Athletes step up as Vikings open 2024 football season

By Becky Walz,

A new generation of Vikings will take the field this fall for the red and blue, with a new head coach calling out the plays.
Having graduated many key contributors from last season, the Decorah football team will be composed of many new faces looking to get on a winning streak.
While Mike Tangen is the new head coach, he is no stranger to the program as he served as an assistant for nine years, first under Bill Post then with Pat Trewin who was at the helm for the last six seasons. He also played as a Viking, graduating in 2004 and continuing his career at Luther College.
“I am honored to have the privilege to help lead the Decorah High School Football program and am looking forward to build upon the rich history and success of all coaches and athletes who have helped make the program what it has become. It is the hope of myself and the other coaches that we can continue to bring a level of passion and dedication to not only help the football program, but all activities at Decorah High School and most importantly serve the larger mission helping our young people become successful adults after graduation,” said the new skipper.
Joining Tangen on the sidelines as assistants are Matt Kuempel, Brian Waskow, Jared Bucksa, Jesse Halweg, Josh Fenske, Greg Drew, Alec Zwanziger and Bruce Clark.

Reviewing 2023
Last season started on a high note for the Vikes with a trio of wins before Independence spoiled the run Decorah was on. The Vikes opened at home with a 32-6 victory over fellow NEIC squad Waukon, then pounced on the West Delaware Hawks, 21-7. Making the short trek to Crestwood, the Vikes rolled over the Cadets, 34-6. On the road against the Independence Mustangs, Decorah couldn’t control the tempo and gave up the game 21-7.
Homecoming was one of the highlights of the season as Decorah won 42-0 over Mason City to open the district race. Then the Vikes spoiled Waverly-Shell Rock’s homecoming, 35-20. Back-to-back losses to Marion and Western Dubuque had Decorah fans wondering if the Vikes would be left out of the postseason for the second year in a row. However, a 54-22 regular season win over Waterloo East secured the Vikes bid with a 3-2 district record.
Having spoiled the season North Scott was having in 2022, the Lancers repaid the favor in the first round of 2024 playoffs, knocking off the Vikings, 35-7.
For the season, the Vikes scored 250 points, averaging 25.0 points a contest. The varsity picked up 2,769 yards of total offense. The running game tallied 1,974 with 795 more coming through the air. The squad averaged 5.34 yards per play, with 35 total touchdowns.

DHS history
Decorah boasts a history of success having claimed a conference or district title 30 times.
Last year’s postseason appearances was the school’s 27th time – 1973, ’74, ’78, ’84, ’86, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’94, ’97, ’98, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13, ’15, ’17, ’18, ’21 and ‘23. Former head coach Bill Post led the team into the playoffs 11 times (2003 as Decorah-North Winneshiek, ’04, ’05, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13, ’15 and ’17 as Decorah).
Nine times the Vikes have landed in the state championship contest — 1974, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’97, ’04, ’08, ’11 and ’12. They hoisted the trophy five times (1974, ’87, ’88, ’89 and ’12), with Post at the helm in 2012. He was the lead skipper in all four runner-up finishes.

Fragments of experience
Leading the charge for 2024 are 19 returning letter winners.
The ringleader of the offense will be senior quarterback Louis Bucksa. The 6’0” veteran completed 60-of-126 passes for 675 yards. He had five passing touchdowns with 11.3 yards per completion mark.
Named first team all-district last year and second team as a sophomore, William Hahn will be back on the line for both offense and defense. In 2023, Hahn (6’2,” 272 lbs.) had 29 total tackles, including 23 solo stops and 3.5 tackles for loss.
Returning for his senior season at wide receiver and safety for the Vikes is Gavin Groux (5’10,” 170 lbs.) Earning a second team all-district nod last year, Groux reigned in 22 passes for 256 yards, an average of 11.6 yards per reception. Additionally, he ran the pigskin for 138 yards on 29 carries, averaging 4.8 yards a touch. On the other side of the line, Groux produced 20.5 tackles (16 solo) with 1.5 tackles for loss with one interception.
Trevor Kuennen (6’2,” 187 lbs.) is back for his junior campaign at linebacker and running back. Defensively was second on the Viking squad as he wrapped up 46 tackles (32 solo) with and 2.5 tackles for loss and a pair of fumble ecoveries. Out of the backfield, Kuennen had just three carries that moved the ball 23 yards. For his efforts, he was named second team all-district.
Gatlin Dahlberg (6’0,” 181 lbs.) at a linebacker position who tallied 36.5 tackles as a junior last season with 25 solo stops and 3.5 tackles for loss, a fumble recovery and an interception. Tommy Sexton returns as a running back and linebacker with 97 carries for 383 yards last season and 10 solo tackles and four assists.
Coach Tangen has numerous other players returning with a letter are seniors Josh Adam (6’5,” 185 lbs., WR), Braden Darling (6’1,” 180 lbs., OL/DL), Caleb Krieg (6’2,” 176 lbs., CB), Keaton Orris (6’0,” 200 lbs., OL/DL), Jackson Pipho (5’1,” 158 lbs., WR/CB), Hunter Quandahl (5’1,” 151 lbs., WR/DB), Cash Riehle (5’6,” 207 lbs., OL/DL), Brayden Wemark (5’11,” 175 lbs., K/P), and juniors Carter Dlhy (6’2,” 187 lbs. LB/H), Jameson LaBelle (5’11,” 151 lbs., long snapper) and Noah Milburn (6’5,” 204 lbs., TE/DE).
“We graduated a number of starters on our offensive and defensive lines,” noted Coach Tangen. “This team will have a lot of juniors that will need to step up and get up to varsity speed quickly.”

Spots open
Positions will be open this season, especially on the line as the Vikings graduated 19 seniors last year. They lost six players from the first and second team all-district lists.
At the top of the list is running back and defensive back Dakota Johnson (RB/CB) who was first team honoree in the district and All-State. He tallied 1,358 yards rushing, averaging 8.2 yards a carry and scored 21 touchdowns. Defensively he had 21.5 total tackles, two fumble recoveries, an interception in addition to eight kick returns.
Brady Benzing (LB) led the Vikings defensively with 50 total stops including 34 solo tackles and three tackles for a loss to earn first team all-district honors.
Another first team honoree Kelley Gates (TE/DE) who graduated, pulled down five passes for 76 yards and had 19 total tackles. Also named first team all-district was lineman Andrew Rhodes who provided 27.5 total tackles.
To the second team were Brady Bohner (OL/DE) who had 15 total tackles and Kaiden Quandahl (WR/DB) who hauled in four receptions for 79 yards and scored twice with 22.5 total stops.
Also graduating were Cade Averhoff, Jeron Feuerhelm, Brody Hanson, Landon Kuennen, Creed Monroe, Kadin Remick, Joseph Stammeyer, Gunnar Sims, Will Teslow, Fisher Tweten, Jimmy Valdez, Kaiden Youngblood and Garrett Waskow.

A bright future
In the preseason, things look good for the Vikings. In addition to having good numbers throughout the high school level, Coach Tangen sees their depth and speed as strength for the squad.
“We have a lot of guys both young and old that will be able to contribute each Friday night,” said Coach Tangen. “We always have a tough schedule against a lot of great teams, but I think we will be competitive in each game.”
Western Dubuque has been a standard in the district according to the new skipper and will be the team to beat this season; however, he noted the parity in the rest of the league makes each Friday night important.

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