DECORAH - Lightning will strike the same place twice, and Decorah Vikings coach Bill Post will be the first to say it is so.

Friday night, Post's Vikings dropped a Class 3A quarterfinal contest to the New Hampton Chickasaws, 28-21, and the scene was all too familiar from eight weeks ago when the Chickasaws defeated the Vikings, 26-14, in district play.

"This game mirrored the last time we played these guys," Post said. "We couldn't match their power and intensity in the first quarter, then came back only to fall short."

The Chickasaws struck early and often as they turned their first two possessions into touchdowns.

After Chickasaw senior running back Brock Boeding broke free for a 54-yard scoring jaunt, the Vikings drove to the 8-yard line, but failed to score. New Hampton then went 92 yards in 13 plays and scored on a 1-yard plunge by Brandon Henn.

In the first meeting this season, New Hampton also jumped to a quick 14-0 lead, then the Vikings rallied.

It was deja vu as the Vikings popped off two scores.

The first drive was culminated on a 55-yard strike from Lucas Kane to Chris Wanless, then Collin White bulled in from a yard out to tie the game at 14-14.

The Chickasaws grabbed the lead just before halftime on a fake punt that covered 27 yards, then Boeding ran it in from 2 yards out with 20 seconds left in the half to put New Hampton up, 21-14.

Boeding scored for the third time on a 15-yard run with 1:13 left in the game, putting New Hampton up 28-14.

"I owe it all to that great line in front of me," Boeding said. "They controlled the line of scrimmage the whole game.

"I didn't realize at the time that I should have just went down to run out the clock instead of scoring. I didn't realize that they would come back that fast."

Decorah snapped back, scoring on a 13-yard pass from Kane to Wanless with 12 seconds left to play.

However, the on-side kick failed, and New Hampton secured the win.

"This was a great game that shows you what momentum can do," said New Hampton coach Scott Frerichs. "Just like the last time we played them, we got momentum first and they rallied, then we got it back and held on for the win.

"I give credit to Decorah. They came at us with a new format tonight and it took us awhile to adjust."

New Hampton (10-2) will face Pella (9-3) in the semifinals Nov. 16 in the UNI-Dome. Pella reached the semis by upsetting previously undefeated Centerville.

New Hampton 14 7 0 7 - 28

Decorah 0 14 0 7 - 21

NH - Boeding 54 run (Samec kick)

NH - Henn 1 run (Samec kick)

Dec - Wanless 55 pass from Kane (Sacquitne kick)

Dec - White 1 run (Sacquitne kick)

NH - Boeding 2 run (Samec kick)

NH - Boeding 15 run (Samec kick)

Dec - Wanless 13 pass from Kane (Sacquitne kick)

TEAM STATISTICS

NH Dec

First downs 18 17

Rushes-yards 46-326 41-180

Passing yards 49 152

Return yards 31 112

Comp-Att-Int 3-7-0 7-17-2

Punts-avg. 3-33.3 2-34.0

Fumbles-lost 2-0 1-1

Penalties-yards 2-20 2-25

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing

NEW HAMPTON - Boeding 23-188, Henn 10-53, Hogeland 4-14, Schuchardt 1-minus 1, Reams 1-3, Lang 9-60.

DECORAH - White 21-77, Arend 1-2, Smith 4-21, Dovenberg 2-36, Jewell 3-3, Kane 10-41

Passing

NEW HAMPTON - Hogeland 3-7-0, 49 yards.

DECORAH - Kane 7-17-2, 152 yards.

Receiving

NEW HAMPTON - Boeding 1-11, Schluetter 1-1, Lenehan 1-37.

DECORAH - Wanless 4-88, Dovenberg 1-32, Kerndt 1-18, Jewell 1-14.