Goal line stand sends Vikings to playoffs, 25-20
By Jeff Holmes
VINTON — It was about as dramatic as it gets.
It was the last play of the game, no time outs, fourth and five, five seconds to go. The Denver Cyclones were on the verge of breaking the hearts of the Vinton-Shellsburg Vikings as the two teams were playing a winner-take-all game for a playoff berth.
But a tipped pass fluttered down to the south end zone turf incomplete, setting off a celebration 16 years in the making, as the Vikings held on for the 25-20 win on Friday night at the Karr Athletic Complex.
The Vikings struck on their first drive, eating up nearly six minutes of the first quarter before Isaiah Schneider got around the right side to the pylon for the 16-yard touchdown. On the PAT attempt, Viking kicker Kade Sutton took a direct snap then drilled a pass into the hands of Colson Chvala and V-S was up 8-0.
Eli Petersen made it 15-0 on the first of his two TDs in the quarter. Sutton added a 42-yard field goal to make it 18-0 before Denver got on the board on a 38-yard touchdown pass from Jackson Joerger to Landon Bartlett. Tarek Knoblock carried for the two-point conversion at it was 18-8 with 5:33 to go in the first half.
Petersen added his second score of the night with 32 seconds to go in the half. Sutton’s extra point made it 25-8 at the half.
But the Cyclones, playing for their playoff lives bounced back. Joerger engineer a pair of scoring drives that netted him two more TDs, the second coming with 6:06 to to go in the game. But it would all come down to the final drive.
After taking over at their own 45 with 1:39 to go in the season, Denver drove to the Viking one with 27 seconds to go. But on three straight plays the Vikings held Denver out. On third and goal from the one, Joerger was thrown for a four-yard loss.
With the season in the balance for both teams, Joerger rolled to his right, was flushed out of the pocket, then out of position he looked for a receiver and fired the ball. But Viking nose man Trevor Harvey got a big paw up there and tipped the ball. It fluttered to the ground and the Vikings had survived.
“Proud of the kids,” said Viking head coach Joe Hadachek. “The coaches did a great job, and you talk about making the play at the very end. There couldn’t have been more ironic and iconic than the way that one ended, man. We didn’t quit right to the last play.”
Petersen rushed for 107 yards, while Schneider added another 88. Landry Mouton was four of six passing for 30 yards, and rushed for another 14 yards.
Chvala had 15 tackles to lead the defense, while Reagan Salger added 11, Harvey nine and Nile Davis seven.
The Vikings now await announcement of their playoff opponent later today. The first round of the playoffs will be Friday night at 7 pm.
Denver 0 8 6 6 – 20
Vinton-Shellsburg 8 17 0 0 – 25
VS – Isaiah Schneider 16 run. Colson Chvala pass from Kade Sutton.
VS – Eli Patterson 17 run. Sutton kick.
VS Sutton 42 field goal.
D – Landon Bartlett 38 pass from Jackson Joerger. Tarek Knoblock run.
VS – Peterson 14 run. Sutton kick.
D – Joerger 4 run. Run failed.
D – Joerger 4 run. Run failed.
