The North Kitsap Vikings (5-2, 4-1 in Olympic League) beat the Bainbridge Spartans (1-6, 1-4 OL) 24-21 in a close rivalry game Oct. 17 in Poulsbo.

The win gives NK a better chance of securing second place in league behind first-place Olympic. However, NK coach Jeff Weible noted that the Vikings still have things to figure out before playoff time.

“I don’t know, from week one [the team] has shown flashes of being really good and then flashes of… I don’t know what it is,” Weible said.

NK established a strong offensive strategy early in the game, with running back Townsyn Walsh scoring the first Viking touchdown.

Viking quarterback Teague Weible followed that up with a 74-yard touchdown pass to WR Cooper Anderson to give NK a 14-0 lead.

The Spartans picked up 20-plus yards on two plays on their next drive, providing a spark for the offense late in the first quarter. Quarterback Rowan Meek eventually drove it in for Bainbridge’s first score of the game, making the score 14-7 with 9:03 remaining in the second.

Moments later, Wyndham Kocenash forced a fumble on defense and ran it back for a touchdown, tying up the game at 14 apiece with 7:42 left to go in the half.

Bainbridge fumbled the ball on their next drive, giving NK a short field with two minutes remaining in the half. But the Vikings still couldn’t capitalize after Spartan defensive tackle Matthew Grant blocked a field goal attempt from NK, keeping the game tied at 14 entering halftime.

“I mean, we knew that they weren’t going to be able to throw the ball very effectively, so we geared up to stop the run all week,” Weible said.

In the second half, running back Tyree McGinty was able to punch it in for the Vikings on a short field, giving the lead back to NK at 21-14 with 6:24 remaining in the third quarter.

Meek responded by running for a 70-plus yard touchdown to tie the game back up, providing another momentum change in favor of Bainbridge. The game was tied 21-21 at the end of the third.

NK managed to drive the ball downfield at the beginning of the fourth quarter, but their drive stalled, leading to a 43-yard field goal conversion from kicker Andrew Knott, giving the lead back to the Vikings at 24-21 with 7:13 remaining in the game.

The Bainbridge defense remained stout on the next two NK drives, forcing quick possessions to get the ball back to Meek and company. However, Meek threw an interception with 1:56 remaining, leaving the Spartans little opportunity to mount a comeback.