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CITY (NewsDakota.com)–After three straight wins that saw the Viking offense shine, the defense had their day Saturday.
The Viking sent Jamestown College quarterback Brad Lint (Sr., Roseberg, OR) to the ground six times, including multiple sacks on two different possessions in a 21-10 win over the Jimmies at Shelly Ellig Field and Lokken Stadium in Valley City.
The win broke a five-game losing streak to the Jimmies dating back to 2007, as the Vikings reclaimed possession of the “Paint Bucket” travelling trophy.
Lint spent his entire day on the run, pursued be various elements of the Viking defensive line, with linebacker Jake Thurston (Soph., Bottineau, ND) sending in out of the game on the Jimmies’ final possession.
Adding insult to injury, Jimmie backup quarterback Tyler Notch (Jr., Eagle Bend, MN) was sacked on the final Jimmie offensive play of the game for the seventh Viking sack of the afternoon.
Valley City State’s offense was not it’s crisp self, blue-collaring it’s way to 291 yards of offense for the day, but field position played into their hands in the win.
Jamestown College gave up an opening kickoff return by Viking LeTheo Proctor (Sr., Anchorage, AK) to the Jimmie 19, and four of the first five Viking possessions started inside the Jimmie 30.
The Vikings struggled to take advantage, but finally scored when Tommy Zinke (Jr., Rolla, ND) found Nick Schoenecker (Jr., Eden Valley, MN) for an eight-yard touchdown strike with :57 seconds left of the first quarter.
On the ensuing possession, Lint would have a pass batted, and Josh Hooey (RFr., Fargo, ND) made a diving grab for an interception. Two plays later, Zinke hooked up with Bernardo Marte (Sr., Miami, FL) for a 22-yard scoring play and a 14-0 Viking lead.
Jamestown College would struggle to answer, with a stalled drive and a bad snap on a field goal try, then three straight sacks of Lint, giving the Vikings the ball at the 45.
But the Jimmie defense struck back, with Jayme Westbrook (Sr., Phoenix, AZ) taking an A.J. Pfeifer (Sr., Buffalo, ND) fumble 71 yards for a score with 6:39 left of the half, cutting the Viking lead to 14-7, a lead they would take to the break.
Zinke would then throw an interception on the first Viking possession of the second half, giving the Jimmies the ball at VCSU’s 26 yard line. Jamestown College would pick up a first down, but settle for a 29-yard field goal by Ryan Benke (Soph., Jamestown, ND), cutting the Viking edge to 14-10.
Another pick thrown by Zinke would stall the next Viking drive, but a sack of Lint would stall the Jimmies, forcing a punt that pinned the Vikings at their own two-yard line. Zinke responded with a third-down throw to Proctor for 26 yards, and an 11-yard toss to Ken Eliacin (Jr., Miami, FL).
Three plays later, the Vikings scored the key separation of the game with a 45-yard touchdown run by Darius Anderson (Fr., Kapolei, HI) with 12:42 left of the fourth quarter, pushing the Viking lead to 21-10.
Jamestown College began to drive to keep the game within reach, moving to the Viking 35. On third down, Lint was driven to the turf by Thurston, sending the Jimmies to a fourth down and a new signal-caller. Notch was then sacked, effectively ending the game.
Anderson and Pfeiffer picked up first downs to seal the game. Offensive lineman Major Hopp (Sr., Milaca, MN) then ran the Paint Bucket to the Viking sideline in celebration.
The Viking defense held the Jimmies to just 143 yards of total offense for the game, after they had averaged 352 yards per contest through four games. Lint finished 12-26 for just 84 yards. Zinke struggled for the Vikings, ending at 11-22 for 152 yards, with two scores and three picks.
Pfeiffer and Anderson each ran for 73 yards. Jimmie runningback Lance Johansen (Jr., Devils Lake, ND) finished with 15 carries for 101 yards to lead the individual numbers. Thurston finished with five tackes, two sacks, three tackles for loss, and a pass breakup.
The Vikings are now 4-1, and travel to Mayville State next week.