Justice Bice rushed for 147 yards and a touchdown, and Jalen Pfeifer passed for three more touchdowns Saturday as the Valley City State football team earned a 28-14 road victory at Iowa Wesleyan.

Bice's first 100-yard rushing game of the season helped the No. 20-ranked Vikings to their fourth straight victory. Valley City State is now 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the North Star Athletic Association.

Pfeifer passed for touchdowns in each of the first three quarters as Valley City State built a 21-7 lead entering the fourth quarter. Bice then capped a 10-play, 74-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run early in the fourth, putting the Vikings ahead 28-7.

Pfeifer's three touchdown went to Jacob Gottenborg, Ashton Biesterfeld and Michael Cornelious. Biesterfeld's score was the first of his Viking career.

Colton Taylor and Jahidi West each had interceptions for VCSU. Tied at 7-7, Taylor's second-quarter pick gave the Vikings a short field at the Wesleyan 24-yard line. Three plays later Pfeifer hit Biesterfeld for a touchdown and the Vikings took the lead for good at 14-7.

VCSU's three other touchdowns came after sustained drives. The Vikings received the opening kickoff and marched 64 yards in 12 plays for the first touchdown of the game. Their third-quarter TD drive was 64 yards in seven plays, and the clinching drive in the fourth quarter covered 74 yards in 10 plays.

STAT SUMMARY
The Viking offense racked up 437 yards of total offense and 26 first downs. VCSU had a season-best 206 yards rushing. Valley City State's defense held Iowa Wesleyan to 288 total yards, including just 49 rushing yards.

Riley Gerhardt has a team-high seven tackles and a sack for VCSU. Colton Taylor have five tackles and an interception, and Nick Harberts totaled four tackles, a sack and two tackles for loss.

Pfeifer was 19-for-31 passing for 231 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed 12 times for 51 yards. Bice gained a career-high 147 yards and a touchdown on 31 carries. Senior tight end Jorun Hamre hauled in five passes for 94 yards. Gottenborg had five catches for 45 yards and a score.

UP NEXT
Valley City State is back home for its Homecoming game on Saturday, Oct. 2. Kickoff is at 2 p.m. against Mayville State University.