The Hayfield football team started its 2002 season on Friday with a 32-7 loss at home to Cannon Falls.

With expectations running high, the Vikings took to the field knowing they faced an uphill battle during the first three games of the season. Cannon Falls, the first of three larger schools that Hayfield would have face, featured running back Jered Chambers and tackle Nate Safe, who are arguably the conference's leading performers at their positions.

The Bombers were the first to enter the end zone during the first quarter on a 58-yard run from Chambers.

In the second quarter, wide receiver Aaron Moline picked a 52-yard touchdown pass out of the air from quarterback Jake Winchell to make it a 13-0 game. Chambers found the open field and outdistanced the Viking defenders for 60 yards to increase the Bomber lead to 19-0 at the half.

Hayfield struck first in the third quarter, when Scott Thomson orchestrated an 82-yard drive that was capped off by a two-yard run by running back David Stanton. A extra point by kicker Carl Bamlet narrowed the score to 19-7.

Two running touchdowns in the fourth quarter, a 70- and a 5-yard run, by Chambers, blew the game out of reach.

Cannon Falls piled up 332 rushing yards to Hayfield's 66, while the Vikings led the game in passing 163 yards to 126. The Bombers compiled 458 total yards to the Viking's 229.

Scott Thompson completed 9-of-23 passes for 160 yards and as a free safety, intercepted a Winchell pass on the Vikings 4-yard line, returned it 16 yards to the 20 and ended a Bomber threat.

Blake Swanson led the team in rushing, handling the ball 10 times for 30 yards, while Cody Hegna had four receptions for 67 yards. Daniel Rasmussen and Blake Swanson each had one reception for 31 and 45 yards respectively.

Defensive leaders for the game included Swanson, who had four solo and five assisted tackles. Bamlet, had four solo and assisted tackles, one sack, and caused three fumbles and Scott Thompson had three solo and two assisted tackles.

"We shot ourselves in the foot," said Viking coach Vince Reynolds. "We moved the ball well on occasions, but we had some costly turnovers that stopped productive drives."

Despite the loss, Reynolds mentioned that he could see some good things happen on the field as well. "We got a chance to see what the competition would be like, and we had a chance to play everyone."

The Vikings will travel to Zumbrota-Mazeppa to take on the Cougars in a Hiawatha Valley conference match up Friday.