VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Louis Quinones rushed for 249 yards and the defense caused a fumble late as Valley City State held on to beat the University of Jamestown 20-14 in the 121st meeting in the this rivalry and the annual Paint Bucket Game Thursday Day night at Shelly Ellig Field at Lokken Stadium.
The senior running back carried the ball 26 times and scored a touchdown. He was not the only senior that came up big tonight. Senior Linebacker Arron Martin had 18 tackles, 1/2 sack and recovered a fumble with 28 seconds remaining to seal the win.
The Vikings got on the board first when Jalen Pfeifer hit Jake Peterson with a ten yard touchdown pass midway through the first quarter. The drive started when Dustin Kasowski blocked the punt and it was recovered by Andrew Hanretty at the Jimmies 12 yard line. Landon Arredondo missed the extra point to make it 6-0 with 6:09 remaining in the first quarter,
VCSU would make it 13-0 early in the second quarter when Josh McKnight scored on a three yard run. That score capped an 10 play 80 yard drive. Quinones carried the ball six times on the drive for 54 yards. He had a 18 yard run nullified because of a penalty. But added a 30 yard run to set up McKnight’s score.
The Vikings would hold that lead into half. The Vikings held UJ to 104 yards in the first half. Head Coach Dennis McCullouch was happy the way the defense played in the first 30 minutes.
The Jimmies would get on the board on their first possession of the second half when Jordan Mann hit Marcus Giles with a 37 yard scored strike. Sean Fenelon’s extra point made it 13-7 Viking with 12:26 left in the third quarter.
The Vikings got that score back on the ensuing drive when Quinones carried the ball all three plays for 63 yards. The last ten scoring a touchdown. With Arredondo’s PAT, the Vikings were back up 20-7.
Jamestown would make it a one score game five seconds into the fourth quarter on Mann’s two-yard scoring pass to Garrett Mitchell. That capped a 10 play 80 yard drive to make 20-14. The drive started when Arredondo missed a 36 yard field goal.
Coach Mac said the kicking game needs to improve..
Jamestown had a chance to tie the game and maybe take the lead but their final drive ended on the Vikings 31 yard line when Kasowski, who already had a blocked punt, hit Jordan Mann and caused him to fumble that was recovered by Aron Martin to seal the win.
Mann was 11 for 22 for 129 yards and two scores for the Jimmies. He also added 73 yards on 14 carries.
The Vikings travel to Orange City, Iowa to take on Northwestern College next Saturday afternoon. The Jimmies host Dickinson State next Saturday afternoon.