SOUTH LAKE TAHOE - When the South Tahoe-Douglas high school football rivalry is rehashed in the future, Saturday's game won't be recalled by Vikings' fans.
Douglas scored on four of its first seven offensive touches en route to a 55-20 Sierra League victory in Viking Bowl.
"I've been on the other side, too," said Douglas coach Mike Rippee. "There was a time when we battled back and forth, and six points separated us any time we played.
"I know they have a new coach, and he's trying to build some discipline in the program. I know how hard it is. You just have to keep your nose to the grindstone, keep working and good things will happen."
The first-place Tigers improved to 6-0, not showing any letdown after beating Bishop Manogue last week and no signs of looking ahead to Thursday's showdown with Carson (5-1).
"We challenged them. They've been known to sometimes not get mentally into a game," Rippee said. "We just knew we had to come out and take care of things. We had a lot of respect for South Tahoe, we watched a lot of film and we did some good things."
In a span of 8 minutes, 1 second in the first quarter, Douglas shredded the Vikings' defense for four touchdowns, including three different ways.
Jonathan Pollack started the one-sided assault with a 12-yard touchdown run - his first of three scores - with 9:11 to go in the first quarter.
Next, Douglas struck on special teams as Danny King returned a punt 54 yards for a touchdown. Ryen Ake bolted for a 54-yard scoring run and quarterback Zach Williams capitalized on solid pass protection by tossing a 41-yard touchdown strike to Austin Neiddenreip.
"We're on a roll right now," said Williams, a former South Lake Tahoe Pop Warner player. "We're all together as one. We're a good team, and we're coming together as a team."
Douglas didn't let off the accelerator in the second quarter as Pollack scored on touchdown runs of 15 and 5, and Ake added his second score on a 17-yard scamper.
After Douglas hit paydirt on its opening drive of the second half, the Vikings' offense scored three times on the Tigers' reserves. South Tahoe senior quarterback Thomas Eidam threw three touchdown passes, including two to senior tight end Garrett Tinlin, and finished with 123 yards passing and 85 rushing yards.
"I wasn't really thinking about the score. I was just trying to have the best last (home) game that I could, and I know all the seniors were," Eidam said.
Tinlin caught four passes for 76 yards, including touchdown receptions of 18 and eight yards. His first score was made possible by Tinlin breaking on the ball and taking it away from the defender in the end zone.
"It's unbelievable when you have a receiver that can do that," Eidam said. "I can put the ball anywhere, and he'll get to it.
"Garrett and I have played together for a while, and he's the best receiver I've had."
Eidam also tossed a 34-yard touchdown dart to sophomore Jacob Stowell in the third quarter to break up Douglas' shutout.
The Vikings' Efrain Olivas recovered two second-half fumbles - the last of which was caused by Tinlin's sack of quarterback Lucas Peterson in the fourth quarter.
South Tahoe (1-5 league, 1-7 overall) will close out its season at Damonte Ranch on Thursday. Douglas, meanwhile, will have a No. 1 seed and home playoff advantage on the line, when it meets Carson.
"We're a pretty good team, too. We'll be ready for them," Williams said.
DOUGLAS 55, SOUTH TAHOE 20
Douglas 28 20 7 0 - 55
STHS 0 0 7 13 - 20
First quarter
D-Pollack 12 run (Vasquez kick)
D-King 54 punt return (Vasquez kick)
D-Ake 54 run (Vasquez kick)
D-Neddenreip 41 pass from Williams (Vasquez kick)
Second quarter
D-Pollack 15 run (kick failed)
D-Pollack 5 run (Vasquez kick)
D-Ake 1 run (Vasquez kick)
Third quarter
D-Spates 4 run (Vasquez kick)
ST-Stowell 34 pass from Eidam (Dupuy kick)
Fourth quarter
ST-Tinlin 18 pass from Eidam (Dupuy kick)
ST-Tinlin 8 pass from Eidam (kick failed)
Individual stats
Passing: Douglas, Williams 3-3-0-53. South Tahoe, Eidam 10-23-1-123.
Rushing: Douglas, Pollack 11-90, Hughes 14-72, Ake 6-58, Williams 4-46, Spates 5-11, Peterson 1-(-7). South Tahoe, Eidam 13-85, Stowell 14-59, Mendoza 4-18, Contaxis 1-3.
Receiving: Douglas, Neddenreip 2-44, Pollack 1-9. South Tahoe, Tinlin 4-76, Stowell 2-36, Garman 2-9, Contaxis 2-2.
