MINOT, ND  (NewsDakota.com)  The Vikings knew a young offensive line and a triple option for Minot State would test them in the season opener.

The elements added on, and the Vikings were in a big hole early in a loss to the Beavers Thursday night at Herb Parker Stadium in Minot.

Two three-and-0uts for the Viking offense left them punting into a 21 mile-per-hour wind, leading to a drive for the Beavers from midfield, another from the Viking 42, each producing points.  Two personal foul penalties on the ensuing drive boosted the Beavers to a 17-0 lead after a quarter.

Minot State rushed for 416 yards and five scores.  They attempted just one pass in the first half, an incompletion, but racked up 279 yards on the grounds in building a 24-0 lead at the break.  Carson Christman, a converted defensive players who started at quarterback, had two touchdown runs in the first half, on his way to a four-score night.

Evan Lovett sparked the Minot State offense with 36-yard scoring run in the opening quarter.  Lovett finished with 139 yards, and fullback Sam Buckanan slashed and burrowed his way to 73 yards.

But the Vikings played even in the second half, and all of the Beavers scoring in the second came after turnovers.  While the Viking defense did a much better job of bottling the triple option, the Viking offensive line matured quickly.

After VCSU forced a three-and-out on the first Beaver series, Laggarius Marshell and Kolby Jones sparked the rushing attack behind a line that produced surge after surge.

It led to Viking quarterback Noah Chambers finding Dom Sotomayor for a 39-yard touchdown strike on a post route, and the Vikings were back within 17 at 24-7.

The Viking defense forced another quick punt, and Chambers delivered another drive, but was pressured by an unrelenting Beaver blitz that pushed in all night, and a throw behind his tight end Trent Finney was pushed in the air and picked off.  The Beavers would score on a Christman touchdown run, his third of the night, to push the lead to 31-7.

The Vikings again drove, converting two fourth-downs, to find first-and-goal at the Beaver eight, but another blitz forced a Chambers throw that was picked in the endzone.  Minot State tacked on another Christman run for the final score.

Valley City State rushed for a respectable 76 yards behind the young line.  Chambers finished 15-31 for 181 yards, the score, and the two picks.

The Vikings face Augsburg on the road in Minneapolis next Friday night at 8:00 PM.