Sports : Early lead vanishes as Vikings fall to CPU, 32-17

Homecoming King Ethan Rollinger...in bounds.

VINTON -- For the better part of a quarter and a half, Homecoming Night was a lot of fun for the Vinton-Shellsburg Viking football team. But the last two-and-a-half quarters poured a bucket of very cold water over the proceedings as the Vikes fell to Center Point-Urbana, 32-17.

The Vikings (1-5 overall and 0-4 in District play) jumped out to an early 17-0 lead in the game, and looked to be on a major roll against a Stormin' Pointer squad (3-3. 2-1) that had rebounded from an 0-3 start to hang back to back 40-14 wins over Union and South Tama.

Sophomore Curtis Erickson returned the opening kick-off 68 yards to the CPU 11 and four plays later, senior captain Elijah Kalous went in from three yards out. Jesse Pladsen booted the conversion and just a minute and 21 seconds into the game, the Vikings were up, 7-0.

CPU managed to get to midfield on its first drive, but the Vikings mounted another big one that died at the vistors' 11-yard line. Enter Mr. Automatic Pladsen, and the senior kicker nailed a 29-yard field goal and with 2:53 to go in the first quarter, the Vikings were up 10-0.

The Vikes managed to collect a Stormin' Pointer fumble and nearly scored again on an apparent Homecoming King Ethan Rollinger touchdown catch that was called back because he stepped out of bounds (see accompaning photo). But the Vikings would not be denied in the end. A CJ Rickels circus catch set up an almost TD by Kalous, followed by a for-real one-yard dive by quarterback Brooks Erickson. Pladsen added the conversion and with 8:30 left in the half, the Vikings led, 17-0. And then the sky fell.

Led by two-headed attack that centered around senior quarterback Keegan Koppedryer and sophomore running back Cole Werner, CPU scored twice before the half ended to cut the lead to 17-12 then added another 20 in the second to roll to the 32-17 win.

Brooks had another great statistical night, completing eight of 12 passes for 131 yards, while rushing 15 times for 66 yards, giving him 197 yards in total offense. Rickels caught four of those passed for 76 yards, while Kalous rushed 15 times for 35 yards and John Engler added another 26 yards on four carries, as well another 36 yards on two receptions.

The battered Vikes will close out the regular season this coming Friday night as they host the winless Union Knights in a 7:00 p.m. game at the Karr Athletic Complex, for a Senior Night celebration of a great class. Saturday, the Vikings will find out their post-season assignment.

Friday's photos