VALLEY CITY, N.D. (VCSUVikings.com) – Jacob Giles and Austin Opdahl connected for the game-winning touchdown pass with 13 seconds remaining Saturday as Dakota State held off a big second-half comeback by Valley City State University.
Trailing 21-0 at halftime, the Vikings came storming back in the second half and took their first lead of the game – 28-24 with 1:14 remaining – after freshman quarterback Jalen Pfeifer connected with Jake Peterson from 24 yards out to cap a 98-yard touchdown drive.
The Trojans had just enough time remaining though for Giles to execute his own heroic drive. The senior quarterback rushed for 17 yards on the drive and completed three passes for 32 yards, including a perfect throw on the 20-yard winner to Opdahl.
Dakota State improves to 6-2 overall and 4-1 in the North Star Athletic Association. Valley City State drops to 3-5 overall and 2-4 in the NSAA. It is VCSU’s second loss in the final seconds this season. The win by Dakota State is just their third ever against VCSU and their first since 2007, ending a 10-game losing streak to the Vikings. VCSU now leads the all-time series with Dakota State, 23-3.
The Trojans started fast, scoring on their first offensive drive of the game, as they led 14-0 after the first quarter and 21-0 at halftime. Dakota State gained 276 yards of offense in the first half, compared to 102 for the Vikings. Running back Hagan Hines had two first-half touchdown runs, including a 51-yard dash to open the scoring.
Playing their final home game of the season though, the Vikings did not go quietly. VCSU came out a different team in the second half and the game turned in their favor thanks to a pair of big defensive plays by cornerback Travon Smith.
With Dakota State driving early in the third quarter, Smith won a jump-ball in the endzone to pick off Giles and stall the Trojan drive. The Viking offense then marched 80 yards in 13 plays to score their first touchdown, a 7-yard pass from Pfeifer to DJ Edwards.
The Viking defense held on the next possession, leading to Smith’s second big play. With the Trojans punting from their own 29-yard line, Smith blocked the punt and Tyler Masatpicked it up and returned it to the 3-yard line. Louis Quinones followed with a touchdown run on the next play as the Vikings cut the lead to 21-14.
Dakota State would answer with a field goal by Brywn Ractliffe, making it 24-14 with 11:35 remaining The Vikings took the kickoff and again mounted a long touchdown drive, going 73 yards in 12 plays. Pfeifer and Peterson connected on a 13-yard touchdown pass to make it 24-21 with 6:38 remaining.
Dakota State appeared ready to put the game away on the next drive before the Viking defense came up with a goal-line stand. The Trojans drove down to the 2-yard line before VCSU’s defense stuffed three straight runs by Hagan Hines to take over on downs with 4:20 to go.
The Viking offense followed up the goal-line stand with a 98-yard touchdown drive to take their only lead of the game. Pfeifer and Quinones combined to rush for 51 yards on the drive and then Peterson soared above the defense to haul in the go-ahead score from 24 yards out. Landon Arredondo nailed the extra point for a 28-24 lead, setting up Giles’ game-winning touchdown drive in the final seconds.
Dakota State out-gained the Vikings 521-370 in total offensive yards, with the teams nearly even in second-half yards. Dakota State racked up 283 rushing yards, led by 151 yards on 18 carries by Hagan Hines. VCSU had 115 rushing yards, including 68 yards on 17 carries by Louis Quinones.
Viking quarterback Jalen Pfeifer completed 22 of 37 attempts for 255 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Peterson had a career-high nine catches for 130 yards and two scores. El Luna had six catches for 68 yards, and DJ Edwards hauled in two passes, including a touchdown.
Giles was 18-for-24 passing for 238 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also had 10 carries for 56 yards and a score. Opdahl hauled in eight passes for 131 yards and the game-winning touchdown.
Riley Fredrickson led the Viking defense with 20 tackles, including 1.5 for loss. Kendrick Lenzen had 12 stops, and both Tyler Masat and Andrew Hanretty made nine tackles. Smith finished with eight tackles, an interception, two passes broken up and a blocked punt.
Curt Boeke led the Trojan defense with 15 tackles. Danny Jordan and John Trout each had eight tackles.
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next: Valley City State plays at Presentation College on Saturday, Oct. 28. Dakota State hosts Dickinson State on Oct. 28.