Vikings sail past Comets 35-6

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — By the time the running-clock was employed, that was when the Comets finally got going.

After being held scoreless without a single first down in the first half, Charles City was able to move the chains repeatedly in the second half of Friday’s home game against Decorah. Eventually, the Comets punched it through the goal line to cap the scoring for the lone touchdown in the second half.

And as for the Vikings, it was them who went without a first down for most of the second half until their final possession.

But the outcome was essentially already determined after Decorah jumped out to a 35-0 lead by halftime on the way to winning 35-6.

Viking senior Keenan Tyler likely crashed the quarterback rating algorithm  with a stellar performance passing and running with the ball. Tyler completed 11 of 12 attempts for 140 yards and three touchdown passes. Tyler’s final TD pass of the game — and the final six-point score for the Vikings — came on a third-and-long fly route when he connected with Jacob Pipho from 43-yards out with less than a minute remaining in the first half.

Tyler also led all rushers with 76 yards on nine carries, including touchdown runs of 4 and 1 yards to help the Vikings take a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.

Decorah did much of their damage on catch-and-run screen plays. Viking senior Noah Storts was the most regular recipient with five catches for a game-leading 68 receiving yards.

The Comets came into the game a little banged up to say the least. Their starting quarterback (Ian Collins) and one of their leading tacklers (Ethan Peterson) were both on the sidelines wearing street clothes.

Still, they were able to regain some face in the second half.

Making his first varsity start at QB, Comet senior Calvin Hanson was able to find a little rhythm in the second half while completing three passes for first downs. For the game, Hanson completed 10 of 17 attempts for 48 yards.

Mario Hoefer caught six of those passes for 35 yards.

The Comets had a rough go trying to move the ball on the ground in the first half — several attempts went south as the Vikings recorded five tackles for losses during the first 24 minutes.

Charles City managed to get out of the red in the second half where Colton Crooks gained most of his team-high 34 yards on 13 carries, including a 2-yard TD dive with the Comet offensive front pushing Decorah back into the end zone with 4:39 left in regulation.

On defense, Charles City was led by senior Ryan Kvernevig (5 solo tackles, 1 TFL), senior Chase Crooks (4 solo tackles , 1 TFL), senior Landon Luft (4 solo tackles, 1 sack, 1 TFL), senior Jalil Jones (4 solo tackles) and Tino Tamayo (1 TFL).

Decorah improved to 2-2; Charles City fell to 2-2.

After playing two Class 4A schools in succession (Decorah and Mason City the week before), Charles City will begin Class 3A-District 2 play when it travels to face Hampton-Dumont-CAL (2-2) next Friday (Sept. 24).

DECORAH 35, CHARLES CITY 6

Scoring By Quarters

DECORAH 14 21 0 0 — 35

CHARLES CITY 0 0 0 6 — 6

Scoring Summary

DEC — Keenan Tyler 4-yard run (Erik Hjelle kick) 5:23 1st, 7-0

DEC — Tyler 1-yard run (Hjelle kick) 2:21 1st, 14-0

DEC — Tyler 5-yard pass to Noah Storts (Hjelle kick) 7:15 2nd, 21-0

DEC — Tyler 3-yard to Joseph Bockman (Hjelle kick) 3:38 2nd, 28-0

DEC — Tyler 43-yard pass to Jacob Pipho (Hjelle kick) :47 2nd, 35-0

CC — Colton Crooks 2-yard run (Pass failed) 4:39 4th, 35-6

RECORDS — Charles City 2-2, Decorah 2-2

PASSING — (Charles City) Calvin Hanson 10-17 48 yards; (Decorah) Keenan Tyler 11-12 140 yards, 3 TDs.

RUSHING — (Charles City) Colton Crooks 13-34, TD; (Decorah) Tyler 7-76, 2 TDs; Dane Frieden 4-21; Jaden Baker 7-17.

RECEIVING — (Charles City) Mario Hoefer 6-35; Trimel Christian 4-13; (Decorah) Noah Storts 5-68; Jacob Pipho 1-43, TD; Joseph Bockman 3-17, TD; Zack Jermier 1-5, TD; Jaden Baker 1-7.

DEFENSE — (Charles City) Ryan Kvernevig 5 solo tackles, 1 TFL; Landon Luft 4 solo tackles, 1 sack; Chase Crooks 4 solo tackles, 1 TFL; Jalil Jones 4 solo tackles; Tino Tamayo 1 TFL; (Decorah) Storts 1.5 TFL, 1 sack; Brayden Reiser 3 solo tackles; Gavin Stortz 1 TFL; Kendall McCain 1 TFL.