Sports : Wagner makes history as Vikings defeat S. Tama, 35-21

Kelly Wagner kicks off for the Vikings after a second half touchdown.

Kelly Wagner and Darren Charlier leave the field.

Vikings ring the Victory Bell after Friday's win vs. South Tama.

Making history: Kelly Wagner kicked 3 extra points; she's the first female to do so at VS.

Kelly Wagner (7) and Shane Rizotto (23) ring the Victory Bell.

Kelyn Rickels scored on this run and also a 52-yard pass from QB Lincoln Riffey.

Blocking backs:Nolan Edwards (34) and Darren Charlier (6) make room for Chris Merchant (11) to run.

Nolan Edwards carries the ball again for the Vikings.

Captains Gunner Tranel and Nolan Edwards at the coin toss.

Kelly Wagner (7) kicked 3 extra points for the Vikings; Darren Charlier (6) scored two on a fake.

Gunner Tranel scored twice for the Vikings in their win vs. S. Tama.

Nolan Edwards fights for yardage.

Chris Merchant carried the ball for the Vikings.

Merchant is brought down but not until giving the Vikes another first down.

Coach Farley speaks to his team late in the first half.

For the first time since the 2005 season, the Vinton-Shellsburg Vikings will begin district play with an undefeated record.

The Vikings scored on a 52-yard pass from Lincoln Riffey to Kelyn Rickels early in the first quarter en route to a 35-21 win in their home opener against South Tama. The holder for the extra point kick, Darren Charlier -- who missed the first game because of a concussion he suffered in the Viking Blowout scrimmage -- took the snap and ran in for the two-point conversion on the fake, giving the Vikings an early 8-0 lead.

The game was close in the first half. South Tama responded with a touchdown early in the second quarter. The kick made the score 8-7.

But junior Chris Merchant put the Vikes back in scoring position with a couple of long runs. Riffey later handed the ball to Rickels, who scored on a two-yard run to make the score 14-7.

Vinton-Shellsburg school history was made on the extra point attempt, when Kelly Wagner kicked the ball through the uprights. It was the first point scored by a female for the Vikings. She would kick two more extra points during the game.

But a 69-yard touchdown run kept S. Tama close in the second quarter. The extra point failed, leaving the Vikings with a 15-13 halftime lead.

A variety of runners carried the ball for the V-S offense in the second half.

Gunner Tranel ran for a first-and-goal just inside the Trojan 10 on a play that left him helmetless. He took the handoff on the next play and ran into the end zone, but a penalty nullified the score. Riffey then handed the ball to Tranel again; this time he scored on a 14 yard run. Wanger's kick made the scored 22-13.

Early in the fourth, Tranel scored again on short run; the kick was blocked, leaving the Vikings ahead 28-13.

Nolan Edwards scored the final Viking touchdown midway through the fourth quarter, giving the Vikings a 35-13 lead after Wagner's third successful PAT kick.

The Trojans scored on a last-second pass to bring the final score to 35-21.

The Vikings begin District play next week, when they travel to Maquoketa.The Cardinals are 1-1 in non-district play. They lost to W. Delaware but defeated Mt. Vernon.

Below is the 2011 Viking schedule:

Aug. 26: At BentonCommunity (Win, 18-12)

Sept. 2: South Tama (Win, 35-21)

Sept. 9. At Maquoketa

Sept. 16 Western Dubuque

Sept. 23: At Marion

Sept. 30: Anamosa

Oct. 7: Center Point-Urbana

Oct. 14: At Central Clinton(DeWitt)

Oct. 21: Union

Last year, the Vikings finished 4-5, winning against South Tama, Maquoketa, Anamosa and CPU.

The last time the Vikings won their first two games of the season was in 2005, when they finished with a 6-3 record.

Editor's Note: Thanks to Ryan Clemens for sharing the first five of the photos that accompany this story with Vinton Today. His photos from V-S sports and fine arts events are available at his web site, http://www.clemensphotography.us/

Stats

Edwards. who now has five touchdowns on the season, rushed for 205 yards on 30 carries. Merchant ran 13 times for 101 yards. Tranel again led the defense with 9 total tackles. Edwards is fourth among Class 3A players in rushing yards, with 349 yards on 54 carries.

See complete Game 2 stats HERE.