VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The Vikings returned after their bye week with a record of 2-0 and welcomed the Waldorf Warriors to town, who were also 2-0 on the season.
In the first quarter both teams were battling for field position. Vikings quarterback Jalen Pfeifer connected with wide receiver Benjamin Dumond to set up a first and goal situation for the VCSU offense. However, the offense was unable to punch it in and would have to settle for a field goal attempt. Freshman kicker Nico Magana would have his 20-yard attempt blocked by Twon Collymore of Waldorf to keep the game scoreless.
In the second quarter we finally got some scoring on the board. As Pfeifer found Benjamin Dumond on a slant route for the 20-yard touchdown strike, and Nico Magana would tack on the extra point to give VCSU the 7-0 lead with 6:54 remaining in the first half.
In the 3rd quarter the Waldorf offense was putting together a threatening drive and were set up with a 2nd and 5 situation. That’s when Vikings Sophomore Jahidi West had the one handed interception to give Pfeifer and the offense another opportunity on offense. However, the Vikings would not come away with points on the ensuing drive.
Opening minute of the 4th quarter, Senior running back for the Warriors Jatoviay Hill would finally get Waldorf on the board as he would run in a touchdown from 15 yards out, and kicker Slater Gifford would add the extra point to tie up the ball game. However, the Valley City offense has been known to respond on the next series after seeing an opposing team score a touchdown, and that is what happened today. Sophomore running back, Justice Bice gave VCSU the lead right back as he plowed up the middle from 2-yards out, and with the extra point from Magana, give the Vikings the 14 to 7 lead with 8:31 remaining. The offense for Waldorf was getting great runs and passes all day from their Sophomore QB Jordan Cooper. Cooper was leading a drive down the field when Vikings Safety Martin Jones intercepted a pass at the Valley City 23-yard line with 5:15 remaining to avoid the Warriors from potentially tying up the game, at least at that point. After both teams would punt the ball, the Vikings were trying to bleed out the clock the best they could. With just under 3 minutes remaining in regulation, the offense for VCSU were on their own 13-yard line when a premature snap landed at the feet of the Vikings quarterback and was quickly recovered by Waldorf. The Warriors would work their way to a 1st and goal situation at the Vikings 4-yard line. Coming out of a time out called by Waldorf, the Vikings needed a big play and that is just what they got. Junior Linebacker Sal Avila quickly got in the backfield and sacked Cooper for a 10-yard loss that completely ruined the momentum the Warriors had built up. After an incomplete pass on 3rd down, the Warriors were looking at a 4th and goal from the Vikings 14-yard line when they were penalized by a delay of game call as the play clock had expired. After moving back 5-yards it was 4th and goal from the VCSU 19-yard line and Cooper’s pass was incomplete to give the Vikings the ball back and seal the win for VCSU 14-7.
The Vikings improve their record to 3-0 on the season and will next be in action next Saturday on the road at Iowa Wesleyan University for a 1pm kickoff.