The Roland-Story Norsemen football team returns to action on Friday night, as they make the trip into Eastern Iowa to take on the Vinton-Shellsburg Vikings in Class 2A, District 4 action at Vinton-Shellsburg High School. Roland-Story enters at 2-2, as Vinton-Shellsburg also enters at 2-2, as Friday’s meeting is the 3rd all-time meeting between the two programs. The series is tied at 1-1 with Roland-Story winning 21-14 in 2018, as Vinton-Shellsburg won in 2019 by a score of 25-7.
Vinton-Shellsburg enters with a record of 2-2 with wins over Jesup and Hampton-Dumont-CAL, along with losses to South Tama County and Benton Community. The Vikings offense is led by junior quarterback Colt Koeppen, who’s thrown for 651 yards and 9 touchdowns so far in 2025. Koeppen’s favorite target has been senior receiver Jacoby Johnson, who’s caught 22 passes for 271 yards and 3 touchdowns, as junior Colson Chvala’s caught 15 passes for 165 yards and 3 touchdowns. Other receivers that have caught touchdowns for the Vikings include junior’s Tate Druschel and Nile Davis. The Vikings rushing attack has been spearheaded by junior Isaiah Schneider, who’s rushed for 199 yards, while Colson Chvala has the Vikings lone rushing touchdown, as the Vikings offensive line has made massive strides following their 0-9 season in 2024.
The Vikings defense has performed well at all 3 levels through the first half of 2025, as junior Trevor Harvey leads the defensive line with 16.5 tackles, 3.5 TFL and a sack, while senior Kaden Kerkman has 12.5 tackles and 5.5 TFL. The linebacking core has a pair of stout performers in junior Colson Chavala, who’s tallied 22.5 tackles, 2.5 TFL and a fumble recovery, and senior Landon Osborn, who’s amassed 20 tackles, 4.5 TFL, and a fumble recovery. Junior Reagan Salger has also played well at linebacker with 15 tackles and an interception. The defensive backfield has been led by the play of Tate Druschel and Jacoby Johnson, as Johnson leads the unit with 20.5 tackles and an interception, while Druschel has 6 tackles and 2 interceptions.
Roland-Story looks to build off their district-opening win over Denver, as the Norsemen defense played very well against a dynamic Cyclone offense, as the Norsemen secondary will be tested by the Vinton-Shellsburg passing attack. Offensively, the Norsemen need to avoid turnovers after 3 Colin Willis INT’s in Week 4, but the offense will have opportunity’s to air it out deep.
Kickoff is slated for 7 PM on Friday Night from Vinton-Shellsburg High School.