VALLEY CITY, N.D. – Valley City State scored 17 points in the first quarter then had to hold on in the end pick up a 27-21 win over Simpson University in homecoming football game on Saturday, September 27^th at Dacotah Bank Field at Lokken Stadium.

The Valley City State Viking defense struck first when Moziah Rogers-Tivao intercepted a Darren Miller pass at the Simpson 40 yard-line. Rogers-Tivao returned the pick 20 yards to the RedHawks 20 yard-line. The drive stalled at then five-yard line and the Vikings had to settle for a Walker Brondos 22-yard field goal to give VCSU and early 3-0 with 10:26 left in the first quarter.

The RedHawks went three-and-out on their next drive and a short punt by Louis Sanders gave the Vikings excellent field position at the Simpson 45-yard line.

The Vikings went ten plays to cover the 45 yards. Joey Cave scored on an eleven-yard touchdown run to cap the drive. Brondos added the extra point to make it 10-0 Vikings with 4:46 to go in the first quarter.
On the ensuing kickoff, Simpson's Chris Bush fumbled the ball away and Gavin Gerhardt recovered it at the Simpson 17-yard line. It took one play for then Vikings to punch it in, a 17-yard touchdown pass from Cave to Owen Quail. Brondos added the extra point to make the score 17-0 Valley City with 4:46 to go in the first quarter.

Another short punt and for the fourth drive in a row, the Vikings started in Simpson territory. This time, after the drive stalled, Brondos missed a 27-yard field goal attempt keeping the game at 17-0.
Another three-and-out for the RedHawks led to a punt by Sanders. Gavin Gerhardt returned the punt 49 yards to then Simpson nine-yard line. A third straight drive that started in the RedHawks zone for Valley City State.

Joey Cave found Trent Finney for a seven-yard touchdown pass. Brondos nailed the extra point, making the score 24-0 with 11:22 to go in the second quarter.

Simpson would get on the board on its next possession. Kaleb Anderson took it in from seven yards out, capping a twelve play, 70-yard drive that took nearly six minutes off the clock. Brayden Smith's extra-point made it 24-7 Vikings with 5:23 to go in the second quarter.

The Simpson defense struck with an interception of a Joey Cave pass on the Vikings next drive. But Malachi Torres returned the favor when he intercepted a Kaleb Anderson pass at the Vikings' 21-yard line.

Each team would go three and out on their next possession. The RedHawks caught a bit of a break when the Vikings' Fafo Lefano was flagged for roughing the kicker. That gave Simpson the ball at their own 44 yard-line. After a 13-yard completion, the RedHawks took a timeout. Brayden Smith attempted a 60-yard field goal, but it came up short, and Gavin Gerhardt returned it out of the end zone 37 yards to the 37-yard line. That is where the first half ended with Valley City State up 24-7.

After each team went three and out, the Vikings were putting together a nice drive and got into Simpson territory. But the RedHawks would halt the drive with another interception. But the Viking defense held, and Simpson punted the ball away.

The Vikings put together a 12-play drive that really didn't go anywhere then on a 4^th and 15, Cave tossed his third interception of the game. Charlie Walden picked off a pass in the end zone. Simpson would go 80 yards on eight plays on its ensuing drive, capped off by a 28-yard touchdown run by Kaleb Anderson. Smith's extra point made the score 24-14 with 12:20 to go in the fourth quarter.

The Vikings would respond with a ten play, 52 yard drive that resulted in a 28-yard Walker Brondos field goal, making the score 27-14 VCSU with 8:22 to go in the fourth quarter.

Simpson put together another great drive, twelve plays, 75 yards that took 5:41 off the fourth quarter clock. Kaleb Anderson ran it in from twelve yards out. Smith's extra point made it 27-21 Vikings with 2:41 to go in the fourth.

The Vikings did get one first down on the next drive and used most of the clock. But they did have to punt the ball back to Simpson with 13 seconds left on the clock.
Simpson ran two plays then ran out of time.

Joey Cave led the offense with 153 yards passing on 16 of 29 passes. He had two touchdowns but tossed three interceptions. He would add 61 yards rushing and another score. Exavian Westbrook had six receptions for 69 yards to lead the receiving corps.

Gavin Gerhardt led the defense with twelve tackles, one tackle for a loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Joey Antonutti had nine tackles and one for a loss. Malachi Torres had five tackles and an interception. Moziah Rogers-Tivao also had a pick.

Valley City State is 3-1 on the season. Simpson falls to 0-4.

UP NEXT: Valley City State will open Frontier Conference action next Saturday when Rocky Mountain College comes to Lokken Stadium for 12:00 p.m. kickoff.