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(NewsDakota.com) – Valley City State racked up 452 rushing yards and scored eight total touchdowns as they went on the road and knocked off Mayville State 61-35 Saturday in NAIA football action.

Derek Elliott score five touchdowns for VCSU, including four on the ground. The Vikings never trailed in the game after going up 13-0 in the first quarter following a Taylor Cino 2-yard touchdown run and a 29-yard touchdown connection from Tommy Zinke to Elliott.


Twice after that Mayville State cut the Viking lead to single digits, but each time big kick returns by James Gaynor set up the Vikings deep in Comet territory as they answered with scores both times.

Elliott’s third touchdown gave the Vikings a commanding 33-14 lead early in the fourth quarter.


From there, things went crazy. The two teams combined to score seven touchdowns in the final 5:55 of the game, alterning quick scores en route to the final score of 61-35.

The Comets racked up most of their offense in that stretch, which included three of Tanner Carpenter’s five touchdown passes on the day.

Elliott led the Vikings with five total touchdowns. Taylor Cino rushed for two scores as well, and Trevor Goerts also scored a late touchdown. Thomaz Cortez nailed two out of three field goal attempts in the victory.

With the win, Valley City State improves its record to 4-2 this season. Mayville drops to 2-3.

The Vikings are on the road again Saturday, Oct. 13, in St. Peter, Minn., for a matchup with Gustavus Adolphus.