VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com)- The Valley City State defense returns a solid foundation of experience that will be relied on to help prepare the younger members of the squad for the 2018 season.

Some of the key starters back this is for The Vikings are 1st team all conference DB Travon Smith (JR), linebackers Riley Frederickson (SR) and Kendrick Lenzen (SO) and all conference honorable mention Andrew Hanretty (JR).

The D-line will boast a wealth of experience with all 4 starters returning in 1st team all conference selection senior Darius Graves (SR), 2nd team all conference selection Tyler Masat (SR), all conference honorable mention Austin Erickson (SR) and Tony IIIaoa-Sa’o (SO) who started as a true freshmen along with Hunter Slemmons (SR).

Now entering the second week of fall camp, senior Tyler Masat has made an effort to make sure everyone understand their part in the defensive system

 

Twice last season The Vikings found themselves on the losing end of nail biters, a week 5 loss to Waldorf University 39-35 and a 31-28 defeat to Dakota State University in the home finale. For senior Austin Erickson and the rest of the defense it has fueled a drive to get better

 

In 2017 VCSU was 1st  in The North Star in yard per game at 367.4 and 3rd in points per game with 26.2.

The Vikings 2018 opener is August 25th in Jamestown, they play at home the following weekend against Northwestern College. All games can be heard on KOVC 1490 AM- 96.3 FM and NewsDakota.com

Interview with Tyler Masat

 

Interview with Austin Erickson