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CITY  (NewsDakota.com)–Despite a rough outing in the opening week of the year, confidence is still high for the Valley City State University Viking football team.

The Vikings lost a humbling 49-7 decision to #8 Morningside, IA Thursday night in Sioux City.  The Mustangs took a 28-0 lead into the break after the Vikings struggled to move the ball in the first half and left the Mustangs short fields on more than one occasion.

A muffed punt snap by the Vikings led to a one-play, one-yard scoring drive.  A Viking fumble near midfield led to another short-yardage score.  According to head coach Dennis McCulloch, tentativeness in the offense kept the Vikings from sustaining drives and keeping the high-octane Mustang running attack off the field.

Tailback Derek Elliot (Jr., Valley City, ND) returned after a year away, knocked out for the season last year in the opener against the Mustangs.  He rushed for 41 yards on 20 carries, and McCulloch says his second half was much different than the first.

Offensive lineman Thomas Grossell (Sr., Deer River, MN) says the communication on the offensive line began to pick up to aid the running game as halftime was approacing.

McCulloch also says the result of the game may lead the Vikings to change how they conduct their preseason approach in future years.

The biggest challenge this week, however, may be for the Viking defense, as Mayville State comes to Shelly Ellig Field and Lokken Stadium for the Viking home opener. 

The Comets switched to an option attack last year, keyed by defensive back-turned running back Dominique Bradley (Jr., Spring Valley, CA).  Bradley rushed for 112 yards on 23 carries and both Comet scores in last year’s 28-14 win by the Vikings over the Comets in Valley City.

The new option attack had just scored a shocking 15-14 win by the Comets over Dickinson State the week previous.  McCulloch expects more of the same against the Comets this weekend.

The game kicks off at 1:00 p.m. Saturday.  Pregame coverage begins at 12:30 p.m. on Dakota Country Radio.

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