By Becky Walz,
A flurry of points in the final period swung the momentum to West Delaware as the Hawk football team (2-1) defeated Decorah (1-2, 0-0) in Manchester Friday night, 42-21.
“West Delaware is a deep and big team. We played very hard and the score got away from us at the end. It was a competitive ball game, and we made some very good plays, but we had a few too many mistakes to win against a good team. We believe we got better playing this game and learned more about what we can do,” said Coach Pat Trewin. “We will come out very determined to improve in our blocking and steadier in our passing game. We had players learn a new position in a week and they did an admirable job. We are proud of our physical effort. We can still communicate better, and make better decisions.”
A little review
West Delaware took the first possession 67 yards in eight plays to the end zone to set the tone for Friday’s game. After punting the ball away on its first possession, Decorah didn’t waste the chance it was given at midfield the second time around. Keenan Tyler fired a missile to Joseph Bockman for a 57-yard touchdown on the first touch of the pigskin to knot the score 7-7. With time winding down in the first, the Hawks scored their second TD of the game to take a 14-7 lead into the second period. The two squads traded fumbles in the second period, and each scored a TD with Zach Jermier finding an open path to the end zone just before halftime.
After an early Hawk score in the third, Tyler went to the air again, this time to Carson Wemark for a 17-yard touchdown pass to stay within a score of the Hawks, 28-21. The West Delaware defense stifled the Vikings in the in the final quarter, forcing two punts. The Hawks took advantage of the short fields, scoring twice in the closing five minutes of the contest to defeat the Vikings.
Individual notes
Decorah was out-gained by the Hawks 385 to 278. The Vikes picked up 234 through the air and 44 on the ground.
Tyler had 187 yards passing as the senior was 11-for-29 with two touchdowns with five different targets. Joseph Bockman was Tyler’s main focus with six receptions for 93 yards. Jacob Pipho caught three passes for 72 yards, while Erik Hjelle hauled in one pass for a 47-yard gain.
Zach Jermier led the ground game with 10 carries for 28 yards, while Brady Stille gobbled up 19 yards in his seven touches of the pigskin.
Leading the defensive with eight solo and six assisted tackles was Ryan Johanningmeier. Jermier and Joseph Hjelle also had eight solo stops with one assisted tackle, with Jermier garnering an interception as well.
On the road again
The Vikes load up the buses again Friday, Sept. 17, in the final non-district game of the year against Charles City at 7:30 p.m.
1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q F
Decorah 7 7 7 0 21
W. Delaware 14 7 7 14 42
Scoring sequence
1st Quarter
West Delaware – 11-yd. run (PAT)
Decorah – Keenan Tyler 57-yd. pass to Joseph Bockman (Erik Hjelle PAT)
West Delaware – 3-yd. run (PAT)
2nd Quarter
West Delaware – 1-yd run (PAT)
Decorah – Zach Jermier 1-yd. run (E. Hjelle PAT)
3rd Quarter
West Delaware – 7-yd. run (PAT)
Decorah – Tyler 17-yd. pass to Carson Wemark (E. Hjelle PAT)
4th Quarter
West Delaware – 3-yd. run (PAT)
West Delaware – 1-yd. run (PAT)
Game stats
Total yards: Decorah 278; West Delaware 385
Passing (comp/att/yds): Keenan Tyler (11-29, 187 yds., 2 TD, 2 INT)
Rushing (att/yds): Zach Jermier (10-28, 1 TD); Brady Stille (7-19); Jaden Baker (2-4); Tyler (10-(-7))
Receiving (att/yds/TD): Joseph Bockman (6-93, 1 TD); Jacob Pipho (3-72); Erik Hjelle (1-47); Carson Wemark (1-17, 1 TD); Noah Storts (1-5)
Tackles (total): Ryan Johanningmeier (11.0); Brady Stille (9.0); Jermier (8.5); Joseph Hjelle (8.5); Storts (6.0); Pipho (4.5); Bockman (4.5); Thomas Ostlie (3.5); Wemark (3.0); Gavin Stortz (3.0); Brayden Reiser (2.0); Baker (2.0); E. Hjelle (2.0); Kendall McCain (1.5); Tate Johnson (1.0)
Interceptions (no/return yds): Jermier (1-5)
Fumble recoveries: Reiser (1-0)
Punts (att/yds): Storts (6-176)
Punt returns (att/yds): Bockman (1-5)
Kick-offs (att/yds): Jermier (4-174)
Kick-off returns (att/yds): Pipho (4-85); Bockman (3-46)
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