Sports : Viking football: 2012 season to include trips to Decorah, Manchester, Epworth

After they begin the 2012 season with a short road trip to nearby rival Benton Community, the Vinton-Shellsburg Vikings will be making three long road trips. They will travel to Epworth (Western Dubuque), Manchester (West Delaware) and Decorah.

The Iowa High School Athletic Association has released the schedule for 2012 high school football games. The Vikings' 2012 schedule is as follows:

8/24 -- @ Benton Community (non-district)
8/31 -- South Tama (non-district)
9/07 -- Oelwein
9/14 -- @ Western Dubuque, Epworth
9/21 -- Independence (Homecoming)
9/28 -- @ Decorah
10/5 -- @ West Delaware
10/12 -- Williamsburg (non-district)
10/19 -- Crestwood, Cresco (Senior/Parent night)

The 2013 schedule will have the Vikings playing the same teams as 2012, and in the same order, but at opposite locations. There is one more non-district game because each Class 3A district only has seven teams, instead of eight, as before.