REDDING, CALIF. – Simpson University scored with 33.9 seconds to go in the game an held on for a 50-45 win over Valley City State in an offensive showcase for both teams. Combined the two teams nearly had twelve hundred yards of total offense.
Valley City State is 1-3 on the season while Simpson improves to 2-2.
Each team had opening drives that resulted in no points despite decent drives that found them in the others teams' territory, but the Red Hawks missed a 53-yard field goal and Valley City State turned the ball over on downs.
Simpson would score first on its second drive on a 55-yard from Ya'j Vance to Ivan Huerta. Tyler Hinrichs extras-point was good, making it 7-0 Red Hawks with 3:57 to go in the first quarter.
VCSU would counter that with a 7-play, 75-yard drive on its next possession. The big play of the drive was a 34-yard completion from Brayden Medeiors to
Nick Mears to the Simpson 15. Laggaruis Marshell would score on the next play,
Walker Brondos knocked through the extra-point to tie the game at 7-7 with 49 seconds left in the first quarter.
On the Red Hawks next drive, they would go 70 yards on six plays, capped off by a seven-yard touchdown run by D'Ante Benjamin. Hinrichs extra-point made it 14-7 Red Hawks with 12:54 to play in the first half. The big play on that drive was Benjamin's 28-yard run to the Viking 23-yard line.
Valley City State wasted little time to tie the game again. Their ensuing drive was a four-play, 82-yard drive with Medeiros and
Exavian Westbrook hooking up for a 33-yard touchdown. Brondos added the extra-point to make it 14-14 with 11:12 to go in the second quarter.
Simpson would regain the lead with a nine-play, 75-yard drive with Benjamin scoring on a 26-yard run. Hinrichs' extra-point made it 21-14 Red Hawks with 6:49 to go in the first half.
Valley City's next drive stalled at the 16-yard line, and they settled for a 36-yard field goal by Brondos to make it 21-17 Simpson with 2:29 to go in the second quarter.
The Viking defense stopped Simpson and forced a punt. The Vikings rook their first lead on the ensuing drive on Medeiros second touchdown pass off the game. This was a 22-yard touchdown to
Jake Deutsch. Brondos knocked through the extra-point to make it 24-21 Vikings with 51 seconds to go in the first half.
Simpson would use 48 of the last 51 seconds of the half to take the lead back. Vance connected on a 36-yard completion with Jahkylle Smith to the Viking 39. Vance and Jakari Williams hooked up for a 37-yard completion to the Viking two. Vance would hit King Wade for a one-yard touchdown. Hinrichs' extra-point made it 28-24 Simpson at halftime.
The Vikings would get the ball to start the second half and would regain the lead with a seven-play, 78-yard drive. Half of it came on a 39-yard touchdown pass from Mederios to Deutsch. Brondos connected on the extra-point to make it 31-28 Vikings with 11:14 to go in the third quarter.
The Red Hawks would strike quickly to tie the game. A 55-yard run by Benjamin took the ball to the Viking nine-yard line. The Viking defense stiffened up and held Simpson to a 21-yard Hinrichs field goal to make 31-31 with 8:28 to go in the third quarter.
The first punt of the game for Valley City came on their next drive. A 19-yard return by Smith would give the Red Hawks the ball at the VCSU 47. Three plays later, Benjamin would score on an eight-yard run. Hinrichs extra-point would make it 38-31 Simpson with 4:59 to go in the third quarter.
The Vikings would tie the game on their next possession. A 32-yard run by Marshell gave the Vikings a first and goal from the five. Marshell would take it in from a yard out two plays later. Brondos' extra-point made it 38-38 with2:14 to go in the third.
Both teams punted the ball away on their next drives. Simpson would take the lead back on an 80-yard drive that took just four plays. Vance and Smith connected for 44 yards to the Viking 23. Then Vance and Smith would hook up for a 23-yard score. The extra-point was no good and the Red Hawks led 44-38 with 8:32 to go in the fourth.
The Vikings would methodically march down field with a ten-play, 75-yard drive that took 5:33 off the clock. Medeiros and Deutsch connected for the third time in the game with an 18-yard touchdown. Brondos' extra-point made it 45-44 Vikings with 2:59 to go in regulation.
On the Red Hawks drive, they would score on a 16-yard run by quarterback Vance. The two-point conversion was no good, making the score 50-45 Simpson with 33.9 seconds to go in the fourth quarter.
On the Vikings next drive, the only turnover of the game came when Williams Weatherington intercepted Medeiros at the Red Hawk 34-yard line. He returned it 22 yards to the Viking 44. A run and an incomplete pass ended the game with the final 50-45 Simpson.
Laggarius Marshell rushed for 216 yards on 25 carries with two touchdowns.
Brayden Medeiros passed for 319 yards on 18 of 29 passing with four touchdowns and one interception that came at the end of the game.
Jake Deutsch had six receptions for 133 yards and three touchdowns.
Exavian Westbrook had four catches for 76 yards and a score.
Gavin Gerhardt led the defense with twelve tackles.
Aiden Russell added eleven.
Valley City State begins Frontier Conference play next Saturday in Billings, Montana at Rocky Mountain College. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Central Time.
