By Craig Brown
The Latta High School Vikings opened the 2015 football season with an impressive 40-8 win over the Auctioneers of Mullins High School Friday night in Mullins.
The Vikings got off to a slow start and trailed 6-0 after one quarter of play but picked up three touchdowns in the second quarter added one more in the third quarter and two in the fourth quarter with the Viking defense holding the Mullins offense to 0 points with two points coming from a safety against the Vikings in the fourth quarter. Viking starting quarterback, Devonte Porter went down late in the second quarter with an ankle injury and was replaced by Colby Lee.
Both quarterbacks performed well in this game. Latta seems to have trouble at this point in the season of reacting early in the game.
Two weeks ago they had to come from behind to take an 8-7 win over East Bladen in the Carolina Classic Jamboree in Lumberton and it looked very bad for the Vikings in the first quarter Friday night.  
The Vikings were held to three up and out on their first offensive possession and gave the Auctioneers good field position on a poor punt. Mullins took quick advantage of the good field position aided by the Vikings that were not yet ready on defense missing several tackles to end the drive with Riyan Gore taking it across the goal line on a seven yard quarterback keeper run.
The two-point conversion failed leaving Mullins up 6-0 with 8:45 left in the first quarter. Late in the first quarter the Vikings made it inside the 15 yard line of the Auctioneers but turned the ball over to the Auctioneers on downs ending the first quarter with Mullins holding onto the 6-0 lead.
The Vikings were ready to play by the second quarter and finished their first offensive possession of the period with Kartilus McFadden getting a touchdown on an 11-yard run. Eli Long’s point after kick put the Vikings in front 7-6 with 11:44 left in the second quarter.
On the Viking’s next possession Colby Lee hit Devonte Porter with a 30-yard touchdown strike with 4:29 left in the second quarter. The point after kick was off leaving Latta up 13-6.
On the Vikings final drive of the first half, Lee teamed up with Tyreik McAllister with an 18-yard touchdown pass.
The two point conversion failed and the Vikings took a 19-6 lead into the halftime break. McAllister picked up his second touchdown on a 9- yard run in the third quarter with Long’s kick giving the Vikings a 26-6 lead with the quarter ending with this score.
With 9:48 left in the fourth quarter Jackson Williams pushed his way into the end zone on a one-yard run. Tyreik McAllister hit Deonta Stanley with the two point conversion pass to increase Latta’s lead to 34-6. A bad snap from center got by Viking punter Colby Lee and entered the end zone. Lee wisely picked up the ball taking a safety and preventing a Mullins touchdown.
Latta’s lead was cut to 34-8 with 5:41 left in the game.
On Latta’s final drive Colby Lee hit Tyreik McAllister with a 31 yard touchdown pass with 2:18 left in the game. The kick failed holding the score at Latta 40 Mullins 8.
On offense for Latta, Kartilus McFadden picked up 196 yards rushing on 33 carries with two touchdowns, Tyreik McAllister caught 9 passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns and passed for a two point conversion, Colby Lee was 10 of 13 passing for 148 yards and three touchdowns and had 44 yards rushing on 5 carries. Marc Legette was 6 of 12 passing for 39 yards and had 19 yards rushing on 3 carries. Davonte Porter caught 3 passes for 41 yards and a touchdown, Kendall Moultrie caught 3 passes for 33 yards. Jackson Williams picked up a touchdown on a one yard run and Deonta Stanley caught a two point conversion pass. On defense for the Vikings, Davonte Porter had 8 tackles with two quarterback sacks and 5 tackle assists, Mickey Dotson had 5 tackles, 5 assists, Chandler Nolan and Jackson Williams had five tackles, two assists each with Williams adding a quarterback sack, Gaige Sanderson and Justin Hall had 4 tackles 3 assists each, Jalen Gomillion and Kendall Moultrie had 3 tackles, 3 assists each, Trey Manning had 2 tackles, 3 assists and a fumble recovery, Tyreik McAllister, Zyques Gomillion and Colby Lee had 2 tackles each with Lee adding a fumble recovery, Deonta Stanley added a tackle with 2 assists, Jay Bailey and N’Phamys Ferguson added a tackle each and John Hines had two tackle assists.
The Vikings appear to be a much improved team this year with the kicking game needing some improvement. The Vikings travel to Dillon Friday night for a game with County Rival, the Dillon Wildcats. If I am correct the last time Latta won this match they were the Red Raiders and it was Coach Paul Chapman’s first year at Dillon.
If the Vikings are to stay in this game. they cannot afford a late start. The Wildcats are capable of putting 28 points on any team on their schedule in the first quarter if that team is not prepared and ready to start at the opening whistle. Game time for Friday is set for 7:30.