vcsuSports-smallJamestown (CSi)  Kurtis Walls completed 30-of-45 passes for 512 yards and 4 touchdowns to lead the Valley City State University Vikings to a 41-31 victory over the University of Jamestown in the Paint Bucket Game.

Jimmie QB Beau Eriksson was 23 of 42 for 367 yards and 2 touchdowns. WR Michael Sena had 7 catches for 164 yards and 2 touchdowns. TE Dan Janu also had 7 catches, good for 79 yards.

Valley City State trailed 18-14 at the half, but found the end zone on three of its four third-quarter possessions and took a 34-18 lead into the final quarter.

The Jimmies fumbled the opening kickoff, which Valley City recovered at the UJ 25. Jacob Duilio got the Vikings on the board just 1:18 into the game with a 5 yard touchdown run.

Nate Milos’ punt on the ensuing Jimmie drive pinned VCSU at their own 1-yard line. The Jimmie defense held the Vikings to no gain on consecutive rushing attempts, and Bo Silberg sacked Kurtis Walls in the end zone for a safety to make it 7-2 VCSU.

Jamestown took to the air for the first play of the second quarter and Eriksson connected with Mike Sena on an 88-yard touchdown reception. Following the Grant Linde extra point, Jamestown regained the lead 9-7.

Linde added a 37-yard field goal with 3:27 left in the half to extend the lead to 12-7 Jimmies. The Vikings answered back with a touchdown drive of their own, as Walls found Tovar from 24 yards out. Lucas Norblom’s extra point made the score 14-12 VCSU, with 38 seconds left in the half.

UJ found itself with great field position after a squib kick by the Vikings. Eriksson found Branden Edwards for a 23-yard gain, and a face mask penalty by VCSU added 15 more yards to the play. With  just 7 seconds remaining in the half, Eriksson bolted in from 20 yards to make the score 18-14 Jimmies. The two-point conversion attempt failed and the Jimmies took the lead into the break.

The third quarter was all Vikings, as they marched down 76 yards on only 5 plays, capped off by Duilio’s second rushing score on the day. The extra point was no good and the Vikings led 20-18.

VCSU forced a three-and-out on the next possession, then Walls completed a 10-play, 79-yard scoring drive by finding Tovar for a 10-yard score. After the extra point, VCSU’s lead increased to 27-18.

Another three-and-out gave the Vikings another chance in the third. Walls hooked up with Tovar for 61 yards to take VCSU to the Jimmie 11. and On the next play, Walls hit DJ Edwards for another score. The Norblom extra point extended the lead to 34-18.

Keldrick Sullivan ran in from 2 yards out for a Jimmie touchdown at the 14:55 mark of the fourth quarter. The two-point conversion attempt failed, and UJ cut the defecit to 34-24. Sullivan, in his first game as a Jimmie, had a team-high 47 yards on nine carries.

Walls and Edwards connected for their second score of the day with 11:55 left to make the lead 41-24. The Jimmies fumbled on the ensuing possession, but then intercepted a Walls pass to get the ball back. Eriksson and Sena found the end zone for the second time, a 25-yard grab to make the score 41-31 with 9:56 to go.

Neither team was able to score the remainder of the game, and the Vikings emerged victorious. The win ensured VCSU would keep the Paint Bucket in Valley City until the teams meet again October 24.

(From UJ Web Site)