**ARTICLE BY JOSH LONGSTRETH**
The Tri-County Vikings come into 2023 with the program in a great spot. Making each of the last three postseasons, the Vikings now fully expect to compete for a conference title and make a deep run in the playoffs. The Comstock Park Panthers also know what it’s like to be successful. A team that is known to make the playoffs every season, they are now expecting to return to the playoffs after not being able to make it last season. This one would turn out to be one of the more intriguing matchups of week one.
Tri-County would get off and running in this one after a Chase Keller 4-yard rushing touchdown. A successful 2-point try would give the Vikings an 8-0 advantage. The Panthers would bounce back with their own successful drive. Easton Hood would find his way in the endzone from 5-yards out to cut the lead to 7-8 after a good PAT. In a flurry of a first quarter, right back came the Vikings. Quarterback Owen Behrenwald would bust loose and take it all the way to paydirt for a 72-yard touchdown run. The successful 2-point try would put Tri-County ahead, 16-7. Comstock Park had their offense going again as Hood would find the endzone again, this time from 28-yard away. After one quarter of play, the Vikings would hold a 16-13 edge.
Then Tri-County decided it was time to take a complete stranglehold of this one. It would start with a Caden Hallman 4-yard run to give the Vikings a 22-13 lead. Right back they would come, this time Behrenwald would connect with Jayden Button on a 61-yard pass play to give Tri-County a 28-13 advantage. The Vikings would continue to have their offense rolling when Behrenwald would find Conner Henry from 31-yards out. It would be all Tri-County at the half, 34-13.
Things wouldn’t change to begin the second half. Tri-County would add to the lead after a Cade Hallman 2-yard rushing touchdown. This would put the Vikings up 42-13. Comstock Park would get their offense going a bit, but it just wouldn’t be enough to make things interesting. Tri-County opens up the season with a 56-35 win.
The Panthers stayed in this one early before the wheels would come off. They’ll look to see if they can rebound next week when they travel over to Holland. The Dutch fell on Friday night, 42-6, to Holland Christian.
Tri-County had nearly everything clicking on the night. They will look to see if they can continue that when they head to Reed City to take on the Coyotes. The Coyotes fell to Kinglsey in their opener, 46-12.
