POPLAR GROVE - Jon and Alex Albrecht spent hours throwing a football in the backyard when they were kids, all the while hoping that a night like Friday would someday happen.

“It’s like a dream come true,” Alex said.

Identical twins Alex and Jon Albrecht were part of a sophomore foursome that led North Boone to a 31-20 win over Winnebago. It was the first season-opening win for the Vikings in four years.

In his first varsity game as a starting quarterback, Alex threw for 275 yards and two touchdowns on a 20-for-31 night with no interceptions.

His main target was his brother. Jon had nine catches for 194 yards and three touchdowns.

“Varsity football isn’t as hard as I thought,” Jon said jokingly after the game.

Sophomore running back Mitch Mischung added 132 yards on the ground on 10 carries. He also threw a 20-yard touchdown to Jon Albrecht with 4:08 remaining to seal the win.

Center Ryan Garcia was a fourth sophomore who starred for the Vikings.

“We’ve been saying all year that we don’t have a lot of depth,” North Boone coach Aaron Sullivan said. “We only have 20 guys on the team.

But, we are as talented as we have ever been.”

North Boone scored on the first drive of the game with a 4-yard run by Alex Albrecht. Winnebago took the lead early in the second quarter on a 14-yard run by Michael Sojka and a Joe Snyder kick.

The lead bounced back-and-forth in the second. Winnebago, which scored all its points in the second, added a 1-yard run by Pete Turcato and a 13-yard run by Seth Gustafson.

North Boone answered with three scores on two passes from Alex to Jon (33 and 84 yards) and a 17-yard pass to Tyler Bielski. North Boone failed to score any extra points. North Boone led 24-20 at halftime.

Both teams battled through minor injuries and fatigue in the second half. After a scoreless third, North Boone pulled away with 4:08 remaining in the fourth when Alex Albrecht pitched the ball to Mischung, who tossed the ball 20 yards to Jon Albrecht for the TD.

The Indians crept as close as the 17-yard line in their next drive, but the Vikings’ defense stopped them for the win.

“It’s awesome how (the sophomores) stepped up,” senior defensive end Colton Friemuth said. “They’re unbelievable. It feels like I’ve been playing with them forever.

“This is such a great way to start my senior season.”

Seth Gustafson led Winnebago with 24 carries for 155 yards and one TD. Quarterback Jeff Sartorious completed 8-of-17 for 89 yards.

- Emily Tropp, rrstar.com