VALLEY CITY, N.D. – The Valley City State University Vikings picked up their third shutout of the season with a 21-0 win over Mayville State in a Frontier Conference game at Dacotah Bank Field, Lokken Stadium on Saturday, October 11^th. This was the third shutout of the season for the Viking defense.

The Vikings are 4-2 overall and 1-1 in the Frontier Conference. The Comets are 4-3 overall and 1-1 in the conference.

Neither team scored in the first quarter though the Vikings did have a scoring chance late in the quarter. After stopping the Comets and forced them to punt, Valley City State moved 70 yards on twelve plays and took 6:21 off the first quarter clock. But Walker Brondos' 27-yard field goal was wide right.

Mayville State's scoring chance came on the ensuing drive as the Comets went 57 yards on twelve plays, using 5:46 of the first and second quarter clocks. A sack by TaQuez Chatman of Aiden Marcussen at the Viking 21 yard-line ended the drive as the Comets turned the ball over on downs.

After a three-and-out by Valley City State, the Comets drove in into Viking territory with a ten play 26-yard drive. But again, turned the ball over on downs at the Viking 33 yard-line.

Another Viking three-and-out would give the ball back to the Trojans at the Mayville State 20 yard-line. On the third play of the drive, Isaiah Smith could not handle the pitch from Marcussen and fumbled the ball and Aiden Russell fell on it for the Vikings at the Comet 16-yard line. VCSU would only need two plays to score as Joey Cave found a wide-open Jake Deutsch in the end zone for the 16-yard touchdown pass. Devon Woods would block the extra-point to keep the score at 6-0 Vikings with 2:16 to go in the first half.

On what appeared to be the final play of the first half, Marcussen's pass for Mayville State was incomplete. But a roughing the passer penalty on the Vikings gave the Comets one untimed play form the Viking 28. Bryson Heck lined up to try a 45-yard field goal, but the Comets had other plans, when holder Dylan LaMont flipped the ball to Heck. The former Valley City Hi-Liner quarterback heaved the ball towards the end zone just out of the reach of Kelby Azure to end the half.

Mayville State would receive the ball to start the second half. On the opening possession of the half, the Comets would go 65 yards on 15 plays using over nine minutes. However, the Viking defense came up big again when freshman Emmitt Maher recovered a fumble by Mayville State's Moses Nuahpa. The Vikings then took over at their own eight-yard line with 5:38 to go in the third quarter.

The Vikings would go 92 yards on eleven plays with help from a couple of Comet personal foul penalties. Devyne Pearson would cap off the drive with a 15-yard touchdown run. Cave and Pearson hooked up for the two-point conversion to make it 14-0 Vikings with 13:41 to go in the fourth quarter.

On Mayville State's ensuing possession, the Viking defense came up big again. On fourth and one at their own 34, the Comets choose to go for it and TaQuez Chapman made them pay when he stopped Blaine Smith at the line of scrimmage, turning the ball over on downs.

The Vikings appeared to have a touchdown on a 22-yard pass play from Cave to Exavian Westbrook. But the play was called back due to a holding penalty on VCSU. Then on fourth and five from the 17, Cave hit Dominic Sotomayor who made a great catch in the back of the end zone for the touchdown. Walker Brondos made the extra-point to make it 21-0 Vikings.

The Valley City State defense had two more big plays left in them when they came up with two interceptions on the next two Comet drives. Fafo Lefano had one at the VCSU ten, then Khalil Toney picked off a pass at the VCSU 20.

The Vikings would go into victory formation and come away with a Frontier Conference win over the Comets 21-0 on Parents Day at VCSU.

Joey Cave was nine of 16 passing for 120 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He would add 59 yards rushing on 13 carries. Devyne Pearson had 31 yards on ten carries and a touchdown.

Gavin Gerhardt led the defense with 14 tackles, one for a loss. James Dahn had nine total tackles. TaQuez Chatman had nine total tackles, one for a loss. Fafo Lefano had eight total tackles and an interception, his third in two weeks. Lorenzo Luchi had seven tackles, one for a loss with a sack and a forced fumbled.
 
UP NEXT: Valley City State hits the road for a game in ,Madison, South Dakota against Dakota State. Kickoff is set for 4:00 p.m.