VALLEY CITY, ND (NewsDakota.com) The all-time series between Valley City State and Eastern Oregon University has seen three total points scored.
Viking kicker Walker Brondos booted a 24-yard third quarter field goal for the only scoring in the first ever meeting between the Vikings and the Mountaineers, leading Valley City State to a 3-0 win at La Grande, Oregon Saturday.
Five Mountaineers sacks of Viking quarterbacks caused the Vikings to struggle offensively. Valley City State made a quarterback change at halftime, with both Joey Cave and Ethan Kastner each throwing for just 68 yards.
But a pair of interceptions by the Vikings, including one on a trick play in the end zone along with a missed field goal by Eastern Oregon sealed the game.
The first key play came at 3:09 left in the opening frame. Eastern Oregon drove 55 yards on 12 plays to the Viking two, and faked a power run, with Mountie quarterback Elia Kirisimasi taking a drop step and looking to shovel the ball over the line into the endzone.
Viking defensive back Caleb Torke saw it coming. He fronted the intended receiver and leapt into the air to thwart perhaps the eventual best Mountie drive of the day, taking points off of the board and starting the Vikings at their own 20.
VCSU’s third-quarter scoring drive was aided by two personal foul penalties against Eastern Oregon University, which offset two Viking penalties, one for holding, the other for intentional grounding. Kastner hit six different receivers on the scoring drive, and Brondos booted the 24-yard field goal with 2:42 left of the frame. The Vikings held the ball for 15 plays and 7:06 of game time.
Eastern Oregon drove to the Viking 25 late in the fourth, and attempted to tie the game with an Ethan Custer field goal. The kick had the leg, but missed wide right, and the Vikings held the lead. The Mounties would get one final possession, but would not threaten.
Cave finished 12-19 for 68 yards, while Kastner finished 12-17 for 68 yards. Jake Deutsch caught six balls for 40 yards to lead the Viking offense.
The Viking defense was stellar. Corner James Dahn had his best game as a Viking with nine tackles. Kahlil Toney added seven tackles and an interception. The Mounties were held to just 166 yards.
Valley City State improves to 2-1, and will face Simpson University of Redding, CA next Saturday for Viking homecoming.