Vikings let game slip away against Glenwood City

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by Marlys Kruger

Sports Correspondent

GLENWOOD CITY — The Colfax football team traveled to Glenwood City on a very pleasant evening September 29, once again with high hopes of picking up a win in Dunn-St. Conference play. After leading 12-0 just before the half, things started slipping away for the Vikings and the Hilltoppers ended up with a 26-12 win.

It was certainly a tale of two different halves with the Vikings taking control for most of the first half. The Vikings were pretty successful with their ground game, using Colton Hoffman to pound the middle and Drew Buchner to pick up a first down on their first possession. Colfax ended up punting the ball away, however, giving the ball to the Hilltoppers at their own 27. On second and long, Topper quarterback Andrew Blaser attempted a pass and Buchner stepped in front of the receiver for an interception, bringing the ball to the Hilltopper 36.

Colfax failed to move the ball more than a few yards and on fourth down, Viking quarterback Buchner threw up his own interception with Brody Riba coming down with the ball for the Hilltoppers. Glenwood City gained positive yards on the ground, picking up a pair of first downs but went to the air again with the same result as their first possession. This time it was Peyton Hover who picked off the ball and streaked down the sideline for a nice gain.

 On second down, Theo Hovde took off for the races, ripping off  a long run but a holding penalty on the Vikings moved the ball back instead. The first quarter ended with the score 0-0 and the Vikings facing a long fourth down after the penalty.

Colfax punted the ball away again but their defense came through when Blaser attempted three passes and was sacked twice by Eli Ralph, forcing a Topper punt. Hovde had a narrow escape when he snared the punt in mid air and was hit hard immediately. He hung on to the ball however, and the Vikings took over on their own 40.

Hoffman zipped up the middle for 11 yards and a first down, Buchner broke loose for 19 yards, Hoffman ran for back-to-back first downs and Buchner added another one, moving the ball to the Topper six yard line. After Hoffman ran the ball up the middle twice, Hovde was successful going outside for a two yard touchdown. Buchner’s extra point kick banged off the goal post and fell short, but the Vikings led 6-0 with 3:33 left in the half.

It was time for the Viking defense to step up again, and with Grant Cook, Orion Nichols, Hovde, Ralph and Hoffman all coming up with big tackles, Blaser threw up another pass and this time it was Hovde’s turn for the interception. Hovde flew down the field for what appeared to be a long touchdown, but a few yards from the goal line, a Viking player was called for a holding penalty.

 The ball went back to the Topper 36 and on a third and nine, Hovde had a little retribution when he took the ball and passed all the way across the field to a wide open Buchner who ran it into the promised land. Buchner’s kick was off the mark again but it was 12-0 with 29 seconds until the half ended.

Not wanting to risk a big return, Camron Moline, who took over the kickoff duties a few games ago, booted a near perfect kick to around the Topper 20. But once again, the penalty bug bit and the Vikings were called for kicking the ball out of bounds. Moline had to re-kick and this time the ball ended up in the hands of Morgen Eggert who took off and ran through several Vikings before getting caught at the Colfax six yard line. Two plays later it was 12-6 after a Topper TD run and a missed kick and that’s how the half ended.

Glenwood City took the bouncy kickoff to midfield but on first down, Ralph recovered a Topper fumble.  Trying to gain back some momentum, the Vikings kept the ball on the ground but it appeared the Hilltopper coaches made some adjustments and were plugging up the holes, forcing a Colfax punt. The defense made another stand, however and after six Hilltopper plays, it was their turn to boot the ball away.

Colfax took over at their own nine and after an illegal shift penalty, it was time to punt again. With the ball deep in their own territory, a fake punt was called for but Hoffman didn’t get a chance to pass or run and the result was the Hilltoppers taking over at the Viking two. One play later it was 12-12 on Mitchell McGee’s touchdown and with Steven Booth’s extra point kick it was 13-12 for Glenwood City with 5:02 left in the third quarter.

Colfax just couldn’t seem to recover after the fast turnaround and after punting on their next possession, Glenwood City found the end zone again on five running plays with Eggert taking it in from 35 yards out. Two penalties by the Vikings on the extra point kick attempt allowed the Hilltoppers to try for the two point conversion but Kade Anderson stuffed the ball carrier behind the goal line to make the score 19-12.

Moving into the final quarter, the Vikings defense kept them within seven points but the offense simply could not move the ball. With just over three minutes left, the Hilltoppers were facing a third and 14, and although the Vikings had three interceptions in the game, Blaser threw a pass into the end zone and with two Colfax defenders on him, Riba came down with the ball for a TD. Booth’s kick made it 26-12 with 3:08 left in the game.

Buchner attempted to pass four times on the Viking’s final possession and completed one to Hover, but the Hilltoppers used a big pass rush and he was unable to get any more clean passes off and the game ended with Glenwood City running the clock out.

Colfax rushed for 124 total yards with Hoffman leading the way, collecting 86 on 19 carries while Buchner added 31 yards on 10 carries. Buchner passed for 57 yards, hitting 4-of-7 passes. Buchner, Hover, Nichols and Anderson all snared one pass. Three Vikings, Ralph, Nichols and Cook all collected seven tackles. Grant Paulus came up with six, Hoffman five and Buchner and Anderson four each. 

Up next for the Vikings is the annual Homecoming game this Friday against the Clear Lake Warriors. There will be a lot of activities on game night so come on out and cheer the team on!