Stevan Evans, Campus Carrier Sports Editor
The Vikings football team took the field for the first time against another team on Saturday in a pre-season scrimmage against Columbus State University.
Although Columbus State’s team was a club team, the Vikings walked away from their first intercollegiate scrimmage boasting a 14-0 win. For all but three of the players on the Viking’s active roster, the scrimmage against Columbus State was their first experience scrimmaging against college players not wearing a Berry Vikings uniform.
“The scrimmage went very well,”sophomore defensive tackle Ben McWhorter said. “It was the first time we really got to hit anybody besides our own teammates. This wasn’t a blue versus silver game, this was against another college, even though it was a club team. There is room for improvement, but it showed where we are at as a team, and it was a good win for all of us.”
Junior running back Bo Heard also expressed the excitement of playing a different school.
“It was really exciting to go out and hit someone other than our players,” Heard said. “It was great for the offense to see a new defense, and our defense to see a new offense.”
The Vikings will play the program’s first official intercollegiate game this Saturday against the Maryville College Scots. Last season, the Scots finished with a record of 6-4. They won five out of their final six games of the season, and finished the year on a three-game winning streak.
“Maryville is going to be tough,” Heard said. “We are pumped though, and we are definitely not taking the game lightly. It is going to be a tough game, but it’s really exciting. We are all really excited to represent Berry.”
Heard is among the many players who are excited to get the Vikings football inaugural underway as well.
“We are pretty excited for the upcoming game,” sophomore defensive back Zach Valentine said. “I think the outcome of this game will say a lot of how the season is going to be. This is our first real game. Seeing how we respond to it is what I am most looking forward to. I know we are going to look good out there.”
Kickoff for the Vikings inaugural football game on Saturday will take place at 6 p.m. at Barron Stadium on Martha Berry Highway near downtown Rome.
“The biggest thing to remember is to things in perspective,” Vikings football head coach Tony Kunczewski said. “When the game starts we will have only been practicing as a team for three weeks. [Today] is the three week aniversary. But we have some great attitudes on the team with a group of boys who are very fun to work with and very talented. We are looking forward to playing.”
The said they are excited about making history as the first football team in school history.
“We are starting a new program at Berry and I think everyone is looking forward to it,” McWhorter said. “We are excited about everyone who comes to support us. But most of all, we are excited to make history as the first Berry football team. We think that people are going to underestimate us as a first-year program, but we look forward to going in the underdog and coming out on top.”
