Two TDs in 14 seconds; Vikings punch ticket to playoffs
AVOCA (Oct. 15) – Raydden Grobe’s circus catch at the three-yard line, then bulldozing his way into the end zone following a successful onside kick recovery by Hayden Fischer, gave AHSTW a thrilling 20-17 come from behind victory over an improved Council Bluffs St. Albert team Friday night at Avoca.
The Vikings, trailing 17-7 with under two minutes to play, scored two touchdowns in 14 seconds to take their first lead at 20-17 with 33 seconds to go.
Fischer picked off an Owen Marshall pass on the ensuing Falcon drive to secure the win.
Quarterback Kyle Sternberg took a knee with three seconds remaining and the celebration was on as the Vikings punched their ticket to the playoffs.
For much of the game the Vikings were on their heels as they struggled to stop St. Albert’s run game. Junior tailback Brendan Monahan racked up 163 rushing yards with one touchdown and a passing touchdown.
The Falcons struck first on a trick play in the first quarter when Monahan threw a perfect halfback pass to a wide-open Sam Gubbels for a 66-yard score and St. Albert led 7-0.
The Vikes would answer in the second when tailback Denver Pauley scampered for a 17-yard run at the 10-minute mark to tie it at seven. The Falcons missed a field goal try near the end of the second quarter and the teams headed to halftime knotted 7-7.
After a scoreless third quarter, Monahan ran seven yards for a score at the 9:16 mark of the fourth and the Falcons tacked on a Nate Kay field goal with two minutes remaining for a 17-7 lead.
The Viking heroics began as AHSTW took over at their own 39-yard line with 1:48 remaining. A series of short passes by Sternberg led the Vikes down the field and Sternberg eventually scrambled for his nine-yard TD run with 47 seconds remaining. A two-point conversion was no good and the score was 17-13 Falcons.
Fischer recovered the onside kick and AHSTW was in business at the Falcon 43. Sternberg lofted a pass toward the end zone on the first play, and Grobe snagged the ball out of the air from in between two defenders and then muscled in for the score. The kick was good and the Vikings led 20-17.
The Falcons ran three plays in the waning seconds of the contest, capped off by Fischer’s interception to seal the win.
Fischer was the defensive player of the game with two interceptions and the onside kick recovery.
Grobe tallied four receptions for 74 yards and the game-winning touchdown. Sternberg threw for 162 yards and had a rushing and passing touchdown.
Next up for the Vikings is a playoff trip to Woodbury Central, Moville (7-1), the district 8 champion, on Friday, Oct. 22 beginning at 7 p.m.. The Vikings, who finished fourth in district 7, evened their record at 4-4 with the win.
St. Albert finished the year at 1-7.
Class A Football Playoffs
First Round Assignments • Friday, Oct. 22 • 7:00 p.m.
#4 Place at #1 Place
Tri-Center (5-3) at H-M-S, Hartley (6-2)
Alta-Aurelia (5-3) at West Hancock (8-0)
St. Ansgar (3-5) at Grundy Center (7-1)
Nashua-Plainfield (4-4) at North Linn (8-0)
Bellevue (5-3) at Lisbon (7-1)
Highland (3-5) at Lynnville-Sully (7-1)
Madrid (3-5) at Mount Ayr (6-2)
AHSTW (4-4) at Woodbury Cnt. (7-1)
#3 Place at #2 Place
IKM-Manning (5-3) at S. O’Brien (6-2)
Starmont (3-5) at North Butler (7-1)
Alburnett (4-4) at Wapsie Valley (6-2)
Newman Cath. (6-2) at E. Buchanan (7-1)
North Tama (6-2) at Wapello (6-2)
Earlham (5-3) at Belle Plaine (6-2)
Ogden (4-4) at Southwest Valley (6-2)
Gehlen Cath. (5-3) at Logan-Mag. (7-1)