Sports : Vikings season ends with loss at Union, 29-14

Lincoln Riffey fires a pass for the Vikings in loss at Union Friday.

Brian Fischer makes a big gain.

This leaping catch by Gunner Tranel for a first down was nullified by a penalty.

John Lippmann took this pass inside the Union 10.

Nolan Edwards breaks a Union tackle.

The Union defense kept the Vikings from taking the lead with a goal line stand at end of first half

Gunner Tranel cut the lead to 22-14 with this 3rd quarter TD run.

Viking linemen try to make room for Logan Williams to run.

Travis Libbert makes a big gain for the Vikings.

A referee signals touchdown as the Vikings tie the game at 7.

The Vinton-Shellsburg Vikings traveled to Union Friday night with a 4-4 record and needing a win to extend their season into the playoffs.

Coach Farley and his team went to La Porte with a simple strategy: Keep the ball, use up lots of clock and keep the ball out of the hands of the Union offense and record-setting running back Wes Burnside.

For the first half, the Vikings did that. After an early Union score, the rest of the half belonged to the Vikings offense. The Vikes used up 11 minutes on a scoring drive that included four fourth down conversions and even a touchdown that was called back because of a penalty.

But the final Viking drive ended inside the Union 5 when the clock ran out on the second half. The half ended with the score tied at 7.

Burnside finally broke out in the second half. He had two runs of more than 20 yards on the Knights' first possession and scored the go-ahead touchdown with 10:46 left in the third quarter. After a Viking punt, Burnside broke loose for a 63-yard score, giving Union a 22-7 edge with 7:37 left in the third.

The Viking offense rebounded, and the visitors scored on a 21-yard-run by Gunner Tranel to make the score 22-14.

But the rest of the game belonged to Union. The Knights scored on a quarterback sneak by Trev Hadachek to make the score 29-14.

Union begins playoff action next Wednesday at home against Clear Creek-Amana.

Coach Joe Hadachek congratulated his team on being the first in school history to go 9-0.