• Article Photo. Defense is a big part of the VS freshman success.
    Defense is a big part of the VS freshman success.
  • Article Photo. Keegan Meldrem blocks a Decorah lineman.
    Keegan Meldrem blocks a Decorah lineman.
  • Article Photo. Wes Edwards recovers a fumble.
    Wes Edwards recovers a fumble.
  • Article Photo. Jared Thompson (JT) blocks for QB Tyler Bartz.
    Jared Thompson (JT) blocks for QB Tyler Bartz.
  • Article Photo. Ethan Henry (60) celebrates a TD with Will and Wes Edwards.
    Ethan Henry (60) celebrates a TD with Will and Wes Edwards.
  • Article Photo. Will Edwards carries the ball.
    Will Edwards carries the ball.
  • Article Photo. Pink Night: Coach Tony Stenberg talks strategy with QB Tyler Bartz.
    Pink Night: Coach Tony Stenberg talks strategy with QB Tyler Bartz.
  • Article Photo. Keegan Meldrem (72) and Jared Kimm (52) pursue a Decorah runner in the backfield.
    Keegan Meldrem (72) and Jared Kimm (52) pursue a Decorah runner in the backfield.
  • Article Photo. Wes Edwards (44) blocks for this brother Will.
    Wes Edwards (44) blocks for this brother Will.
  • Article Photo. The defense has been a key to Viking freshman team's success all season.
    The defense has been a key to Viking freshman team's success all season.
  • Article Photo.
  • Article Photo.
  • Article Photo.
  • Article Photo.
  • Article Photo.
  • Article Photo.
  • Article Photo.
  • Article Photo. Lane Rowe's interception return for a TD sealed the win.
    Lane Rowe's interception return for a TD sealed the win.
  • Article Photo. After a day of rain, the sun broke through the clouds as freshmen finished their game with a win.
    After a day of rain, the sun broke through the clouds as freshmen finished their game with a win.
  • Article Photo. Sunset: Despite the threat of severe weather, the game ended with a bright westerns sky.
    Sunset: Despite the threat of severe weather, the game ended with a bright westerns sky.
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  • Article Photo.
  • Article Photo.

With the Vikings leading 16-6, the Decorah freshmen were attempting a fourth quarter rally when VS defensive back Lane Rowe added another interception to his 2013 stat sheet. He returned this one for a TD, putting the game out of reach. The Vikings won 22-6.

Coach Tony Stenberg summarized Friday's game, and the Vikings' 5-1 season:

We knew Decorah would have a good football team so we emphasized to our guys all week that we needed to out physical them and get off to a good start. We were able to do that from the very beginning with our offense taking the ball down the field on the opening drive and Wes Edwards running into the end zone to give us an 8-0 lead.

We were able to get another touchdown from Will Edwards before half to give us a 16-0 lead. Outside those two drives however, it was our defense that carried us to victory.

The Edwards brothers combined for a total of 24 tackles while the play of the game goes to Lane Rowe who intercepted a pass and ran it in for a touchdown late in the 4th quarter to make the final score 22-6.

Our defense has led us all season and a big part of that is our defensive coach, Logan Merchant, doing a nice job of making adjustments and coaching our guys from week to week. The guys trust his system and are coming out and being more physical than the guys across from them. Our defensive line play made a big jump forward this week which is going to be necessary for our future success.

 
We are 5-1 on the season and have played some very solid teams. Our loss came to Western Dubuque who has a very physical football team and are confident in what they do. Our upcoming games are going to be challenging as well with a game at West Delaware tonight, at Williamsburg next Friday (a team that beat this group last year as 8th graders), and then finish up on October 22nd at Home against Crestwood, Cresco. To date, the guys have done a nice job of improving each and every week. We are going to need that same work ethic the remainder of the season in order for us to finish the way we want.