By Kevin Eckleberry

Sports Editor

In a game filled with tension, Dylan Johnson finally gave the Redskins a chance to sit back, smile, and enjoy the moment.

Johnson’s interception return for a touchdown with less than 30 seconds left Tuesday night put a capper on the Redskins’ 16-0 victory over the Vikings in the Textile Bowl at Callaway Stadium.

The win completed a perfect season for the Vikings (8-0) and gave them the championship of the Troup County Parks and Recreation Commission fall league.

The Redskins’ offensive score came late in the first half when quarterback Braylon Sanders scored on a 35-yard run.

Johnson made both extra points.

“The defense really carried us tonight,” said Chad Hendrix, head coach of the Hogansville-based Vikings. “It really carried us all year. We really didn’t give up anything all year on defense.”

The Redskins (7-1) got one last chance when the Vikings fumbled the ball away with 35 seconds left.

On the next play, though, Johnson came up with the pick at about midfield, and he raced to the end zone for the clinching score.

“We could relax then,” Hendrix said.

It looked like the game was going to be scoreless at the half, but with just 23 seconds left, Sanders sprinted down the left sideline for the go-ahead score.

The Redskins had a great chance to get on the scoreboard in the third quarter.

A Malik McFarkin long run got the Redskins close, but the drive stalled from there, and they were stuffed on a fourth-and-goal play from the 6-yard line.

The Vikings didn’t get that close again.

Hendrix figured the game would be a great test, so he wasn’t surprised that it came down to the wire.

“We knew coming in they’d be tough,” he said. “We knew they had good coaches. The boys, they really put a lot of work into it. We’re proud of them.”

For three of the players, winning a championship is nothing new.

Johnson, Noah Hammett and Amad Ogletree were each on the Troup County 9-10 all-star team that won the Dixie Youth Baseball World Series this summer.

Those three, and all of the other players on the roster did whatever was asked of them, Hendrix said.

“We’ve had some of the best boys I believe I’ve ever coached,” he said. “They’re a great bunch of boys.”

The most valuable players for the game were Sanders for the Redskins, and McFarkin for the Vikings.