VALLEY CITY, N.D. – It certainly won’t win any style points, but in the end it was a Viking victory and that’s all that mattered to the large crowd Saturday afternoon at Lokken Stadium.
The Valley City State football team survived a grueling Homecoming game Saturday, hanging on in the final minute to defeat Dakota State, 10-6. Valley City State improves to 3-1 overall and starts the conference season 1-0 after the victory over the Trojans. Dakota State drops to 2-2 overall and 0-1 in the NSAA.
“Coach Horner says it all the time, ‘Making yards doesn’t mean points,’” VCSU head coach Dennis McCulloch said afterwards. “At the end of the day, you just have to do everything you can to keep them out of the end zone – make one big play, block a field goal, just find a way to keep points off the board.”
The Viking defense did just that Saturday afternoon, surrendering only six points to Dakota State despite giving up 398 yards of offense. Big plays proved to be the difference for the Viking defense. VCSU cornerback Doniaj Smelker intercepted a first-half pass and returned it to the end zone for VCSU’s only touchdown; Dustin Kasowski blocked a first-half extra point and later ended a fourth-quarter DSU drive by recovering a fumble at the VCSU 14-yard line; and Anthony Russell broke up three passes in the last 60 seconds – including Dakota State’s final pass on fourth-and-10 from the Viking 21-yard line.
“I’m very proud of our defense today,” said McCulloch. “That was a big-time effort out of that group.”
Viking running back Louis Quinones – who was averaging 197 rushing yards per game – was held to just seven rushing yards at halftime, but behind a big offensive line push he racked up 130 yards in the second half.
With the Vikings clinging to a 7-6 lead after Kasowski’s fumble recovery with 7:31 remaining, Quinones carried the ball six straight times as he picked up four first downs and 76 yards and led the Vikings down to the Dakota State 10-yard line. A holding penalty derailed the momentum, but VCSU senior kicker Landon Arredondo stepped up and booted a 43-yard field goal to put the Vikings ahead 10-6 with 2:50 remaining. It was a pressure kick and the senior delivered, shaking off two missed field goals earlier in the game. It was the only made field goal of the day as Dakota State kicker Casey Bourque was 0-for-3 on his attempts.
After Arredondo’s kick, Dakota State worked its way down to the Viking 21-yard line in the final minute. The Trojans had a golden chance to take the lead on first down, but receiver Dajshon Keel lost control of a pass as he fell to the ground in the end zone. Dakota State’s next three passes were incomplete as the Vikings held on.
A scoreless game turned in the Vikings’ favor early in the second quarter. Dakota State quarterback Torren Devericks was flushed from the pocket at his own 14-yard line and tried to throw the ball away. Instead, VCSU’s Doniaj Smelker intercepted the pass at the 25-yard line and behind a caravan of blockers returned it to the end zone for VCSU’s only touchdown. Arredondo added the extra point to make it 7-0.
The Vikings had a second-quarter touchdown called back after Pfeifer hit Quinones for what would have been a 72-yard touchdown pass, but Caid Combs was called for a block-in-the-back at the 10-yard line – negating the score and keeping it at 7-0.
Later in the quarter, Dakota State’s Riley Janke intercepted VCSU quarterback Jalen Pfeifer near midfield, setting up Dakota State’s only score of the game. Brodie Frederiksen rushed in from 1-yard out, cutting the Viking lead to 7-6 with 43 seconds left in the first half. Kasowski broke through the line on the extra point attempt, blocking the kick to preserve the one-point halftime lead for VCSU.
Linebacker Sal Avila led the Viking defense with 15 total tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. Arron Martin added 13 tackles and Hunter Olson had nine. Anthony Russell recorded nine tackles and three pass break-ups, while Smelker had a big game with seven tackles, two passes broken up and his interception return for a touchdown.
Quinones finished with 137 yards rushing on 25 carries. He also had two catches for 61 yards. Jake Peterson totaled five receptions for 50 yards. Pfeifer was 11-for-21 passing for 160 yards and an interception.
Frederiksen picked up 176 yards and a score on 29 carries for Dakota State. Devericks was 16-for-32 passing for 195 yards and an interception. Dajshon Keel had five catches for 108 yards, and Josh Giles added five catches for 46 yards.
Karson Lindblad led the Dakota State defense with 12 tackles, while Jordan Thomas added nine stops.
Dakota State picked up 398 yards of total offense, including 203 rushing and 195 passing. The Vikings finished with 315 yards of offense, including 155 on the ground and 160 through the air.
Up next: Valley City State travels to Waldorf University for a 1 p.m. game on Saturday, Oct. 5. Dakota State hosts Presentation College that same day at 4 p.m.
(photo courtesy VCSU athletic department)