VALLEY CITY, N.D. (VCSUVikings.com)-Valley City State’s defense recorded its second straight shutout Saturday afternoon, leading the Viking football team to a dominating victory in the NSAA conference opener.
The Viking offense scored less than a minute into the game and that’s all the defense would need as they held Mayville State to just 168 yards of total offense in a 37-0 Viking victory.
“It was a great way to open conference play,” said VCSU head coach Dennis McCulloch. “Defensively, our guys played awfully well against some really good players from Mayville. They weren’t able to get a lot going. I was very impressed with what our defensive guys did today.”
VCSU improves to 2-2 overall and is off to a 1-0 start in the North Star Athletic Association. The Vikings continue conference play next Saturday when they host Presentation College at 1 p.m. Mayville State drops to 1-3 overall and 0-1 in the NSAA. The Comets host Waldorf University on Sept. 29.
Saturday’s shutout by the Vikings came on the heels of a 48-0 win against Minnesota-Morris on Sept. 8. It is the first time VCSU has recorded back-to-back shutouts since doing it against Mayville State (13-0) and Gustavus Adolphus (16-0) during the 2012 season.
Offensively, the Vikings were also clicking Saturday, including a quick score on the game’s opening drive. VCSU received the opening kickoff and went 74 yards in only three plays for their first score just 56 seconds into the game. Quarterback Jalen Pfeifer hit Jake Peterson and Louis Quinonesfor a pair of big pass plays, and then capped the drive off with an 8-yard touchdown run on a quarterback keeper.
The Viking defense stepped up on the next drive, forcing a three-and-out by the Comets. Travon Smith then blocked the punt attempt out the back of the end zone for a safety and a 9-0 Viking lead. Pfeifer would connect with Peterson late in the first quarter for an 11-yard touchdown and a 16-0 lead. VCSU carried that advantage into halftime and then broke the game wide open with three second-half touchdowns.
VCSU’s special teams forced a fumble on the opening kickoff of the second half and recovered it on the one-yard line. Three plays later Louis Quinones found the endzone and a 22-0 lead. Pfeifer would hit Peterson on a 20-yard score early in the fourth quarter to cap a 7-play, 90-yard drive.
Viking senior defensive back Gavin Kolden ended Mayville’s next drive with an interception at the Vikings’ 12-yard line, and then Quinones got loose for a 38-yard touchdown run on VCSU’s ensuing possession to finish off the scoring.
The Vikings forced three turnovers in the game, including interceptions by Kolden and Hunter Olson. Mayville State entered the game averaging 443 yards of offense, but was held to just 82 rushing yards and 86 passing yards Saturday by the Vikings.
Arron Martin totaled 12 tackles to lead the Viking defensive performance. Tyler Masat and Darius Graves each had six tackles, and Travon Smith added five. The Vikings managed just one sack in the game, but hurried Comet quarterback Creighton Pfau numerous times.
“We were able to get pressure with our three or four guys up front,” said McCulloch. “That made it hard for Mayville to get comfortable throwing the ball down the field.”
VCSU’s offense racked up 514 yards of total offense, including 195 on the ground and 319 through the air. Peterson had a monster day with 13 catches for 201 yards and two scores. Quinones racked up 136 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. He also caught four passes for 41 yards. Senior Tyler Ukestad added three catches for 40 yards.
“We came out early offensively and it looked like it was going to be easy,” said McCulloch. “But then we struggled a little bit in the second quarter. In the second half we responded and did some things much better.”
Up next: The Vikings continue conference play next Saturday when they host Presentation College at 1 p.m. The Comets host Waldorf University on Sept. 29.