ST. CHARLES • After a rough loss to Columbia Rock Bridge last week, Francis Howell needed a big game against Howell Central to open Class 6 District 5 play Friday at home .
The Howell football crowd may argue whether they received a big game, but there was no debating that a big, big quarter powered the Vikings to a 55-20 victory against Howell Central.
Howell scored 34 unanswered points in the second quarter to go up 41-7 and take control of the GAC South contest.
"This was a great team effort," Howell quarterback Eric Siebenshuh said. "We all practiced hard this week and it paid off."
Howell improved to 5-3 overall and 4-1 in league play, while Howell Central slipped to 3-5 and 3-2.
After the teams traded first-quarter scores on a Richie Eisenhart run for Howell and a Jayden Lumpa reception for Howell Central, the Vikings' sprang to life on both sides of the ball.
Just three seconds into the second quarter, Howell capped a two-play, 47-yard drive when Siebenshuh tossed a 10-yard scoring pass to John Haarmann. The score seemed to open the floodgates for the Vikings.
Haarmann caught a 35-yard pass for a touchdown with 8:17 left, and Alex Martin added TD runs of 40 and 19 yards to push the lead to 35-7.
Martin rushed for 123 first half yards on 11 carries.
"I think we were very focused this week, and it helped us," Martin said. "For me, the line did a great job holding their blocks, and that makes it very easy to run behind."
The final score of the half came when Siebenshuh connected with Corey King on a 5-yard touchdown pass that bumped the lead to 41-7.
Howell got the running clock gong when Siebenshuh and Alex Strong hooked up on a 46-yard pass and added a final score on a second long Siebenshuh-to-Strong pass.
Howell Central scored twice in the second half on TD runs by Chip Miller and Brody Allen.
"Our guys came out focused, determined and ready to get back on track," Howell coach Bryan Koch said. "We preach to our kids that if we play to our ability and mistake free, then we're a very good football team."
Siebenshuh, who completed 12 of 16 passes for 272 yards and four touchdowns, credited his wideouts for the Vikings terrific passing game.
"The receivers are great," he said. "We go out there and play catch every week. That's how they are every week."
Strong caught 151 yards worth of passes and King added 47.
Martin wound up with 145 yards and two scores.
On defense, Tim Thomas led Howell with 11 tackles and five assists. Mike Jinkins added two interceptions.
