Valley City State scored the first 21 points in less than seven minutes Saturday as the Vikings routed visiting Mayville State 62-6 in NSAA football action.
After making their first appearance inside the Top 25 poll at No. 23 this week, the Vikings came out sharp Saturday at Shelly Ellig Field. The tone was set early as the Viking defense forced a 3-and-out. Mychael Bruce then blocked the Mayville punt and Lenzel Koskela picked it up and returned it for a touchdown just 39 seconds into the game. It was the start of 28 straight points for the Vikings, who led 28-0 after the first quarter and 41-6 at halftime.
After Koskela's blocked-punt touchdown, VCSU's defense forced 3-and-outs on Mayville's second and third drives of the game. Those stops led to two more touchdowns on a 24-yard run by Ian Keller and a 4-yard run by Kurtis Walls. After an interception by Mychael Bruce on Mayville's fourth drive, the Vikings capped off the first-quarter scoring barrage on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Walls to Antoine Griffin.
Walls and Griffin hooked up six times on the day for 120 yards and three touchdowns. Walls finished with 272 yards through the air and five touchdown passes, including one each to Zach Johnson and Jake Miller. Trevor Goerts carried the ball 15 times for 115 yards, and Ian Keller had 14 carries for 77 yards and a touchdown.
VCSU backup quarterback Josh Hansana capped off the scoring with an 85-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter. He finished with six carries for 107 yards and the score.
Valley City State out-gained the Comets 584-198 in total offense. The Viking defense came up with four interceptions, one fumble recovery, three sacks and 11 tackles for loss. Four different Vikings had six tackles to lead the defense: Marvin Conley, Nick McBeain, Ethen Preston and PJ Peterson. Preston, Peterson and Bruenjes all had a sack for the Vikings. Mychael Bruce had two interceptions and both Stevenson Stlouis and Marvin Conley had one interception.
Mayville's lone touchdown came on a 4-yard run by Lance Jackson midway through the second quarter.
The Vikings improve to 6-1 overall. Mayville State drops to 2-5 overall. Saturday's game was a non-conference matchup. The two teams will play again Nov. 1 in Mayville for the conference game.
Up next: Valley City State University.(6-1, 3-0 NSAA) hosts Dickinson State on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 3 p.m.
