Sports : Vikings fall at Mount Vernon, 21-13

MOUNT VERNON -- Once again the Vinton-Shellsburg Vikings rolled up a ton of offense, and once again they battled to the end with a highly-regarded opponent, but once again they came up on the short end of things Friday night, dropping a 21-13 decision to 7th-ranked Mount Vernon.

Coach Jim Womochil's Vikes (1-3 overall and 0-2 in District play)got an early break and took full advantage of it.The Mustangs (4-0/2-0) took the opening kickoff and drove deep into V-S territory, only to fumble the ball back to the Vikings at the V-S six. From there, the Vikings turned right back around and drove 94 yards - much of it on the strong running of tailback Max Vasquez -- to set up quarterback Brooks Erickson's one-yard plunge to give the Vikings an early 7-0 lead.

The Mustangs scored on the ensuing drive to tie the game at 7-7 and it would stay that way into the third before the home team took a 14-7 lead. Erickson's 13-yard run late in the third made it 14-13 before Mustang tailback Trenton Pitlik took off on 41-yard run in the fourth quarter to bring the lead to 21-13. Two late Viking attacks into Mount Vernon territory came up short and the Mustangs held on for the win.

Vasquez lead a ground attack that amassed 289 yards of rushing, as the junior carried 11 times for 90 yards. Fullback Elijah Kalous added 70 yards on 11 carries, Brooks had 46 on nine while younger brother Curtis Erickson added another 44 on five carries. Bennett Rickels had 35 yards on 11 carries.

Erickson completed six of 13 passing attempts for 60 yards and CJ Rickels was a one for one for 24 yards, a double-reverse pass to Ethan Rollinger late in the game. Kalous caught three passes for 23 yards, Rickels had two for 26 and Curtis caught one for seven.

The Vikings will now get ready for Friday night's trip to Solon to take on the 2-2 Spartans.