Posted on

Vikings spoil Comets’ Homecoming, 49-38

 

  • Press photo by John Burbridge Charles City sophomore Jeremiah Chapman gets wrapped up by Decorah's Carston Baumier. The play went for no gain, but Chapman wasn't contained for the entire game as he scored three touchdowns — including an 84-yard kickoff return — during the Comets' 49-38 loss to the Vikings.

  • Press photo by John Burbridge Charles City junior Elliott Sinnwell tries to break free from Decorah defender Clay Johansen in the first half.

  • Press photo by John Burbridge Charles City's Elliott Sinnwell tries to hold off Decorah's Carston Baumler with one of his trademark stiff-arms.

By John Burbridge sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — Arguably, the most exciting play in all sports is the kickoff return touchdown.

It’s the quintessential momentum changer.

After the Decorah Vikings took advantage of a Charles City turnover and a short field with Jace Johnson’s 18-yard TD pass to Clay Johansen to pull within 1 point of the Comets (14-13) midway through the second quarter of Friday’s Class 3A-District 3 matchup, Comet sophomore Jeremiah Chapman took the ensuing kickoff right up the gut of the Vikings’ coverage and outraced everyone to the endzone for an 84-yard return.

Chapman, who had a breakout 118-yard rushing night against Waterloo East the week before, had earlier helped give the Comets a 14-6 lead on a 38-yard TD run.

But after Chapman’s KO TD, Viking senior Kailer McCabe immediately answered with an 80-plus-yard KO TD return of his own.

And the pyrotechnics weren’t over yet.

When the Comets punted away their ensuing possession, it was fielded by Decorah’s human highlight reel Drake Shelton. At 5-foot-7, not only does the Viking senior run low to the ground, he’s hard to take to the ground as he bounces off would-be tacklers and rights himself with uncanny agility and balance. That’s the route he took while returning a punt 47-yards to put Decorah up 28-22 for the team’s first lead of the night with 3:15 left in the half.

The returns by McCabe and Shelton proved to be the turning point in the game as the Vikings went on to score 35 unanswered points on way to winning, 49-38.

For Decorah, the Charles City Homecoming-spoiling win improved its overall record to 4-2 and its Class 3A-District 3 record to 2-0 — the Vikings rallied to defeat Waverly-Shell Rock in both teams’ district opener the week before.

The Comets fell to 4-2 and 1-1.

Shelton became the first player to rush for more than 100 yards against the Comets this year as he had 137 yards on 12 carries and scored two rushing touchdowns, including a 53-yarder that got the Vikings on the board after the Comets took a 6-0 lead.

Charles City sophomore Trever Heitz continued to grind out efficient yardage between the tackles as he had 128 yards on 20 carries.

Heitz opened the scoring on a 10-yard touchdown run with 7:09 left in the first quarter. He was able to bull his way past Shelton — who’s also an excellent defensive player — and several other Viking defenders on his way to crossing the goal line.

After Decorah had taken a 49-22 lead, the Comets put up 16 points in the fourth quarter to cap the scoring.

After forcing the Vikings to turn over the ball on downs, the Comets embarked on a 78-yard drive capped by a 5-yard run by Chapman. The big play of the drive was Elliott Sinnwell’s 22-yard leaping catch along sidelines from Comet quarterback Wyatt Stevenson’s deep-out pass.

On the next Charles City scoring drive, Sinnwell himself was the passer as he hit Carter Profitt on a 35-yard halfback pass that put the Comets deep into Vikings’ territory.

Sinnwell later scored on a 12-yard plass from Stevenson with 20 seconds remaining in regulation.

On the first play from scrimmage, Sinnwell found Alec Elsbernd on a 36-yard halfback pass — Sinnwell was 2 of 2 passing for 71 yards. Stevenson was 3 of 4 passing for 38 yards as the Comets exceeded more than 100 yards through the air for the first time this season.

Defensively, Decorah was led by Carston Baumier, who had five solo tackles for losses and four assisted tackles for losses.

Kelly Ward led the Comet defense with six solo tackles. Jace Cajthaml, Mitz Concepcion and Ryan Zuspan each had four solo tackles for the Comets, who will try to rebound next Friday (Oct. 5) when they host Independence.

Charles City was without one of its top players on both sides of the ball — senior Dylan Koresh — who is still nursing a sprained medial collateral ligament he sustained during the Comets’ win against Waterloo East.

DECORAH 49, CHARLES CITY 38

Scoring By Quarters

DECORAH 6 22 21 0 — 49

CHARLES CITY 14 8 0 16 — 38

Scoring Summary

CC — Trever Heitz 10-yard run (Kick blocked), 7:09 1st

D — Drake Shelton 53-yard run (Kick failed), 5:50 1st

CC — Jeremiah Chapman 38-yard run (Elliott Sinnwell pass from Marcus Cranshaw), :12 1st

D — Clay Johansen 18-yard pass from Jace Johnson (Cameron DeLong kick), 5:59 2nd

CC — Chapman 84-yard kickoff return (Cranshaw run), 5:47 2nd

D — Kailer McCabe 82-yard kickoff return (Shelton run), 5:33 2nd

D — Shelton 47-yard punt return (DeLong kick), 3:15 2nd

D — Johnson 3-yard run (DeLong kick), 8:25 3rd

D — Shelton 34-yard run (DeLong kick), 7:23 3rd

D — Johnson 2-yard run (DeLong kick), :29 3rd

CC — Chapman 5-yard run (Heitz run), 3:25 4th

CC — Sinnwell 12-yard pass from Wyatt Stevenson (Heitz run), :20 4th

RECORDS

Charles City 4-2 (1-1 Class 3A-District 3)

Decorah 4-2 (2-0 Class 3A-District 3)

 

Social Share

LATEST NEWS