Vikings suffer first loss of the season

Greenville used a staunch defense, big plays and field position to spoil Pacelli's homecoming Friday night at Diemel Field, 22-12.

It was the Vikings' first home game after three straight on the road.

The Patriots' Renault Griffin returned a kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown and returned an interception 65 yards for another TD as time expired in the game.

That helped Greenville move to 3-0, 2-1 in Region 4-A, while Pacelli fell to 3-1, 1-1.

After a defensive first quarter when neither team scored, Greenville struck first early in the second quarter on a 2-yard dive by Kenon Tenny.

The running back made it 8-0 on the 2-point conversion run. The drive went 52 yards, all on running plays.

After exchanging punts, Pacelli took over on the 50 and scored later when quarterback Tre Sudberry passed 24 yards to wideout DeAndre Bowman, who was wide open in the right corner of the end zone. The two-point failed and Pacelli trailed 8-6.

In the third quarter on its second offensive series, Sudberry found Bowman again, this time on a 54-yard pass, and the Vikings surged ahead 12-8.

But the lead was short-lived as Greenville's Griffin took the ensuing kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown.

Griffin capped the game with his interception on the last play of the contest.

Bowman finished with four receptions for 138 yards and two touchdowns. Sudberry was 5-of-12 passing for 186 yards.

The Vikings leading rusher was Ben Davis, who managed 57 yards on 10 carries. Greenville's leading rusher was Kewaun Matthew, who ran 13 times for 72 yards.

Pacelli lost two fumbles to Greenville's one.

"They were a big football team and we never got going," said Pacelli coach Alan Griffin. "We had our opportunities. We need to learn from this and improve."

Pacelli will play at Dooly County on Sept. 25.Friday at Diemel FieldGreenville 0 8 8 6--22

Pacelli 0 6 6 0--12Second Quarter

G--Keron Tenny 2 run (Tenny run), 11:55

P--De'Andre Bowman 24 pass from Tre Sudberry (run failed), 6:36Third QuarterP--Bowman 54 pass from Sudberry (run failed), 8:14

G--Renault Griffin 90 kickoff return (Dericus Ford run), 7:59Fourth QuarterG--Griffin 65 interception return, 0:00

Team records: Greenville3-0, 2-0 Region 4-A. Pacelli 3-1, 1-1. Next: Pacelli, at Dooly County, Sept. 25, 7:30 p.m.

This story was originally published September 19, 2015 at 12:12 AM with the headline "Vikings suffer first loss of the season ."