VALLEY CITY, N.D. (VCSUVikings.com)- The Valley City State University and Presentation College football teams went blow-for-blow Saturday in a North Star Athletic Association conference game.

When the dust cleared after a combined 67 points and 796 yards of total offense, Presentation College quarterback Austin Eggl had passed for five touchdowns and led his team to a 37-30 victory over the Vikings.

Valley City State drops to 2-3 overall and 1-1 in the North Star Athletic Association. Presentation College improves to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the NSAA. Saturday’s victory was the first ever for the Saints against VCSU. The Vikings had won the previous five meetings.

Trailing 37-30 late in the fourth quarter, the Vikings had two drives to potentially tie the game but were unable to sustain one into the end zone. After starting at their own 5-yard line with 6:07 to go, VCSU went 70 yards before being stopped a half-yard short of a first down at the Saints’ 25-yard line. The Viking defense forced a three-and-out to give VCSU one more chance with 2:09 remaining, but Presentation College’s Aaron Butler made a one-handed interception near midfield with 1:02 left to secure the game.

The Saints led 37-27 entering the fourth quarter before an offensive track meet slowed down with big defensive stops on both sides. Valley City State finished with 376 yards of total offense, including 241 passing yards and 135 rushing yards. The Saints passed for 391 yards and rushed for just 29 as they finished with 420 yards of offense.

Valley City State struck first with a pair of first-quarter touchdown runs by Joshua McKnight. Louis Quinones returned the opening kickoff to the Saint 48-yard line, giving the Vikings great field position. McKnight capped the drive with a 3-yard score. Later in the quarter, VCSU took over on the Saint 14-yard line after a bad snap on a punt attempt. Three plays later McKnight plunged in from seven yards out for a 13-0 lead.

Presentation’s offense came alive with three touchdowns in the second quarter. Eggl hit Maurice Whiters from 18-yards out to start the scoring for PC and make it 13-7. VCSU answered right back through the air with Jalen Pfeifer finding Jake Peterson for a 43-yard touchdown. Presentation College had the answer as Eggl hit Dylan Paulsen for a 27-yard score and Logan Weisser for a 31-yard score to finish the next two drives and put the Saints up 21-20.

VCSU had the next big play as Travon Smith picked up a Saints’ fumble and returned it 65 yards for a touchdown with 1:02 left in the half. Landon Arredondo nailed to extra point to give the Vikings a 27-21 lead. The Saints would add a field goal just before halftime as Jaiden Machuca connected from 25-yards out as time expired, making it 27-24 in favor of the Vikings.

Presentation College’s first two drives of the second half resulted in touchdowns. Eggl led the Saints on drives of 62 and 80 yards in the third quarter, ending both with touchdown passes to Weisser. That gave the Saints a 37-27 lead entering the fourth quarter. VCSU’s Landon Arredondomade a 22-yard field goal with 9:31 left to get the Vikings back within one score at 37-30.

Saints’ quarterback Austin Eggls was on point throughout the day as he finished 36-for-45 for 391 yards and five touchdowns. He connected on three of those scores with Weisser, who had seven catches for 102 yards. Paulsen hauled in eight catches for 95 yards and a touchdown. Whiters had six catches for 89 yards and a score, and Marshal Chase caught eight passes for 62 yards.

Quinones finished with 281 all-purpose yards to lead VCSU’s offense. The junior running back rushed for 133 yards, caught four passes for 23 receiving yards, and racked up 125 kick return yards. Quarterback Jalen Pfeifer finished the game 24-for-38 for 241 yards, a touchdown and an interception – his first interception of the season.

Jake Peterson had four receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown, but was missed in the fourth quarter after suffering an injury. Eli Luna had four catches for 54 yards, while Tyler Ukestad caught five passes for 43 yards. Joshua McKnight finished with seven carries for 18 yards and those two first-quarter touchdowns.

Arron Martin led the Viking defense with 19 total tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble. Freshman Sal Avila made 12 tackles and forced a fumble after being elevated into the starting lineup due to injuries. Gavin Koldenrecovered a fumble and totaled seven tackles, while Travon Smith finished with five tackles and a 65-yard fumble return touchdown. Tyler Masatposted six tackles, including two for loss. Darius Graves had VCSU’s only sack of the day.

Ty Fox totaled 12 tackles for Presentation College. James Jones-Smith had 11 tackles and Clayton Innis finished with 10 tackles and a sack.

Up next: Valley City State travels to Dakota State University on Saturday, Oct. 6. Kickoff is at 4 p.m. Presentation College hosts Mayville State on Oct. 6.