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Vikings defeat Comets, 34-0

  • Press photo by John Burbridge Comet quarterback Marcus Cranshaw gets tackled in the open field by Decorah's Jake Muhlbauer.

  • Press photo by John Burbridge Decorah running back Jake Muhlbauer (No. 23) looks for some running room while being pursued by Comet Deonte Hoefer (No. 32).

  • Press photo by John Burbridge Comet sophomore Elliott Sinnwell (No. 3) nearly breaks loose on a kickoff return before being stopped by Decorah's Kailer McCabe (No. 32).

  • Press photo by John Burbridge PUTTING 6 ON THE BOARD: Decorah placekicker Lucas Sweet (No. 20) attempts a PAT kick after the Vikings scored on the opening kickoff, but missed wide right leaving the score at 6-0.

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

DECORAH — Jake Muhlbauer returned the opening kickoff 87-yards to paydirt to give the hosting Decorah Vikings the immediate upper-hand against the Charles City Comets in Friday’s Class 3A-District 3 football matchup.

It proved to be an indication of things to come as Muhlbauer would score three more TD’s on runs of 16, 12 and 33 yards in order while rushing for 108 yards on 10 carries, paving the way to a Vikings 34-0 shutout victory.

The win improved Decorah’s record to 6-2 overall and 4-2 in the district. With a playoff berth still a possibility, the Vikings will travel to Independence for the regular-season finale on Oct. 20.

The Comets fell to 2-6 and 1-5, and will closed their season at home against Waverly-Shell Rock, which is also fighting for a playoff berth.

Going into the season with low numbers to begin with, Charles City has been decimated by injuries with the toll becoming more imposing as the season progresses.

Filling in for older brother Mike Cranshaw, who was on the sideline in street clothes, sophomore Marcus Crashaw made his first varsity start at quarterback for the Comets.

The younger Cranshaw completed 7 of 13 passes for 56 yards, and nearly hooked up with Colton Slinger on a skinny post route late in the game in an effort to get the Comets on the board, but the pass was broken up in the end zone.

Cranshaw was injured on the next play forcing Wyatt Stevenson to finish the game at QB.

Decorah’s defense held the Comets to under 100 yards of total offense.

Charles City’s defense also shined at times.

While trying to prevent the Vikings from running away with it after taking a 21-0 lead in the second quarter, the Comets managed to stuff a fourth-and-one snap.

For the most part, Charles City’s defense contained Decorah in the second half save to two big Vikings plays — Muhlbauer’s 33-yard TD run up the gut and Brannan Hogan’s 51-yard TD pass to Dawson Holkesik early in the fourth quarter to cap the scoring.

Comet sophomore Elliott Sinnwell intercepted a Hogan pass and returned it 11 yards before getting hit late out of bounds which drew a 15-yard penalty and a ball spot on the Decorah 35 — the Comets’ deepest foray into Viking territory.

The Comets also got a turnover from their special teams when Jalen Jones recovered a fumble from a muffed punt return.

Senior Tre Walker led Charles City’s defenders with six solo tackles — one for loss.

 

DECORAH 34, CHARLES CITY 0

Scoring By Quarters

CHARLES CITY 0 0 0 0 — 0

DECORAH 13 8 7 6 — 34

Scoring Summary

D — Jake Muhlbauer 87-yard kickoff return (PAT kick failed) 6-0, 11:47 1st

D — Muhlbauer 16-yard run (Lucas Sweet PAT kick) 13-0, 1:19 1st

D — Muhlbauer 12-yard run (Clay Johansen PAT run) 21-0, 4:33 2nd

D — Muhlbauer 33-yard run (Sweet PAT kick) 28-0, 4:30 3rd

D — Dawson Holkesvik 51-yard pass from Brannan Hogan (PAT kick failed) 34-0, 11:09 4th

 

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