen entering the fourth quarter, both teams knew that a score would all but guarantee the victory. With forty-nine seconds to go, Garber got that touchdown and took a lead they would not relinquish. Szczepanski and Anthony connected once again, this time from twenty-five yards out.
Garber completes the season sweep of Swan Valley, the second straight season in which the Dukes have won twice against the Vikings. Next week, they will travel to Freeland to take on the Falcons for the district championship.
