Vikings slip past Concordia- Moorhead, Sat.

MOORHEAD, MINN.  (VCSU)   – Just call him “Money” Magana.

VCSU kicker Nico Magana was clutch when it mattered most Saturday at Concordia College, making two big kicks in the final minute including the game-winning 40-yard field goal as time expired. Magana’s game-winner lifted the Vikings to a 35-32 victory in a wild contest against the Cobbers.

“To have Nico come out and kick that field goal was amazing,” said VCSU head coach Dennis McCulloch. “It’s a great deal for him and a great way to win the game and reward the guys for all the work and all the things they’ve done.”

LATE DRAMA
The Vikings thoroughly outplayed Concordia in the first half, building a 19-0 lead at the break. The Cobbers stormed back after halftime though, scoring on their first five possessions to take a 32-25 lead late in the fourth quarter.

Valley City State was down to their last gasp with 51 seconds remaining – facing a fourth-and-14 from the Cobber 16-yard line – but quarterback Jalen Pfeifer was able to scramble and find Jacob Gottenborg for a touchdown in the left corner of the endzone. Trailing 32-31, the Vikings initially chose to go for a 2-point conversion and the lead, but their successful conversion was called back due to a holding penalty. That put the pressure squarely on Magana, who proceeded to nail a 30-yard extra point to tie the game at 32-32.

Three plays later, VCSU’s Colton Taylor intercepted a pass near midfield with 20 seconds remaining as Concordia attempted to drive for a game-winning score. A scramble by Pfeifer and a late hit penalty on Concordia moved VCSU to the 23-yard line with 5 seconds to go, setting up Magana’s second clutch kick. Holder Avery Thorsgard set up on the left hash at the 30-yard line and Magana’s right foot kicked the Vikings to victory, setting off a wild celebration on the VCSU sideline.

“You couldn’t have written a better script to end the game,” said McCulloch. “We had a lot of bad things happen to us in the second half. The guys could have given up really easily, but I never felt that. The guys hung in there and were rewarded.”

REDEMPTION AGAINST THE COBBERS
Valley City State improves to 2-0 this season, following up last week’s rivalry win against Jamestown with Saturday’s victory at Concordia. It was VCSU’s first game against Concordia in 11 years and the first victory against the Cobbers in McCulloch’s 25 seasons. The last meeting was a 42-0 drubbing at Concordia back in 2010.

“That day was an embarrassment to our football program,” said McCulloch. “Everybody saw today that Viking Football is a quality football team. We’re a lot different from where we were then to where this group is at now. I’m very proud of these guys.”

VIKINGS START FAST
The Vikings made an immediate impression Saturday. The defense forced a three-and-out on Concordia’s first possession, and the VCSU offense capped a 65-yard touchdown drive on its first possession with a 5-yard scramble into the endzone by Pfeifer. On Concordia’s next possession, VCSU defensive end Garrett Pemelton batted a pass into the air, intercepted it and then rumbled 55 yards for a touchdown and a 13-0 Viking lead. The point-after attempt was partially blocked, the first of several point-after difficulties for VCSU on Saturday.

Later in the first half, the Viking offense went 82 yards on 15 plays, capping the scoring drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Pfeifer to Michael Cornelious. VCSU’s 2-point attempt was unsuccessful and the Vikings went into the locker room with a 19-0 lead.

Concordia trimmed the Viking lead to 19-11 in the third quarter before Pfeifer and Cornelious hooked up for another touchdown, this one coming from 25 yards out and finishing an 80-yard drive. A bad snap doomed the point-after attempt and the Vikings led 25-11.

The Cobbers scored touchdowns on their next three possessions, including an 80-yard pass from Tanner Dubois to Zach Wolf that gave Concordia a 32-25 lead with 8:02 remaining.

VCSU’s defense forced a punt with 5:13 remaining, allowing the offense to put together it’s game-tying drive capped by Pfeifer’s 16-yard touchdown to Gottenborg.

Tied at 32-32, Concordia moved the ball to its own 41-yard line with 25 seconds left before Taylor jumped a route for the interception that set up Magana’s game-winning kick. It was the first career interception for Taylor, a junior defensive back in his second year at VCSU.

“Colton just did a great job of reading it,” said McCulloch. “He cut the route when he saw it. A great play by him.”

STAT SUMMARY
VCSU gained 421 yards of offense, including 273 passing and 148 on the ground. Concordia racked up 440 yards of offense, including 385 through the air. VCSU limited Concordia to 55 rushing yards on 26 attempts.

The Viking defense created four turnovers, including interceptions by Pemelton, Jahidi West and Taylor. VCSU did not throw an interception and each team lost one fumble.

Pfeifer went 20-for-35 for 273 passing yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed 11 times for 40 yards and a touchdown. Justice Bice carried the ball 16 times for 57 yards. Benjamin Dumond had eight catches for 108 yards. Cornelious caught three passes for 44 yards and two scores. Nyle Perkins had three catches for 33 yards, and Gottenborg had two catches for 27 yards and a touchdown. Nine different Vikings caught passes in the game.

Nick Harberts led the Viking defense with eight tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss. Jerrod Williamson, Marshaun Jones and Riley Gerhardt each added six tackles. Jones had 2.5 tackles for loss and Gerhardt had one tackle for loss.

UP NEXT
Valley City State finishes non-conference play with a 2-0 record. The Vikings have a week off and then start conference play by hosting Waldorf University on Sept. 18.