MVC VIKING FOOTBALL PICKS UP ROAD WIN AT CULVER-STOCKTON

VIKING FOOTBALL PICKS UP ROAD WIN AT CULVER-STOCKTON

 

 

Marshall, Mo. (September 28, 2013)- The No. 9 Missouri Valley College football team went on the road Saturday to Canton, Mo. to play Culver-Stockton College in a Heart of America Athletic Conference matchup.  In rainy and wet conditions the Vikings scored 21 second half points to defeat Culver 29-6.

 

Despite what turned out to be a 23-point victory for MVC, it was Culver that had the early scoring opportunities.  After MVC was forced to punt on its first possession, Culver drove the ball down the field on a 12-play, 53-yard drive, setting up a 34-yard field goal attempt.  The Viking special teams came up with a big play, though, as Senior Defensive Back Randy Tribble (Port Lucia, Fla.) blocked the Wildcat attempt leaving the score at 0-0 late in the first quarter.

 

The Vikings responded by putting together a 12-play drive of their own, but the drive stalled at the Culver 45-yardline and after a Junior Jason Mayden (Carrollton, Mo.) 33-yard punt, the Wildcats took over at their own 17-yardline.  Again, Culver drove down the field, moving down to just yards from the end zone.  However the Vikings made another big play as Senior Linebacker Danny Reyes (Hesperia, Calif.) forced a fumble that was recovered by Senior Defensive Back Phillip Fowler (San Diego, Calif.) in the end zone to halt a 10-play 83-yard drive.

 

The Vikings took over after the turnover at the 20-yard line and proceeded to move on the Wildcats.  The Vikings picked up two first downs before facing a fourth and one at the Culver 20-yard line.  Going for it on fourth down, Junior Quarterback Bruce Reyes (Beaumont, Texas) scrambled for 18 yards to the Culver two-yard line.  On the next play Freshman Running Back Malachi Daniels (Branson, Mo.) scored on a two-yard rush to give MVC its first points of the game with just over nine minutes remaining in the half.  The Vikings converted on a two-point attempt and led Culver 8-0.

 

After the two teams traded punts following the game's opening touchdown, Culver put together another long drive against the Vikings.  After taking over on its 20-yard line, Culver went for 24 yards on the first play of the drive, and later scored on a 57-yard pass play to cut the MVC lead to 8-6 with four minutes remaining in the half.  Again the MVC special teams made another big play as Reyes blocked the PAT.

 

The Vikings got the ball two more times late in the first half, as did Culver, but neither team could put together a scoring drive, and the game went into the halftime break with MVC holding on to the 8-6 advantage.

 

To start the second half, the Vikings forced Culver to punt on its first possession, and MVC seemed to put together a drive that would end in points.  The Vikings took over at their own 22-yard line and moved to within the Culver three yard line thanks to two big pass plays.  The first a 23-yard play from Reyes to Sophomore Wide Receiver Mikquel Johnson (St. Louis, Mo.) and the second a 31-yard play from Reyes to Junior Wide Receiver Johnathan Bird (Farmington, Mo.).  Eventually the Vikings took the ball to inside the Culver five.  However on a third down play Reyes was sacked for an eight-yard loss and on fourth down the Vikings failed to convert a fake field goal ending the nine play drive with no points.

 

Culver had a chance to take the lead midway through the third quarter.  The Wildcats drove to midfield, but a third-down pass play was intercepted by Junior Defensive Back Michael Barnes (Beaumont, Texas) at the MVC 17-yard line.  After the turnover the Vikings put together an impressive 12-play drive that took the ball to the Culver 19-yard line.  However a good play by the Culver defense forced Reyes to fumble the ball, and Culver recovered, ending a Viking opportunity to extend its 8-6 lead.

 

Culver failed to move the ball after the turnover, throwing three-straight incomplete passes, and MVC took over at its own 42-yard line.  Just one play was all it took for the Vikings to put some distance between them and the Cougars.  Freshman Wide Receiver Darrian Turk (Silsbee, Texas) ran past the Culver defense for a 58-yard touchdown as the third quarter came to an end.  The Vikings kicked the extra point, and took a 15-6 lead into the fourth quarter.

 

With its largest lead of the game, the MVC defense came up with another good stop.  Junior Defensive Back Tyler Davis (St. Louis, Mo.) and Freshman Defensive Lineman Brad Wolf (Bolivar, Mo.) teamed up on a tackle that resulted in a 12-yard loss for Culver, moving them back to the five-yard line.  Three plays later, the Vikings forced another fumble, this time by Tribble on a fourth down play, giving MVC the ball deep in Culver territory.  The Viking offense wasted little time in adding to its lead as Sophomore Running Back Nijel Daw (Beaumont, Texas) scored from nine-yards out with 10 minutes remaining in the game.  The extra point was converted by Junior Kicker Daniel Mouro (Hilmar, Calif.), and the Vikings extended their lead to 22-6.

 

Culver's ensuing possession lasted just three plays, and resulted in 22 lost yards as the Viking defense forced a punt, which gave the offense the ball at midfield.  The Vikings took advantage of the short field, but took their time in doing so.  MVC put together an eight play drive that covered 51 yards in just under four minutes.  The drive ended when Reyes connected with Junior Wide Receiver Jarrell Davis (Merced, Calif.) for a 23-yard touchdown.  Another Mouro extra point gave MVC a 29-6 lead which stood as the final score.

 

Leading the way for MVC was Reyes who finished 13 of 21 passing for 243 yards, one touchdown and one interception.  On the ground Reyes finished as the leading ball carrier, rushing 14 times for 41 yards.  Daw had five carries for 40 yards, and Turk led in rushing yards with his 58 yard touchdown.  Senior Wide Receiver Alex Benson (Rochester, Minn.) had four receptions for 38 yards while Turk finished with four receptions for 18 yards.  Senior Wide Receiver Travis Thornton (Kentwood, La.) had 46 yards receiving.

 

Tribble led the MVC defense with five total tackles, all solo to go along with a forced fumble.  Junior Linebacker Brad Avila (Merced, Calif.) also had three solo tackles and two assists including one tackle for loss.  The lone sack for MVC was by Senior Linebacker Andrew Huhman (Farmington, Mo.) for six yards.  Reyes had a forced fumble and Fowler had a fumble recovery, while Barnes came away with an interception.

 

On special teams Mayden punted four times for 174 yards, an average of 43.5 yards per punt, including one that came to rest inside the 20 yard line.  Mouro was three for three on extra point attempts and had three touchbacks on kickoffs.  Tyler Davis led in return yards, with 54 yards combined between punt and kick returns.

 

The victory now gives MVC 15-straight wins in HAAC play, and 20 wins out of their last 21 HAAC games. 

 

The win improves MVC to 2-1 on the season and 2-0 in HAAC play while Culver-Stockton falls to 0-4 and 0-2 in HAAC play. 

 

The Vikings will return home for a matchup with Central Methodist University next week.  Kickoff for the game will be 1:30 p.m. Saturday Oct. 5 at Gregg-Mitchell Field.

 

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.