The Charlo Vikings took a tough 50-2 bruising last Friday night by Drummond, the two-time defending state champs, but will look to bounce back this Friday against Alberton as the team still looks good in the conference with a 2-1 record.

If there's any consolation to the loss it's the fact that the Vikings managed to have a closer game than Drummond's previous opponents, which they've beaten by 56 and 68 points, respectively.

"They are just a very good football team. They are great at every position," said head coach Steve Love. "We played them pretty tough relatively speaking."

Drummond scored about four minutes into the game, and managed to jump out to a 24-0 lead with six seconds left in the first quarter, before scoring almost immediately in the start of the second quarter. Love said he was pleased with how his boys stayed in the game and kept their heads up despite the mounting score.

"We had guys hustling to the line in the third quarter when the game was blown open, and that shows a lot of character," Love said.

He said there were several positive aspects of the game, including the fact that the team moved the ball against Drummond's defense, had several successful pass completions, and forced a turnover. The team's lone score came on a safety late in the game.

"One of our goals was to make sure Chase Reynolds didn't beat us by himself, and we accomplished that. He usually rushes for at least one or two touchdowns, but we kept him subdued in rushing," Love said. "But they had some other guys step up. They are just so good at every position."

Bo Herak had some good passes to Brandon Rollins and Andy Sieges early in the game, and Love noted how Jason Foust ran down a Drummond receiver late in the game to prevent another score.

For now, the team will turn its attention to Alberton, which is 1-2 in conference play. Love said their record is misleading and that the team should probably be 2-1 after the game he watched last weekend.

"Alberton is 1-2 right now but they are very dangerous. The game I watched them play last weekend, I thought they should have won. They will be a very good opponent Friday night," Love said. "They are always pumped up when they come into Charlo."

Love said last Friday's loss was just that — one conference loss in a season in which each game is a conference game. Charlo's 2-1 record still keeps them in one of the top spots in the conference, and this Friday's game marks the halfway point through the season.

Game time is 7 p.m. in Charlo.