Vikings contend for district leadership

The 2013 edition of the Bigfork Vikings should be fun to watch.

That’s the word from coach Todd Emslie, who begins the 11th year coaching the Red, White and Blue.

Emslie has coached the team in two stints, first from 1999 to 2004 and then from 2009 to present. He guided the Vikes’ during their championship year in 2010. Last year’s edition was 9-2.

“We’re young. We’re filling in for some great seniors (who graduated),” he said. “We should compete for the (7B) district championship.” Emslie believes the Vikes’ main district competition will be Eureka.

Bigfork lost seven starters on offense and six on defense, so there are definitely some shoes to fill.

Emslie estimates that the Vikes will run 60 percent of the time out of a pro-style or spread offense.

The four returning starters on offense include two-way starters Boyd Rieke (RB/LB) and Cameron Nissen (TE/DE).

“Rieke is up to 193 pounds and running hard,” Emslie said. “Nissen is 6-7 and can jump out of a gym.”

Junior Josh Sandry will be handing off to Rieke and throwing to Nissen. “I have a lot of admiration for Josh and his work ethic,” Emslie said. “He’s going to be a good one at quarterback.”

Jon Landon and Isaac Martel will start at wide receiver. Landon will serve as a backup at quarterback, along with Adam Jordt. They will split time starting on the junior varsity.

The Vikes have a young line “with very much potential,” Emslie said. Returning guards Tyler Iverson, on the right, and Riley Meyer, on the left, will anchor the offensive line. Joining them are: center, Russell Goeden, right tackle, Logan Mejak, and left tackle, Austin Pacheco.

The Vikes will operate out of a 5-3 set on defense.

Defensive strengths include the three returning linebackers: Rieke, Noe Gomez and Vinnie Quirk. Emslie wasn’t sure which one would play in the middle, noting they may switch things up a bit.

Mejak will start at defensive end along with Nissen. There is a three-man tandem at nose guard: Meyer, Goeden and Grant Ozegovich, who is suffering from a knee injury. Iverson, Pacheco and Camden Massey will split time at the two defensive tackles positions.

In the defensive backfield, Sandry will start at safety, while Martel and Jordt will man the cornerback slots.

Tough schedule

“We have a tough schedule,” Emslie said, noting he likes non-conference games with east side foes Choteau and Shelby. The Vikes defeated Choteau in the first round of the state playofffs last year. They travel to Choteau Friday for their first game.

Emslie said the games against Choteau and Shelby will give him a better idea of how to prepare for other east side teams the Vikes could see in the playoffs.

Florence and Ronan are the team’s other non-conference foes. “I don’t think there’s a weak team in the south,” he said.

Caleb Soptelean can be reached at reporter@bigforkeagle.com.