VALLEY CITY, ND (NewsDakota.com) A week after a brutal three turnover barrage that led to 22 straight fourth-quarter points for the opposition, the Vikings were hungry for a different tone Saturday.
That tone was set on the first snap, and it never changed.
Lineman Georgia Mageo (Fr., Anchorage, AK) grabbed a batted screen pass out of mid air, turning over Iowa Wesleyan on their opening offensive play and setting up a 24-yard scoring drive, the start of a 32-0 Valley City State University win at Lokken Stadium.
Justice Bice (Jr., Bonifay, FL) capped the drive and started a 94-yard, two-score day with an 11-yard touchdown run just 1:41 into the game. Bice would later score the game’s final touchdown late in the fourth quarter, capping the scoring and moving the Vikings to 2-4 overall, 1-1 in North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) play.
The Vikings would score twice on turnovers, the second score coming after linebacker Jahidi West (Jr., Stockton, CA) snared a throw from Tiger backup quarterback Gavin Esquivel and returned to the Wesleyan 18-yard-line. West had an impressive day, moving from linebacker to cornerback against a Tiger offense that regularly plays four receivers. He earned Ivy Real Estate Group Player of the Game honors for an effort that include the pick and 28-yard return, two additional breakups, and six tackles.
Runningback Taylor Simmons (So, McCleary, WA) ran in from 15 yards after West’s interception, pushing the lead to 25-0 with 6:26 left in the third quarter, effectively sealing the day behind a Viking defense that allowed only 19 yards of total offense to the Tigers in the first half, and only 43 yards rushing on the day. Simmons finished the day with 73 yards on 16 carries.
Quarterback Noah Chambers (Fr., Juneau, AK) continued his steady improvement in a season that has called on him to take the starters role due to the injury of Avery Thorsgard. Chambers ran for 62 yards on 11 carries, including a 13-yard score in the opening quarter. He also completed seven of 11 throws for 72 yards.
The Vikings travel to Waldorf University next Saturday in Forest City, IA.