Photo by Jake Przytarski Minneota’s Shawn Buysse helps tackle a Lakeview opponent during their game on Thursday. The Vikings defeated the Lakers 52-12.

COTTONWOOD - Entering Thursday night’s contest with 980 yards on the ground, Minneota junior running back Cole Sanow would pick up the 20 yards needed to surpass the 1,000-yard mark on the ground and would add another 98 yards and four touchdowns for good measure to help fuel the Vikings to a decisive 52-12 road victory over the Lakeview Lakers.

Beginning the game with 21 unanswered points in the first quarter of play, the Vikings’ touchdown spree began after being gifted with a golden opportunity following a muffed punt snap that set them up at the Lakers seven-yard line. Taking full advantage of the prime field position, Sanow would proceed to rumble into the end zone with less than three minutes off the clock for Minneota’s first touchdown of the game.

Much like their previous scoring drive, the Vikings had a short field to work with after holding the Lakers to another three-and-out. Beginning at the Lakeview 47-yard line, the Vikings marched down the field and capped off another successful drive with a short touchdown pass from Thomas Hennen to Landon Rolbiecki to make it 14-0.

After receiving big plays from their special teams unit and offense, the Vikings defense got in on the action for the team’s third score when Thomas Hennen took an Aaron Loe pass the other way for a pick-six that made it 21-0 with five minutes remaining in the first quarter. Continuing to apply the pressure, the Vikings’ defense would pick up another turnover just before the end of the quarter with a fumble recovery that set up Sanow’s second touchdown from six yards out to go ahead 27-0.

In need of an explosive play with the clock running out in the first half, the Lakers put together their best drive of the night that would end in a Loe touchdown pass to Carter Louwagie that made it 27-6. The momentum generated from the touchdown was short-lived, however, as the Vikings would find a way to score another touchdown in the waning moments of the half to take a 34-6 lead.

Bearing down and not letting the Lakers build any sort of momentum, the Vikings added three more scores in the second half, beginning with Thomas Hennen’s second touchdown pass of the day, this time to Tanner Sterzinger, to make it 40-6.

Before the final seconds ticked off the clock, Sanow would add his fourth touchdown of the game from 11 yards out and LaShad Smith picked up his first score to make it 52-6. Lakeview would score their final touchdown moments later on a Lucas Hodges one-yard run to bring the game to its final score of 52-12.

With the victory, the Minneota Vikings move to 7-0 on the season, and have a chance to make it six-consecutive regular seasons without a loss dating all the way back to 2013 if they can defeat the Lac qui Parle Valley Eagles at home.

Still in search of their second win of the season, the Lakeview Lakers will return to action on Wednesday for a home matchup with the Sleepy Eye Indians.