On Friday night, the Kuemper Catholic football team will travel to Avoca to face the 2-0 AHSTW Vikings in AHSTW’s second consecutive home game. The Vikings are also coming off their second straight come-from-behind win as they shut out Riverside in the fourth quarter scoring 16 unanswered points. AHSTW put up 564 yards of total offense including 262 passing yards from senior quarterback Camden Soukup and 213 rushing yards from senior back Luke Sternberg. Although he knows his team will need a good start against the Knights, Head Coach Grant Harris likes his team’s ability to battle back.

Sternberg is poised to be one of the Vikings’ biggest offensive weapons on Friday. Through two games Sternberg has compiled 427 all-purpose yards which is second in the Western Iowa Conference while his 224 rushing yards rank sixth. Harris believes that his versatility and football IQ have led to Sternberg’s on-field success.

In addition to Sternberg, AHSTW has a lethal duo with Soukup and senior receiver Zeb Hall. Soukup and Hall connected for four touchdowns last week in the 42-22 win over Riverside. Hall’s 225 receiving yards leads the WIC while ranking third in receptions. On the flip side Soukup ranks second in the conference in touchdowns and passing yards, third in passing touchdowns, completions, and yards per completion.

On Defensive the Vikings are led by senior linebacker Blake Akers. Akers is off to a fast start to the season leading the WIC in both total and solo tackles. Akers will look to replicate last week’s 12 tackle performance and Harris knows that his intensity will be an important factor against the Knights.

Kuemper Catholic will be a tough test for this Vikings team. The offense is led by junior quarterback Brock Badding who has thrown 359 yards and 2 touchdowns. Senior receiver Carson Kanne is off to a good start with 163 yards and a touchdown, while sophomore Jarin Hoffman has 163 yards on the ground. It’s an offense that Harris sees as one to come out swinging.

The defense brings senior Tate Bieret to the table compiling 18 tackles and four tackles for loss in the knights’ two games. Harris is expecting a tough and hard-hitting game from the Kuemper Catholic defense.

Coach Harris’ keys: Balance and physicality.