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CITY  (NewsDakota.com)–After a go-around with Morningside College a year ago in Valley City, the Viking football team knows what it will take to compete with the Mustangs in Sioux City, IA, Thursday.

Defense against the run, and lots of it.

Three Viking defensive players went down with injury on the same play, including starting defensive end Garrett Jackson (Sr., Fairbanks, AK), and the Vikings surrendered 319 rushing yards in a 35-17 loss in the season opener last year.

The Vikings rallied for nine straight wins to follow, and finished with their first NAIA playoff appearance since 2001 at the end of the season.  But the Morningside game robbed the Vikings of Jackson and starting tailback Derek Elliot (Jr., Valley City, ND) for the season.

Jackson is back as part of a front seven on defense that Viking head football coach Dennis McCulloch hopes will be the key to winning games, including at Morningside this week.

Offensively, the Vikings have a big question mark at wide receiver, after graduating three starters, including LeTheo Proctor (Anchorage, AK), who caught 58 balls for 892 yards and 10 scores a year ago.

Tommy Zinke (Sr., Rolla, ND) returns at quarterback after a tremendous junior season, completing 59% of his passes for 2284 yards and 24 touchdowns.  He says he worked hard during the offseason and has improved as a passer.

Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. Thursday night, with pregame coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Dakota Country Radio.  The Vikings open their home season September 8th against Mayville State.