Vikings

WHAT GOES around sometimes does indeed come around. It was 2 years ago last week the Eagles went to FedEx Field and embarrassed the Washington Redskins, 59-28. "Two franchises passed each other in the night, rapidly if not necessarily permanently, because there is no such thing as permanently, not in the NFL, not in 2010," Daily News columnist Rich Hofmann wrote. Washington was flailing, with former Eagles QB Donovan McNabb at the helm. Michael Vick was on his way to the Pro Bowl, Vick writing one of the most amazing comeback stories in the history of sport.

HERSHEY, Pa. - The Archbishop Wood girls' soccer team had plenty of experience with trailing by a goal. So when they found themselves in that predicament in the PIAA Class AA state final, the Vikings didn't panic. It was just like the first-round game against Villa Joseph Marie, they thought, a game the Vikings rallied to win in overtime. On Saturday afternoon, however, at Hersheypark Stadium, Wood couldn't find the equalizer and lost to Moon, 1-0. "I thought we would get it. We are usually down in the first half of games, and most times we end up coming back," junior back Katherine Hennessey said.

The Archbishop Wood girls' soccer team is no stranger to being down a goal in a close game. So when they found themselves in that predicament in the state AA final the Vikings didn't panic. It was just like the first round game against Villa Joseph Marie, they thought, a game the Vikings rallied back to win in overtime. On Saturday afternoon; however, at Hersheypark Stadium, Wood couldn't find the equalizer, losing to Moon, 1-0. "I thought we would get it. We are usually down in the first half of games and most times we end up coming back," junior defensive back Katherine Hennessey said.

Members of the Archbishop Wood girls' soccer team aren't strangers to playing for a state championship. Senior midfielder and cocaptain Jackie Pierson won three straight state titles with the Vikings' basketball team. Sophomore forward Aubree Brown also has been a part of that hoops squad. Then there is Deanna Messner, the junior goalkeeper who split time in net when Wood reached the PIAA Class AAA title game in 2010, the last time Bill Cappo's squad made it to Hershey. Several other Vikings, including Pierson, also will be returning to the state finals on Saturday, when Wood (18-3-2)

Wondering whether to start Matt Ryan and Doug Martin, or to bench Christian Ponder and Arrelious Benn? Here are my picks to roll, and get rolled, in Week 10 of the 2012 season.   Watch 'em roll Matt Stafford, QB, Lions at Vikings. He has performed well over the last two games, and has a solid track record against Minnesota, which has coughed up three TD passes and had no interceptions in the last two games against Russell Wilson and Josh Freeman. Stevan Ridley, RB, Patriots vs. Bills.

MINNEAPOLIS - Rookie Doug Martin racked up 214 total yards and two touchdowns, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers blew out Minnesota, 36-17, on Thursday night to hand the Vikings their first home loss of the season. Martin took a screen pass 64 yards for a score, one of three touchdowns thrown by Josh Freeman, to give Tampa Bay (3-4) a 27-10 lead 1 minute, 21 seconds into the second half. Adrian Peterson had a season-long 64-yard run for a score that brought the Vikings to 30-17. Buccaneers 36, Vikings 17 Tampa Bay 10 10 10 6 – 36 Minnesota 0 10 7 0 – 17 First quarter TB–FG Barth 28, 9:48.

Lansdale Catholic had not beaten Archbishop Wood in girls' soccer in three years. But the overtime regular-season victory in 2009 was nothing compared to Wednesday's 2-0 defeat of the Vikings in a Catholic League semifinal at Archbishop Ryan. "I feel like I'm floating on a cloud right now," Lansdale Catholic coach Tom O'Donnell said. The feeling was contagious, as the Crusaders barely contained their excitement after the game ended. "As soon as that whistle blew, we all just broke down into tears," said Bryn Wassel, a senior captain.

MINNEAPOLIS - Rookie Doug Martin ran for 135 yards and a touchdown and caught a 64-yard touchdown pass, one of three thrown by Josh Freeman, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Minnesota Vikings, 36-17, Thursday night. The Bucs came out strong against Minnesota's sputtering offense. Martin had 214 total yards and took a screen pass all the way on the fourth play of the second half to give Tampa Bay (3-4) a 27-10 lead. After Connor Barth's third field goal made it 30-10, Adrian Peterson had a season-best 64-yard touchdown run that briefly gave Minnesota (5-3)

Three years ago had been the last time the Lansdale Catholic Crusaders defeated Archbishop Wood in girls' soccer. But the overtime regular-season victory in 2009 was nothing compared to Wednesday's 2-0 defeat of the Vikings in a Catholic League semifinal. "I feel like I'm floating on a cloud right now," Lansdale coach Tom O'Donnell said. The feeling was contagious, as the Crusaders barely contained their excitement after the game ended. "As soon as that whistle blew, we all just broke down into tears," said Bryn Wassel, a senior captain.

The Eastern football team runs the drill every Tuesday. It's called, "Block, Scoop, and Score. " It's designed to remind the guys on the Vikings' special-teams squads that they can make the difference between winning and losing. "I think there's a stat out there that if you block a punt, you've got an 85 percent chance of winning that game," Eastern coach Dan Spittal said. Eastern is 2-0 in games when the Vikings block a punt and score on the play. They did it twice in a 31-20 victory over Cherry Hill East on Sept.