DICKINSON, N.D. (VCSUVikings,com)– The Valley City State football team lost a back-and-forth contest Saturday afternoon at Dickinson State as the two teams battled for first place in the North Star Athletic Association.
Dickinson State took the lead on a touchdown with 3:10 remaining, and Valley City State’s final drive ended with a fumble in Blue Hawk territory as the Vikings fell 31-26.
Valley City State drops to 4-4 overall and 3-2 in the North Star Athletic Association. Dickinson State, ranked No. 20 in the NAIA, improves to 6-2 overall and is now in sole possession of first place in the NSAA with a 4-1 conference record. The Vikings and Blue Hawks both have two conference games remaining.
Saturday’s game featured four lead changes, including Valley City State’s final lead when Raymonte Maynard plunged into the endzone from 1-yard out and Landon Arredondo added the extra point to put VCSU ahead 24-23 with 9:09 to go.
Both teams went three-and-out on the next possession before the Blue Hawks started the game-winning drive from their own 28-yard line with 5:15 on the clock. The Viking defense forced Dickinson into a third down from their own 49-yard line, but a pass interference penalty gave the Blue Hawks a first down and on the very next play Hayden Gibson hit Roderick Ashford for a 36-yard catch-and-run touchdown. Dickinson added the two-point conversion to go up 31-24.
Valley City State took over on its own 22, needing a touchdown and extra point to tie the game. The Vikings moved down the field to the Dickinson State 27-yard line, but on 3rd-and-1 the Vikings fumbled the snap and Dickinson State recovered to secure the victory. The Blue Hawks proceeded to run out the clock, taking a safety as time expired for the final margin of 31-26.
Dickinson State scored the first 10 points of the game to build the first lead. Valley City State would respond with 17 straight points of their own. Josh McKnight scored from 1-yard out midway through the second quarter, capping a 12-play, 71-yard drive and cutting the deficit to 10-7. Arredondo added a 37-yard field goal later in the half to tie the game at 10-10 after two quarters.
VCSU’s Travon Smith intercepted Dickinson State’s Hayden Gibson on the second play of the third quarter, giving the Viking offense great field position at the Dickinson 17-yard line. Two plays later McKnight found the end zone from three yards out for a 17-10 Viking lead.
A huge kick return set the Blue Hawks up deep in Viking territory and kicker Cody Johnson made a 24-yard field goal to cut the Viking lead to 17-13. McKnight then fumbled on VCSU’s first offensive play of the next drive and Dickinson State recovered at the VCSU 27-yard line. Six plays later Nick Miller ran in a two-yard touchdown and the Blue Hawks had a 20-17 lead. Johnson would hit a 26-yard field goal later in the quarter to put Dickinson ahead 23-17.
The Vikings would regain the lead after a botched punt attempt by Dickinson ended with the Vikings taking over on downs at the Dickinson 4-yard line. Maynard found the endzone two plays later and Arredondo made the extra point to put VCSU ahead 24-23.
Both teams had two takeaways in the game. Smith and Sal Avila had interceptions for VCSU, while Dickinson State forced and recovered two fumbles – including the game-clincher on VCSU’s final drive.
Dickinson State finished with 303 yards of offense, only 38 of which came on the ground. Valley City State had 285 yards of offense, including 125 rushing yards and 160 passing yards. VCSU played most of the game without starting running back Louis Quinones, who suffered an injury after four carries.
Maynard had eight carries for 42 yards and a TD, while McKnight finished with 29 yards and two touchdowns on 14 rushes. Quarterback Jalen Pfeifer was 16-for-31 for 160 yards. Eli Luna led the receiving corps with six catches for 53 yards.
Arron Martin totaled nine tackles for VCSU, and Riley Fredrickson had seven total tackles. Avila finished with six tackles, one sack, 2 1/2 tackles for loss and an interception. Austin Erickson and Tyler Masat each had six tackles and combined for four tackles for loss. VCSU finished with nine tackles for loss.
Dickinson State leads the NSAA standings with a 4-1 conference record. VCSU, Waldorf University and Presentation College are all 3-2 in conference play. Dickinson has games remaining with Presentation College and Dakota State. VCSU faces Mayville State and Presentation College, and Waldorf plays Dakota State and Mayville State.
Up next: Valley City State travels to Mayville State for a 1 p.m. conference game on Saturday, Oct. 27.