The Valley City State University football team left no doubt in its season opener Thursday night under the lights of Shelly Ellig Field.
Sophomore quarterback Kurtis Walls passed for 365 yards and four touchdowns, including two each to Zach Johnson and Antoine Griffin, as the Vikings dominated the Jimmies, 31-7 behind a strong offensive and defensive effort.
VCSU reclaims the traveling Paint Bucket Trophy with the victory, and now leads the all-time series against the Jimmies, 57-51-5.
True freshman receiver Antoine Griffin was spectacular in his debut, catching 10 passes for 158 yards and two scores. VCSU led 21-0 at halftime and 28-0 after three quarters. Thomas Cortes' 37-yard field goal with 11:54 remaining put the Vikings up 31-0 before Jamestown scored a late touchdown.
The Vikings racked up 454 yards of total offense, compared to 212 yards for Jamestown. Walls, in his second season as a starter, completed 28 of 40 passes for 365 yards and four touchdowns. Receiver Zach Johnson joined Griffin in eclipsing the 100-yard mark. Johnson caught seven passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns. The game was scoreless until Walls found Johnson down the right sideline for a 36-yard strike late in the first quarter. It capped a 12-play, 80-yard drive by the Vikings.
The next score by VCSU was a quick strike as Walls hit Griffin for a 58-yard touchdown on the first play of the drive with 6:59 to go in the second quarter. With 1:54 remaining in the first half, Johnson came down with a Walls pass that was tipped in the air, waltzing into the endzone for a 21-0 lead. Walls and Griffin connected from 11 yards out to make it 28-0 early in the second half before Cortes capped the scoring.
Valley City's defense was on its game as well, pitching a shutout until midway through the fourth quarter. VCSU contained Jamestown's playmaking quarterback, Beau Eriksson, all night. He was held to just 12 yards rushing on 10 attempts, and completed 11 of 24 passes for 121 yards. Nick McBeain led VCSU with eight tackles. Ethen Preston added seven tackles and an interception and Ben Bruenjes also picked off a pass.
Up next: VCSU (1-0) hosts No. 3 Morningside College on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. It is the season opener for Morningside.
