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DECORAH — The Decorah Vikings overcame gametime adversity on Friday night to secure a hard-fought victory against Western Dubuque, with a close final score of 10-7. "I am very proud of our players and coaches. We battled hard and had to deal with some adversity at the end of the first half. Our defense was outstanding all night, and our offense did just enough to control the ball and come out with a win. The field goal at the beginning of the game ended up being huge. The snap, hold, and protection was great," Coach Michael Tangen reflected. The Vikings' defense was truly a key factor in their success, consistently stifling the opposing offense and forcing critical turnovers. Decorah's Trevor Kuennen led the defense with a standout performance, recording 8 total tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss, contributing significantly to the team's ability to maintain their lead. Offensively, the Vikings executed their game plan despite the sometimes-close score overhead. Senior quarterback Louis Bucksa completed 5 of 7 passes for 44 yards and rushed for an additional 23 yards, showcasing his versatility in both the passing and running game. Noah Milburn, a junior, made his presence felt in the receiving game, hauling in 2 receptions for 28 yards. An instrumental moment came early in the game, when kicker Brayden Wemark successfully converted a field goal-setting the tone for the rest of the night. "Wemark has been great all season, and we have all the confidence in him to make those types of kicks," Tangen said. Decorah's opening drive ended in a punt after three plays, but the Vikings quickly rebounded. After an interception on their second possession, they managed to regroup and marched down the field for a field goal following a 7-play, 15-yard drive at 6:37 in the first quarter. Later in the first quarter, the Vikings scored a touchdown. The end of the first quarter saw Decorah leading 10-0, but they faced challenges as the game continued. Decorah struggled offensively in their second quarter, with several drives ending in punts, including a 3-play drive that lost 3 yards and another that resulted in just 2 yards. Western Dubuque finally found the end zone in the third quarter, scoring a touchdown to cut Decorah's lead to 10-7. The fourth quarter was a defensive battle, with both teams unable to score, but Decorah's defense held firm, preserving the lead and securing the win. With this victory, Decorah moves closer to its goals for the season, demonstrating the heart and tenacity that has become a hallmark of the program under Coach Tangen's leadership. Never a dull moment! Subscribe to the free DecorahNews.com newsletter and stay one step ahead with local news and information you just can't get anywhere else."Stay informed, stay inspired! Newsletter sign up is free and join hundreds of free subscribers who rely on DecorahNews.com for trusted information and fresh perspectives.

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Decorah Football Sees Close Call Against Western Dubuque