Failure in fundamentals doom Vikings in loss to Rams

Rams quarterback Owen Shingledecker runs in open space during Friday’s first quarter.
Paisley Nader/Portage Sports

By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

Waterloo football head coach Mike Devies is prepared to take his team back to the basics on Monday.

A day that is typically scheduled as a walkthrough day, will have a different look for the Vikings.

“It is time to get back to the fundamentals,” Devies said.

Waterloo’s Matthew Ralston goes up to high-point an interception to thwart Mineral Ridge’s opening offensive possession on Friday in Atwater.
Paisley Nader/Portage Sports

The veteran coach is not trying to punish his team, but he does want to get his team back to the way the were playing earlier this season.

Weeks 1 and 2, specifically, when the Vikings earned victories over Akron Springfield and Lisbon David Anderson. In those games, defensively, Devies said he watched players fly to the ball, tackle in numbers by using fundamental techniques.

Too much of that was absent on Friday during the Vikings’ 42-18 loss at home to the Mineral Ridge Rams, leaving Devies ready to hit the reset button.

“We have to clean it up and fix it, and we will,” Devies said. “We have lost a little bit of what our identity is so it is time to get that back.”

At times on Friday, it looked like the Vikings were going to do just that.

Twice in the first half, Waterloo (2-3) held leads at 6-0 and 12-7.

Both of those leads were created in impressive ways.

The first score came on a 10-play, 99-yard drive that was completed on a 1-yard touchdown run by Brady Hakes. The big play of the drive came on a 50-yard catch and run by Kade Thomas on a throw from Landon McClain.

The marathon drive down the field was started after Matthew Ralston ended Mineral Ridge’s opening drive of the game with an interception at the goal line. He narrowly missed a touchback in the end zone and the officials spotted the ball down at the 1, where the Vikings got to work on the drive that eventually gave them the early 6-0 lead.

Mineral Ridge answered with a score, a 2-yard run by bruising back Jacob Russell and an extra point by Steven Gutierrez for the 7-6 Rams advantage.

Waterloo wide receiver Gaige Hawley pulls in a third-quarter touchdown on a pass from Landon McClain.
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It took only 12 seconds for the Vikings to regain the lead.

On the ensuing kickoff, Thomas ripped the ball out of the air at the 26-yard line and got to work down the right sideline.

He ran through a couple of would-be tacklers, then used his speed to outrun everyone down the right sideline to the end zone for the 74-yard kick-return touchdown to put Waterloo ahead 12-7.

It was an electric run on a night when Thomas was an offensive standout for the Vikings.

“He is a special player, isn’t he?” Devies asked rhetorically. “He has been a great addition to our team. He is tough as nails, and he gives everything he has. It started in the summer. He showed some special things in some of our 7-on-7 scrimmages, and he has continued to progress as a player. Tonight was no different.”

Thomas finished the game with four receptions for 95 yards and the long kick-return score.

Waterloo failed the 2-point conversion following Thomas’ touchdown and its 12-7 lead would falter with the Rams scoring five of the game’s next six touchdowns.

The first came with 5:02 left before halftime on a 5-yard run by Owen Shingledecker, who formed an unstoppable two-man running attack for the Rams (3-2). The extra point was blocked by Luke Thomas, but the Rams took the 13-12 lead into halftime.

Waterloo’s Luke Thomas (22) and Austin Hurst team up to bring down Mineral Ridge quarterback Owen Shingledecker.
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Shingledecker rushed for 125 yards and two scores in the game, while Russell had 185 yards on the ground.

Despite great field position on their first two drives of the second half, on their own 45 and 42, the Vikings came away with any sustainable drive or points and the Rams capitalized by scoring the third quarter’s first two touchdowns.

Shingledecker scored from 1 yard out to make it 21-12 at 8:27 of the third quarter, then Shingledecker hit an uncovered Brady Balestrino for a 33-yard touchdown pass at 3:36 to push the lead to 28-12 in favor of the Rams.

Waterloo closed out the third quarter, scoring with just 5 seconds remaining in the stanza, on a 7-yard pass from McClain to Gaige Hawley. That score cut Mineral Ridge’s lead to 28-18, but two more fourth-quarter touchdowns pushed the game out of reach for the Vikings.

“I thought we made some plays tonight and did some real nice things, but we also have plenty to work on so that we can move forward together,” Devies said. “For me, it starts with two areas. Defensively, we need to get back to wrapping up and finishing tackles. Offensively, I think we need to get organized up front and get our line right. Both are a cause for concern after tonight.”