Sports : Alumni Football returns to area; CPU wins on Vikings\' field

Jordan Otdoerfer receives the offensive player of the year award for the Viking alumni.

VSHS band alumni and Community Band members play school songs at halftime.

Corey Cooling receives the VS defensive player of the game medal.

Oldest player: Gary Garywood (Class of 1976) was the oldest player in the alumni game.

A rainbow forms above the field during the V-S/CPU Alumni USA football game.

Not the score, but the date appears above before the 2012 Vinton-Shellsburg/CPU Alumni game.

Viking Dylan Rickels made some touchdown-saving plays in the first quarter.

QB Zac Hogan carries the ball.

Zac Hogan

Jordan Otdoefer

Joel VanEtten

Ryan Barkdoll, left and Seth Fisher prepare for a play.

AmeriCorps members help cook in the concession stand.

Judy Trygstad directs the alumni/community band.

Coach Dave Boisen talks to his players during the game.

Alumni Cheerleaders wore their class years on their shirts.

Alumni cheerleaders pose for a photo.

Gary Garwood waves to his grandson from the sidelines of the Alumni Football USA game.

Jason Boisen hands the ball to Jordan Otdoerfer.

CPU runner Tom Kreel loses his helmet while being tackled by several Vikings.

Zac Hogan relays the play to the offense.

Kickoff: Greg Clark begins the game.

Jason Sanders prepares to block for Jordan Otdoerfer

Jay White punts while several CPU players attempt to block the kick.

Roughing the kicker: A CPU player collides with Viking alumni Jay White.

Jason Sanders' parents and kids cheered him on during the game.

Jenna Pattee sang the National Anthem before the game.

CPU fans brought umbrellas; it rained for about half of the game.

For the first time since the fall of 1995, Bonnie Sanders sat in the stands at Vinton-Shellsburg High School, watching her son, Jason, play football. 

Yeah, she said, it's different now. The biggest difference: Sitting next to Jason's kids. 

Gary Garwood last suited up in a Viking uniform 20 Octobers before Sanders. The 1976 graduate -- who received the "Oldest Player" medal after the game -- paused in between games to wave at his grandson in the stands.

"This is a lot easier to watch now," said another mom, Jane White. Her son, Jay, a 2002 VS graduate, punted for the Vikings during Saturday's Alumni Football USA game vs. Center Point-Urbana alumni players.

"When he was in high school, I would get so excited I would almost forget to breathe," recalls Jane. But on Saturday, she and husband Bill and other family members laughed throughout the game, even when Jay got knocked flat on a play in which an opposing player was flagged for roughing the kicker.

Despite the rain, an audience of more than 1,000 gathered at the Vinton-Shellsburg football field for the second Alumni Football USA game between Vinton-Shellsburg and Center Point-Urbana. 

The CPU scored on a first quarter safety and a third quarter touchdown en route to defeating the Vikings, 9-0.

"It didn't go as planned," said QB Jason Boisen, "But it sure was fun. I hope everyone will come back and play again."

CPU drove to the Viking one with the help of a long pass and several running plays. After the Viking defense stopped CPU on downs, the visitors tackled a Viking runner in the end zone. The next Viking possession ended in an interception, and the Viking defense again had to make a goal line stand. Dylan Rickels, who had made two touchdown-saving tackles on the first CPU drive, broke up a pass at the goal line on their second drive. 

The game remained 2-0 until late in the third quarter, when CPU scored on a running play and added the extra point. 

This is the second year of Alumni Football for both teams, but may be the last time these two teams play again. CPU plays to play its game vs. Alburnett next year, while VS leaders are hoping to organize a game. vs. Benton Community.

Captain says thanks