WABASH – The Tippecanoe Valley football team faced a must-win situation Friday night.

The Vikings got that much-needed victory.

Valley held off host Northfield 34-32 for a key Three Rivers Conference win.

The Vikings, who lost to Southwood 34-33 at home last week, took a 34-26 lead on a Ben Shriver 38-yard touchdown toss to Nolan Sponseller in the fourth quarter and a two-point conversion.

Northfield, which drops to 2-3 overall and 1-2 in the TRC, pulled within 34-32 on a three-yard touchdown run by Carter Frieden. The Norsemen attempted to tie the game, but their two-point conversion attempt failed.

Valley, which has shared the TRC title each of the past two seasons, improves to 2-3 overall and 2-1 in league play.

The Vikings led 6-0 after the opening period Friday night and 12-6 at halftime. The game was tied at 18-18 after three quarters.

Sponseller had a huge night for the Vikings. The senior had three receptions for 146 yards, including touchdown catches of 38 and 76 yards from Shriver.

Chris Torpy carried the load on the ground for coach Jeff Shriver’s squad. Torpy rushed for 125 yards on 22 totes of the pigskin with scoring runs of one and four yards.

Garrett Bell also had a three-yard touchdown run for Valley.

Senior quarterback Shriver continued his prolific season by going 8-16 for 186 yards.

Valley hosts winless Wabash next Friday night while Northfield plays at Whitko in TRC contests.