Vikings close season
with loss to S. Robeson

Staff photos by Mark Gilchrist

West Columbus senior back Travis Leggett closed out a standout career with the Vikings in Monday night’s football loss to South Robeson. Leggett was a two-way starter for four seasons.

By DAN BISER
Sports Editor

CERRO GORDO - It is sometimes difficult to find any redeeming value when a football team goes an entire season without winning a game.

That became the case of the 2007 West Columbus Vikings Monday night as they were defeated by Southeastern Conference rival South Robeson 44-12 for their 11th straight loss.

The WCHS Senior Night game had been postponed by rain on Friday.

“You look at the 0-11 record, and how frustrating and demoralizing that can be, but you also have to look at these kids and how they stayed committed to the program through the tough times and the adversity,” said Viking head coach Vern Brigman. “They’ve shown some character and I’m proud of all of them.”

Brigman said that he shoulders the blame for this year’s Viking record.

“I just didn’t do the job I needed to,” he said. “Everybody worked hard, and we wanted to have a successful season, but it didn’t turn out that way.”

Brigman said he was pleased with his team’s effort in their final game Friday, battling back from an early 22-0 deficit with two time-consuming scoring drives that cut the score to 22-12 going into the final quarter.

South Robeson took control in the fourth quarter with three touchdowns to turn back the Viking threat.

“West Columbus did a good job of getting back in the game,” said South Robeson coach Willie George, whose Mustangs put their record at 3-6. “We hardly had the football in the second and third quarters because of their ball control offense.”

The Vikings used up over eight minutes in driving 83 yards in 23 plays for the first score in the second quarter. They converted four third-down plays and one first down before getting the score on a one-yard run by Travis Leggett.

The Vikings used nearly 10 minutes of the third quarter clock, driving 76 yards on 17 plays, converting three first down plays and one fourth down. Kenyarta Smith got the touchdown on three-yard run.
Leggett closed out his high school career by rushing for 94 yards on 16 carries, and Smith had 77 yards on 15 tries.

Fullback Rasheem Breeden rushed for two of the South Robeson touchdowns and John Hunt returned a punt 42 yards for another SRHS Mustang score.

Nick Alford, Antonio Purnell and Avis Johnson also had touchdown runs for South Robeson.
South Robeson will close out regular-season play Friday when it plays host to neighboring rival Fairmont.