Seoul Vikings stage last minute rally, capture 5th Korean title

The Seoul Vikings scored the winning touchdown with nine seconds left to defeat the favorite and previously unbeaten Goeje Bluestorm to win the Korean National Football League championship for the fifth time.

The Vikings entered the game with the best offense in the league averaging 26 points per game while Goeje had the best defense allowing 7.3 points a contest.

The two teams had met in the final game of the regular season with the Bluestorm eking out a 7-6 win.

The Bluestorm had reached the final three of the last four years, capturing the title once.

The Seoul Vikings had qualified for the playoffs for the first time in five years.

So the stage was set for a memorable battle.

Defenses ruled early on the the game. A Vikings fumble midway gave through the second quarter gave Goeje  the ball on the 50 yard line and they capitalized. A seven play drive produced the game’s first touchdown but the extra point failed and the Bluestorm took a 6-0 lead.

Another turnover, this time by the Bluestorm, gave Seoul the ball on the 15 yard line. Four plays later, Vikings quarterback Sung-Hoon Choi punched his way into the end zone giving the Vikings a 7-6 halftime lead.

The Bluestorm broke open a third quarter defensive battle with a spectacular 75 yard touchdown pass, retaking the lead 12-7.

The defensive struggle continued in the fourth quarter until the Vikings took over at their own 20 yard line with a minute and a half left in the game. A 10 play drive which included a 62 yard pass and run was capped by a corner-of-the-end-zone touchdown reception by Vikings wide receiver Kim Jin-Il with virtually no time left on the clock giving Seoul a 13-12 win and their fifth KNFL  title.

Vikings quarterback Choi Sung-Hoon was named game MVP.

Seoul offensive coordinator Kent Clement:

“We had a good offense this year, with a talented QB who has improved a lot since I have been here. Our running game had speed and power with an offensive line that was excellent. The receiving corps was excellent as well. But we cannot forget our defense who put us in very favorable position all season long. We scored the points but the defense made sure we could win it all.”