Sports : Playoff picture improves: Vikings win 52-17 at CPU

Logan Williams crosses the goal line to give Vikings a 20-10 lead at CPU.

Nolan Edwards carries the ball for the Vikings.

Forest Peters (54) and Gunner Tranel wrap up CPU's Logan Driesen.

Luke Kearns (76) tackles QB Sebastian Hollandsworth for a big loss late in the game.

Viking rushers surround the CPU quarterback again.

Gunner Tranel (unseen above) tackles a CPU runner for a loss.

Logan Williams ends up in the end zone again for another touchdown run.

Andrew Roster (18) leaps high to deflect a pass.

Andrew Roster makes a tackle.

Forrest Peters pursues the CPU quarterback, leading to a sack by a teammate.

Anthony Yerkes (99) brings down CPU's Logan Driesen.

Gunner Tranel (44) carries the ball as others in VS backfield block or fake CPU defenders.

Forming a wall: Travis Libbert (3) and Anthony Yerkes (99) make room for the VS run attack.

Another leg tackle by Gunner Tranel.

Tranel takes another hand-off.

No. 44 makes another backfield tackle for the Vikings.

Matt DeVries scores the final TD for Vikings in their 52-17 win at CPU Oct. 8.

The Vikings gather for the pre-game prayer at CPU.

The Vinton-Shellsburg Vikings improved their playoff chances on Friday moving up in the District 5 standings after their biggest victory of the year. They won 52-17, at Center Point-Urbana, spoiling Homecoming for CPU.

The victory moved the Vikings into fourth place in the District with two weeks left in the schedule. The top four teams advance to the playoffs.

Union and Marion are tied atop the District 5 standings. They square off Friday at Marion with the District title on the line.

Maquoketa and Vinton-Shellsburg are tied at 3-2 in the district, but Maquoketa places third because of the point differential tie-breaker. DeWitt Central and Western Dubuque have District records of 3-2, but still have playoff hopes. Winless CPU and Anamosa play this week.

Early CPU lead

CPU took an early 3-0 lead after a good kickoff return and a few long runs led to a field goal.

Nolan Edwards, however, quickly put the Vikings ahead for good; he returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown and a 7-3 lead.

Logan Williams scored on two first half touchdown runs, the second one late in the second quarter that followed a 49-yard pass from Lincoln Riffey to John Lippman.

Center Point scored its only first half touchdown on a fumble during an attempted Viking punt that a CPU defender ran into the end zone.

The first half ended with the Vikings ahead, 20-10.

The Vikings quickly extended that lead to 34-10 in the third quarter. Williams and Gunner Tranel each ran the ball in for a touchdown.

Tranel later added a 56-yard scoring run, Williams crossed the goal line again and Matt DeVries recorded the final touchdown as the Vikings scored 35 points in the second half. The Vikings kept CPU from entering Viking territory after the Stormin' Pointers scored their final touchdown early in the fourth.

The Vikings return home next Friday to host DeWitt Central before ending the regular season at Union.

District 5 Schedule, Oct 15

Center Point-Urbana at Anamosa

DeWitt Central at Vinton-Shellsburg

Maquoketa at Western Dubuque

Union at Marion

District 5 Schedule, Oct. 22

Anamosa at Western Dubuque

CPU at DeWitt Central

Marion at Maquoketa

Vinton-Shellsburg at Union