Vikings sail past Ed-Co, land in state title game

 CEDAR FALLS (Nov. 9) -- A 27-year state title game drought has come to a resounding halt for the AHSTW football team.
 The 2nd-ranked Vikings looked right at home inside the warm confines of the UNI-Dome Friday afternoon, overcoming a slow start with 36 unanswered points and defeating No. 5 Edgewood-Colesburg 39-12 in a Class A semifinal playoff game.
 Led by outstanding performances from the senior trio of Drake Partridge, Blake Osbahr and Gabe Pauley, AHSTW hit on all cylinders during the final 7:20 of the first half, posting four quick touchdowns to turn a 6-0 deficit into a 29-6 halftime lead.
 Partridge finished with seven receptions for 219 yards and two touchdowns (totaling 328 all-purpose yards), Osbahr completed all 11 of his passes for 262 yards and Pauley rushed for 115 yards and three scores.
 AHSTW improved to 12-0 overall and will now face top-ranked Hudson (12-0) in the Class A state championship game Thursday at 1:30 p.m. Hudson survived a big second-half rally by West Hancock on Friday, winning 35-28.
 The Vikings, who lost state semifinal games in both 2005 and 2013, will be making their first title game appearance since A-H-S-T was the Class A runner-up in 1991.
 “It’s a childhood dream and it’s all we ever want every single year,” said Partridge, who also intercepted a pass. “To finally actually do it means a whole lot to me, our team, the community. It’s just really amazing. It’s been so long and now we’re finally doing it.”
 AHSTW head coach Davis Pattee gave his offensive coordinator, Jason Holst, some props in the postgame media room - or perhaps a subtle jab at his age - noting that Holst was a wide receiver and defensive back on the ‘91 team.
 “It’s been a while since we’ve been in the championship, and these kids have really worked hard for it and I’m excited for them,” Pattee said.

AHSTW 39, Edgewood-Colesburg 12
Ed-Co: Ethan Streicher 1-yd. run (pass failed) - 1st qt., 2:18.
AHSTW: Drake Partridge 78-yd. pass from Blake Osbahr (Kyle Branan kick) - 2nd qt., 7:20.
AHSTW: Gabe Pauley 1-yd. run (Brayton Tuma pass from Blake Holst) - 2nd qt., 4:48.
AHSTW: Pauley 4-yd. run (Branan kick) - 2nd qt., 1:22.
AHSTW: Partridge 11-yd. pass from Osbahr (Branan kick) - 2nd qt., 0:13.
AHSTW: Pauley 1-yd. run (Branan kick) - 3rd qt., 8:33.
Ed-Co: Spencer Staner 27-yd. pass from Streicher (pass failed) - 3rd qt., 2:00.
AHSTW: Branan 34-yd. FG - 4th qt., 8:25.

Ed-Co                               AHSTW
37-128    Rush att.-Yards    28-131
144    Passing Yards    262
272    Total Yards    393
11-23-2    Comp.-Att.-Int.    11-11-0
0    Fumbles lost    2
AHSTW Individual Stat Leaders
    Rushing -- Gabe Pauley 18-115, Blake Osbahr 7-16, Korbin Martin 1-7. Passing -- Osbahr 11-11-0, 262. Receiving -- Drake Partridge 7-219, Brayton Tuma 2-31. Punt returns -- Partridge 2-75.
 Tackles -- G. Pauley 12 (3s/9a), Seth Kiesel 10 (9s/1a), Caden Larson 10 (3s/7a), Martin 7 (6s/1a), Gabe Madsen 6 (3s/3a). Tackles for loss -- Kiesel 4 (4s), Larson 4 (1s/3a), Madsen 3 (1s/2a). QB Sacks -- Larson 2 (2a), Kiesel 1 (1s).
 INTs-return yds. -- Partridge 1-34, Osbahr 1-0.