VIKING FOOTBALL PICKS UP ROAD WIN AT GRACELAND SATURDAY

 

 

VIKING FOOTBALL PICKS UP ROAD WIN AT GRACELAND SATURDAY

 

 

Marshall, Mo. (October 12, 2013)- The No. 6 Missouri Valley College football team went on the road to Lamoni, Iowa for a Heart of America Athletic Conference matchup with Graceland University Saturday afternoon.  The Vikings led by a 17-0 score at the half, and cruised to a 35-7 victory.

 

After both teams traded punts to start the game, the Vikings were able to use a big-play to get the game's first points.  On the first play of MVC's second drive of the game, Junior Quarterback Bruce Reyes (Beaumont, Texas) connected with Freshman Wide Receiver Darrian Turk (Silsbee, Texas) for an 80 touchdown.  The extra point by Junior Kicker Daniel Mouro (Hilmar, Calif.) gave MVC the 7-0 lead with just under 11-minutes remaining in the first quarter.  The 80-yard play is the longest of the season for MVC.

 

The Viking defense put the clamps down on Graceland through the rest of the first quarter, as the Yellowjackets only gained 17 yards in the quarter, and punted four times.  The Vikings threatened to score late in the first quarter after driving to the Graceland 18-yard line.  After the Vikings failed to convert on a third-down play, Mouro lined up a 35-yard field goal attempt, but his kick sailed wide to the right.  Mouro got the chance to redeem himself on MVC's next drive.  Early in the second quarter the Viking offense drove to the Graceland eight yard line, and after the drive stalled, Mouro capped a 10 play 47 yard drive with a 25 yard field goal to give MVC a 10-0 lead with 12 minutes remaining in the first half.

 

Graceland's ensuing possession turned out to be its most productive in the first half, as the Yellowjackets drive 35 yards in nine plays, setting up at the MVC 34-yard line.  However, Senior Defensive Back Tyler Davis (St. Louis, Mo.) came up with his first interception of the season, ending the Graceland drive.  The Vikings capitalized on the turnover and two plays later Reyes found Sophomore Wide Receiver Mikquel Johnson (St. Louis, Mo.) for a 53-yard touchdown pass-play to extend the Viking lead.  Mouro added the extra point and MVC led Graceland 17-0 with just over six minutes remaining in the first half.

 

Graceland took its next possession into MVC territory, but on a third down play Senior Linebacker Rahfee McClee (Orlando, Fla.) picked up a sack that forced a Graceland punt, giving the Vikings the ball at their own five yard line with just over four minutes remaining in the half.  The Vikings put together an impressive 13-play 87 yard drive that included Reyes hooking up with Johnson for 16 yards, Junior Wide Receiver Jarrell Davis (Merced, Calif.) for 22 yards and Sophomore Wide Receiver Jacoby Bellard (Beaumont, Texas) for 11 yards through the air.  However, the drive came to an end on a third and goal play from the eight yard line when Reyes was intercepted in the end zone.  Graceland ran out the remaining seconds of the half, and the Vikings took a 17-0 lead into halftime.

 

Graceland got the ball to open the second half, and the Viking defense forced the Yellowjackets to punt after only running three plays.  The Vikings also only ran three plays on their opening possession, but quickly got the ball back after a big special teams play.  On a Junior Punter Jason Mayden (Carrollton, Mo.) punt, the Vikings came up with a turnover as Turk fell on the loose ball at the Graceland 14 yard line.  The Vikings quickly took advantage of the opportunity and three plays later Reyes found Junior Wide Reciever Jonathan Bird III (Farmington, Mo.) for a 10-yard touchdown pass that extended the MVC lead to 23-0 with just over 11 minutes to play in the third quarter after a missed extra point by Jarrell Davis.

 

After another three play drive for the Graceland offense, the Vikings worked on a short field, taking over at the Yellowjacket 49 yard line.  The Vikings ran off seven plays, finishing the drive with a 15 yard pass play between Reyes and Johnson to give MVC a 29-0 lead with just under six minutes remaining in the third quarter. 

 

Graceland ate up the rest of the third quarter with its ensuing possession, and the Vikings were forced to punt on their first possession of the fourth quarter.  The Vikings were able to put more points on the board in their second possession in the fourth quarter.  After a Graceland punt that forced MVC to start at its own 20-yard line, the Vikings put together an 11-play drive to reach the end zone.  The Vikings got a 36-yard play in the drive when Reyes found Bellard on a pass, and later in the drive Reyes found Turk for a 20-yard gain down to the Graceland 21-yard line.  The Vikings eventually set up with a first down at the Yellowjacket nine yard line, but Graceland's defense forced MVC into a fourth down situation at the three yard line.  Going for it on fourth down, the Vikings scored a touchdown when Reyes threw to Sophomore Fullback Del'Von Franklin (Hawk Point, Mo.) in the end zone and the Vikings extended their lead to 35-0 with just under four minutes remaining in the game. 

 

Graceland capped off the scoring in the game after driving 70 yards on four plays giving the game the final score of 35-7.

 

The Vikings were led by Reyes who was 28 of 50 passing for 446 yards and five touchdowns.  Reyes.  The 446 yards passing is a new Viking single-game record, breaking the record held previously by Chris White who threw for 385 yards against Lindenwood in 2009.  Also the five touchdown passes ties a career-high, and program record for most touchdown passes in one game.

 

Two Vikings had at least 100 yards receiving.  Turk finished with 132 yards on four receptions and a touchdown and Johnson had four catches for 100 yards and two scores.  Freshman Running Back Malachi Daniels (Branson, Mo.) led MVC on the ground with 41 yards on nine carries.  The Viking offense finished with 544 yards, the most in any game this season.

 

The Viking defense gave up just 193 total yards, 67 of which came late in the fourth quarter.  Leading the way on defense was Junior Defensive Back Michael Barnes (Beaumont, Texas) who finished with a team-high nine tackles including one tackle for loss.  Senior Linebacker Danny Reyes (Hesperia, Calif.) had eight tackles and one tackle for loss.  McClee came up with the only sack fo the game for MVC, while Tyler Davis and Turk finished with an interception and fumble recovery respectively.

 

On special teams Mayden had a 36.8 yards per punt average on four pints, with one landing inside the 20-yard line and Mouro was 1-2 on field goals and connected on both extra points that he was available for.  Tyler Davis had 83 yards on five punt returns in the game, including a long of 34 yards.

 

The win improves MVC to 4-1 overall and 4-0 in HAAC play while Graceland falls to 1-5 overall and 0-4 in conference play.

 

The Vikings return home next week for Homecoming as they welcome in the Evangel Crusaders.  Kickoff Saturday is set for 2:00 p.m.

 

About Missouri Valley College

Known for its dynamic, richly diverse, and friendly educational environment, Missouri Valley College offers many opportunities to grow in mind, body, and spirit. Grounded in the liberal arts, undergraduate studies empower students to master interdisciplinary skills needed to succeed in a knowledge-based global society. MVC offers over 40 academic programs, study abroad program, honors program, extracurricular activities, and 13 sports. The most popular majors include education and business, and some new majors are ag-business, nursing, graphic design, and health information systems (associate degree). Above all, Valley is committed to student success. For more information, call (660) 831-4000 or visit www.moval.edu.