By Becky Walz,
For one of the few times this season, the Decorah varsity football coaches could relax a little on the sidelines and enjoy the show as the Vikings (3-5, 1-3) defeated Waterloo East (0-8, 0-4) Friday night on the road, 45-6.
“It was great to win another game, and this was a total team effort. Each phase of the game played well, and every player was able to get in the game and contribute. Our offensive and defensive lines controlled the line-of-scrimmage and really showed the improvement that has happened throughout the year. Our backfield blocked and ran the ball well. Our coaches had a great game plan and executed it well. Our team stuck together and had each other’s backs through some tough losses. We have worked hard as a team, and it was rewarding to play well and win,” said Coach Pat Trewin.
For one of the few times this season, the Decorah varsity football coaches could relax a little on the sidelines and enjoy the show as the Vikings (3-5, 1-3) defeated Waterloo East (0-8, 0-4) Friday night on the road, 45-6.
“It was great to win another game, and this was a total team effort. Each phase of the game played well, and every player was able to get in the game and contribute. Our offensive and defensive lines controlled the line-of-scrimmage and really showed the improvement that has happened throughout the year. Our backfield blocked and ran the ball well. Our coaches had a great game plan and executed it well. Our team stuck together and had each other’s backs through some tough losses. We have worked hard as a team, and it was rewarding to play well and win,” said Coach Pat Trewin.
Welcome offense
Decorah scored on its first four possessions of the night. Ben Wymer was the first Viking to find the goal line after Brady Stille fired the ball through the air on a 27-yard pass. Stille’s second touchdown target of the night was Casey Brickley on 15-yard pass. Weaving his way through traffic on a seven-yard carry, Jaden Baker put Decorah’s third touchdown on the board. Baker later would return a Waterloo East punt 57 yards to the end zone to give the Vikes a 38-0 halftime lead.
Erik Hjelle scored all of the Vike’s points in the third period, connecting on a 27-yard field goal then carrying the ball from the 11-yard line into the end zone and converting on the PAT.
On the first play of the final quarter, it was Waterloo East making their way over the goal line on a 25-yard run for their lone score of the night. Decorah would add one more score to its tally as Louis Bucksa connected with Tate Johnson on a 10-yard pass.
Best effort
The stats were a bit lopsided as Decorah picked up 292 yards rushing and 104 through the air for a total of 396, controlling the clock of 36 minutes of the game. Waterloo East had 182 rushing and 41 passing yards for a total of 223.
Individually, Brady Stille rushed for 87 yards, while Erik Hjelle had 79. Jaden Baker contributed another 62 with Ben Wymer carrying the pigskin of 47. Stille was 6-for-13 passing, with completions to Wymer, Kaiden Quandahl, Kasey Krauskopf and Casey Brickley.
Brady Benzing led the defense with six solo and two assisted stops. Krauskopf had five solo and one assisted tackle, while Dakota Johnson had four solo and two assisted stops. D. Johnson also had one of Decorah’s two interceptions with the other coming from Tate Johnson.
Season ender
The Vikings say goodbye to the 2022 season Friday, Oct. 21, at home against Waverly-Shell Rock.
Decorah has been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.
1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q F
Decorah 7 21 10 7 45
W’loo East 0 0 0 6 6
Scoring sequence
1st Quarter
Decorah – Brady Stille 27-yd. pass to Ben Wymer (Erik Hjelle PAT)
Decorah – Stille 15-yd. pass to Casey Brickley (Hjelle PAT)
2nd Quarter
Decorah – Jaden Baker 4-yd. run (Hjelle PAT)
Decorah – Baker 57-yd. punt return (Hjelle PAT)
3rd Quarter
Decorah – Hjelle 27-yard field goal
Decorah – Hjelle 8-yd. run (Hjelle PAT)
4th Quarter
Waterloo East – 25-yd. run (2-pt. pass failed)
Decorah – Louis Bucksa 10-yd. pass to Tate Johnson (Hjelle PAT)
Game stats
Total yards: Decorah 396; Waterloo East 223
Passing (comp/att/yds): Brady Stille (6-13, 90 yds., 2 TD); Louis Bucksa (2-3, 18 yds., 1 TD)
Rushing (att/yds): Stille (10-87); Erik Hjelle (10-79, 1 TD); Jaden Baker (7-62, 1 TD); Ben Wymer (6-47); Tate Johnson (1-15); Bucksa (6-12)
Receiving (att/yds/TD): Wymer (2-36, 1 TD); Kaiden Quandahl (1-27); Kasey Krauskopf (3-20); Casey Brickley (1-15, 1 TD); Tate Johnson (1-10, 1 TD)
Tackles (total): Brady Benzing 8; Krauskopf 6; Dakota Johnson 6; Baker 4; Wymer 3; Caleb Meyer 3; Quandahl 3; Andrew Rhodes 3; Kelley Gates 3; Stille 2; T. Johnson 2; Cade Averhoff 2; William Hahn 2; William Einck 2; Keaton Orris 1; Hjelle 1; Fisher Tweten 1; Brickley 1
Interceptions (no/return yds): D. Johnson (1-7); T. Johnson (1-2)
Punts (att/yds): Quandahl (2-57)
Punt return (att/yds): Baker (2-64, 1 TD)
Kick-offs (att/yds): Hjelle (7-313)
Kick-off returns (att/yds): Orris (1-2)
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