Northern hands Vikings 59-10 setback

Published 11:46 pm Friday, October 8, 2010

PORTAGE — Terry Kerr was a one-man wrecking crew for Portage Northern Friday night in its 59-10 Big 16 Conference West Division victory over Niles.

Kerr ran for 239 yards on 16 carries and scored five rushing touchdowns, while he also caught two passes for 45 yards and another score.

The Vikings (3-4) found themselves down 17-0 right off the bat and 38-0 at halftime.

Kerr scored on runs of 55 and 20 yards in the opening quarter, while Joe Livingston, who hit both extra point kicks, also booted a 33-yard field goal.

Kerr picked up where he left off in the opening 12 minutes of play as he scored on a 44-yard pass from Adam Dunlap and ran in from 26 yards away for another score.

Dunlap capped the first half scoring with a 7-yard run.

Kerr opened the second half with a run from 27 yards away before Niles scored 10 straight points.

Brandon Partee, who finished the night with 42 yards on eight carries, scored on a 35-yard run before Dustin Wright tacked on a 40-yard field goal.

Kerr scored his sixth touchdown of the night early in the fourth quarter on a 34-yard run and then Todd Caper completed the scoring with a 7-yard scamper.

The Huskies (6-1) finished with 453 yards in total offense, including 300 rushing. Dunlap was 8-of-17 for 153 yards and a touchdown.

The Vikings finished with just 182 yards in total offense. Cole Clemens was 8-of-23 for 79 yards and four interceptions.

Martell Miller led Niles in rushing with 56 yards on five carries.

Niles returns home Friday night to take on Benton Harbor in another West Division contest. The Vikings will then wrap up the season on Oct. 22 with a trip to Kalamazoo to face Loy Norrix.

Niles 0 0 10 0 – 10

Northern 17 21 7 14 – 59

PN – Terry Kerr 55 run (Joe Livingston kick)

PN – Kerr 20 run (Livingston kick)

PN – Livingston 33 field goal

PN – Kerr 44 pass from Adam Dunlap (Livingston kick)

PN – Kerr 26 run (Livingston kick)

PN – Dunlap 7 run (Livingston kick)

PN – Kerr 27 run (Livingston kick)

N – Brandon Partee 35 run (Dustin Wright kick)

N – Wright 40 field goal

PN – Kerr 34 run (Livingston kick)

PN – Todd Caper 7 run (Brandon Bye kick)