By Becky Walz,
The 2021 football season can’t start soon enough for the Decorah squad.
A year removed from claiming the district title, then falling in the first round of the postseason, this year’s edition of the team is eager to prove that it has what it takes.
With numerous players returning at a variety of experience, the pieces are in place for Head Coach Pat Trewin to put together another winning season for the Red and Blue. Trewin is in his fourth year at the helm after have served as an assistant to former head coach Bill Post. Trewin enters the season with a 20-10 career record.
Assisting Trewin in the program are Matt Kuempel, Jesse Halweg, Brian Waskow, Steve Nesteby, Scott Pierce and Jared Bucksa.
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Job well done
It was a year to remember for the Vikings that began with the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic and ended with a district title. Decorah welcomed back five starters and rattled off wins in the first five games of the season, edging Waukon, 19-18, in the closing minutes of the game. Cael Luzum’s 1-yard touchdown plunge with 1:22 gave the Vikings their second straight one-point victory over the Crestwood Cadets in week two. The third week was another nail-biter with the Red and Blue edging West Delaware, 31-27. Decorah pummeled Waterloo East 45-8, and Charles City 49-0 in the following weeks, before experiencing its first loss to Waverly-Shell Rock, 17-21. The Vikes handled Western Dubuque 35-20 to claim the district title. Hosting a playoff game, Decorah suffered a heartbreaker 10-0 loss to Dubuque Wahlert to end the season.
For the season, the team picked up 2,489 yards of total offense. The running game tallied 1,337, with 1,152 more coming through the air.
Those departed
The Vikings graduated 19 players off last year’s squad, including nine all-district honorees.
At the top of the list is linebacker and running back Cael Luzum. He was second on the team in total tackles with 52, including 42 solo tackles. Offensively, Luzum made some noise, picking up 291 yards in 79 carries, earning himself a first team all-district nod.
A first team all-district honoree, quarterback Briggs Duwe led the offensive with precision, completing 82-of-166 passes for 1,072 yards. During his senior campaign, Duwe was also on the rushing chart with 74 carries for 296 yards.
Third on the team in tackles, Dakota Swatek (OT/DT) earned a first-team all-district nod. He provided 28.5 total tackles with 6.5 for a loss during his senior campaign.
Dragging down opponents for a total of 24 tackles for his all-district nod was defensive end Charlie Robinson, while Mason O’Hara (OT/DE) was there for 17 total tackles.
Second team all-district selections were Sawyer Bulman (OT/DT), Kody Bodensteiner (DE/TE), Nick Einck (RB/S) and Jackson Rolfs (WR/LB).
Other departed players were Baylor Bohr (CB/WR), Drew Snyder (RB/S), Dawson Headington (OG/DE), Steve Sexton (OT/DT), Nate Rolfs (OT/LB), Ethan Frana (OT/DT), Noah Breitenbach-Dirks (DT/C), James Alberts (OT/DT), Edwin Holyoake (OT/DT) and Kyle Renken (WR/CB).
Smattering of experience
Leading the charge for 2021 is a host of returning letter winners, including five starters and four who were on the all-district list.
“We return many experienced and excellent players with some size and speed,” said Coach Trewin. “Combined with those players who are aggressive and want to hit to make plays, we should be solid.”
The ringleader of the offense and defense will be senior quarterback and linebacker Keenan Tyler. As a junior, he fired off three complete passes for 80 yards and one touchdown, as well as gained 112 yards on the ground in 20 carries. Defensively, Tyler led the Vikings with 74.5 total tackles, including 56 solo takedowns. For his efforts, he was named first team all-district in Class 3A District 3.
Also receiving postseason recognition last year was wide receiver/defensive back Joseph Bockman on the all-district first team. During his junior campaign the 5’10”, 185-pounder hauled in 36 receptions for 614 yards and five TDs to go along with handling punt and kick return duties. Also back is 6’2”, 165 lb. Jacob Pipho (WR/DB) who caught four passes for 44 yards and drug down 18 solo tackles. As a junior, Pipho had nine kick returns for 236 yards and earned a first-team all-district nod.
Kicker Brody Young, a first team all-district honoree, converted on 26-of 27 point-after attempts and handled all the kickoff duties, including 12 touchbacks. He also controlled the punting with 29 for 967 yards.
Defensive end Joseph Hjelle (6’3”, 235 lbs., OT/DE) was part of three tackles.
In addition to his five starters, Trewin has several other returning letter winners including Thomas Ostlie (6’2”, 215 lbs., G/DT); Ryan Johanningmeier (5’11”, 160 lbs., WR/DB), Zach Jermier (6’1”, 185 lbs., WR/DB), Kendall McCain (6’4”, 260 lbs., OT/DT) and Garrick Smith (6’1”, 185 lbs., OT/DE).
Trewin also has a host of young hopefuls ready to make their mark on the program. Ready to make 2021 their year are: Ben Wymer (5’9” 160 lbs., RB/S), Noah Storts (TE/DE), Brady Stille (5’9”, 170. lbs., DB/RB) and Jaden Baker (5’11”, 170 lbs., RB/LB).
History on their side
Decorah boasts a history of success having claimed a conference or district title 30 times.
Last year’s postseason appearance was the school’s 26th 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 and ‘20. Former 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.
On the schedule
The Vikings will be competing in Class 4A District 2. Other teams aiming for a spot in the playoffs out of the league are Western Dubuque (Epworth), Marion, Mason City, Waterloo East and Waverly-Shell Rock. Coach Trewin sees his Vikes battling Western Dubuque and Waverly-Shell Rock battling for the top three positions.
Previously, football had six classes. Beginning this fall, a new classification – Class 5A – is added as an 11-player group to reduce the disparity in enrollment in Iowa’s largest class of football and increase the number of participating teams and student-athletes in the postseason. As a result, Decorah moved from Class 3A to 4A where there will be 16 playoff qualifiers.
Decorah opens on the road against Crestwood, Friday, Aug. 27. Game two is at home versus the reigning Class 2A champion Waukon, Friday, Sept. 3.
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The Vikings are on the road at West Delaware Sept. 10 and again Sept. 17 at Charles City. District competition opens Sept. 24 against Mason City as Decorah celebrates homecoming. Decorah packs its bags Oct. 1 to play at Western Dubuque before returning home for two contests. The Vikes host Marion Oct. 8 and Waterloo East Oct. 15. The regular season concludes with a trip to Waverly-Shell Rock Oct. 22.
“We always hope and plan to compete for the district title, as well as make a push in the playoffs,” said Coach Trewin. “If we stay healthy and grow, we have a chance to do that despite a strong district and schedule.”
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