Sports : Vikings lose at home, 41-28, to W. Dubuque

Darren Charlier returns a kickoff.

Chris Merchant carries the ball for the Vikings vs. Western Dubuque Friday in Vinton.

Kelyn Rickels looks for running room against the Bobcats.

The Viking sideline cheers a good defensive play.

Gunner Tranel led the Viking rushing attack.

The Vikings lost 41-28, to W. Dubuque (The first six photos are by Jan Andreesen)

Lincoln Riffey attempts a pass.

Rickels, Tranel and Chase Overton (10) tackle a WD runner.

Playing with pain: Chris Merchant's taped-up right ankle.

Colton Draker makes a reception.

Gunner Tranel is brought down after earning the Vikes another first down.

Former VS soccer player Kelly Wagner was perfect in PAT attempts, hitting all four.

Leading tackler Gunner Tranel eyes a Bobcat ball carrier.

Despite his injury, Nolan Edwards (34) remains a team leader at every practice and game.

Darren Charlier breaks up a pass.

The Vikings gained most of their yards with their running backs.

Rickels fights for yardage on a run.

Linemen try to make room for Tranel to carry the ball.

The Vikings in the backfield help provide blocking for the running game.

The Vikings enter the field.

Nolan Edwards stood with the other Viking captains, wearing his jersey and his jeans, as the pre-game coin toss determined who would kick off first.

Edwards continues serving as a team captain and as an "uncertified assistant coach," said head coach Pat Farley, despite his season-ending injury at Maquoketa Sept. 9.

"It feels terrible," said Edwards, as he stood on the sidelines, just watching in the Vikings 41-28 loss to Western Dubuque last night. "It's killing me."

There are no words, says Coach Farley, to explain how badly he feels for the guy who led the team in touchdowns and rushing yards for the first two games.

"Edwards was in the weight room, day after day, working hard all throughout the off-season, getting ready," said Farley.

'Fight or Flight'

After the 58-6 defeat at Maquoketa and the loss of Edwards, Farley said he gathered the team and told them they had a choice going forward: "Fight or flight."

"We fell down at Maquoketa, but tonight, we fought back," said Farley.

The Bobcats built a quick 14-0 lead, but the Vikings scored two touchdowns to tie the game at 14 at halftime. The Bobcats added 10 more in the third, but the Vikings also scored a touchdown, leaving the score 24-21 While the Vikings relied heavily on their running game, led by senior Gunner Tranel, they also moved the ball by passing later in the game. Two passes from Lincoln Riffey to Darren Charlier put the Vikes in scoring position, allowing Tranel to score one of his running touchdowns late in the third quarter.

The Bobcats then built a 38-28 fourth-quarter lead before kicking a field goal with just seconds left on the clock for a 41-28 final score.

The Vikings travel to Marion next week before returning for a Sept. 30 Homecoming contest vs. Anamosa.

In other District 5 action, Union lost for the first time this season, 20-13, to DeWitt Central. Marion defeated Anamosta, 58-35, while Maquoketa beat Center Point-Urbana, 41-3. In District 6, Benton Community got its first win of the season, a 22-21 Homecoming win over Washington, in overtime.

Next week, the schedule includes the following games:

Center Point-Urbana at Epworth, Western Dubuque
Central Clinton, DeWitt at Maquoketa
Union, La Porte City at Anamosa
Vinton-Shellsburg at Marion