East Hall looked like a different defense in the second half.

The Vikings allowed just 35 yards after halftime Friday in a 24-14 victory over Johnson at Billy Ellis Memorial Stadium in Oakwood.

East Hall went into halftime clinging to a 21-14 lead, after Johnson reeled off 183 rushing yards in the first two quarters.

“Thankfully our defense started to settle down and realize, look, you (each take care of) your job and we’re going to be OK,” East Hall coach Bryan Gray said. “But Johnson outplayed us tonight. Tremendous job on their behalf and we’re very fortunate to get out of here (with a win).”

Quarterback Austin Parker led East Hall to three touchdowns in the first half and finished the night 15 of 30 passing for 203 yards and a touchdown. The Vikings’ passing game benefitted from several impressive catches by receivers Markese Jackson (7 receptions, 119 yards) and Jacquen Hopkins (five receptions, 67 yards, TD).

Vikings running back Jiel Vargas added 70 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries.

Johnson fell to 2-6 on the season.

East Hall (3-4) has won three of its last four games after starting the season 0-3.

“We’re playing to get in the playoffs, so we’re going to schedule the toughest people we can,” Gray said. “We purposely played some tough people because I knew these sophomores had to learn how to play some people at a high level before we got to region. It has paid off.”

Victor Romero kicked a 25-yard field goal with 1:46 remaining in the third quarter to boost East Hall’s lead to 24-14. That accounted for the only points scored in the second half by either team.

Field position worked against Johnson throughout the second half. The Knights started three straight drives inside their own 20-yard line in the second half, including two inside their own 5.

“I thought we did a good job of hanging tough in the first half and made some good adjustments in the half,” Johnson coach Jason Roquemore said. “Here’s the difference: They beat us in the kicking game.

“Their punt team kept us pinned inside the (20) on three consecutive drives. That’s not going to show on the stat sheet, but I definitely thought that was the difference in the game.”

East Hall’s first drive of the night ended with a fumble at the Johnson 8-yard line, but the Vikings got a second chance only two plays later when they recovered a Johnson fumble at the Knights’ 3-yard line.

Vargas carried the ball twice and found the end zone from a yard out on second down for the first points of the game with 7:04 left in the first quarter.

Johnson answered with a 62-yard scoring drive capped by a beautiful pitch from quarterback Sam Corbett to Eric Gallardo for a 23-yard touchdown that tied the score 7-7 with 3:25 remaining in the opening quarter.

East Hall struck again on its next series with an 84-yard touchdown drive aided by two long receptions by Jackson, including a 21-yard catch on third-and-14 from the Vikings own 29-yard line. Vargas finished off the drive once again — this time with an 8-yard touchdown run — to put East Hall back on top 14-7 only eight seconds into the second quarter.

“Our offense, we like to take a shot here and there, but we’re really based on short (plays) and moving the ball,” Gray said. “It took some miraculous catches for us to move the ball.

“There was no continuity on offense and we’ve got to find our rhythm again. Both (Jackson and Hopkins) are college-level receivers, and we’re fortunate both of them came up with some big catches at opportune times tonight.”

The Knights answered a second time with the help of a 73-yard run by Darian Bunch on third-and-23 from the Johnson 18. Corbett later punched the ball into the end zone from a yard out to even the score 14-14 with 8:07 left before halftime.

The Vikings started in good field position at the Knights’ 33 later in the second quarter and took advantage when Parker connected with Hopkins on consecutive plays. The second, a 29-yard pass on fourth-and-6, put the Vikings on top 21-14 going into halftime.

The Vikings travel to Franklin County next Friday for a key Region 7-AAA showdown.

Vikings 24, Knights 14

Difference maker: Vikings wide receiver Markese Jackson. He finished with seven receptions for 119 yards, including catches of 21, 34 and 42 yards. Those three big gains came during two of East Hall's scoring drives.

Stat that matters: Johnson started three consecutive offensive series inside its own 16-yard line in the second half, including two inside its own 5-yard line.

Turning point: East Hall quarterback Austin Parker hit a wide-open Jacquen Hopkins for a 29-yard touchdown pass that put the Vikings on top 21-14 with 3:32 remaining before halftime.

Up next: East Hall travels to Franklin County next Friday; Johnson has a bye, then visits Franklin County on Oct. 30.