vcsuSports-smallVALLEY CITY (VCSU) – Valley City State scored the first 21 points in less than seven
minutes Saturday as the Vikings routed visiting Mayville State 62-6 in NSAA football
action.

After making their first appearance inside the Top 25 poll at No. 23 this week, the
Vikings came out sharp Saturday at Shelly Ellig Field. The tone was set early as the
Viking defense forced a 3-and-out, and Lenzel Koskela blocked the punt and returned
it for a touchdown just 39 seconds into the game. It was the start of 28 straight
points for the Vikings, who led 28-0 after the first quarter and 41-6 at halftime.

After Koskela’s blocked-punt touchdown, VCSU’s defense forced 3-and-outs on
Mayville’s second and third drives of the game. Those stops led to two more
touchdowns on a 24-yard run by Ian Keller and a 4-yard run by Kurtis Walls. After an
interception by Mychael Bruce on Mayville’s fourth drive, the Vikings capped off the
first-quarter scoring barrage on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Walls to Antoine
Griffin.

Walls and Griffin hooked up six times on the day for 120 yards and three touchdowns.
Walls finished with 272 yards through the air and five touchdown passes, including
one each to Zach Johnson and Jake Miller. Trevor Goerts carried the ball 15 times
for 115 yards, and Ian Keller had 14 carries for 77 yards and a touchdown.

VCSU backup quarterback Josh Hansana capped off the scoring with an 85-yard
touchdown run late in the fourth quarter. He finished with six carries for 121 yards
and the score.

Valley City State out-gained the Comets 598-198 in total offense. The Viking defense
came up with four interceptions, one fumble recovery, three sacks and 11 tackles for
loss. Four different Vikings had six tackles to lead the defense: Marvin Conley,
Nick McBeain, Ethen Preston and PJ Peterson. Preston, Peterson and Bruenjes all had
a sack for the Vikings. Mychael Bruce had two interceptions and both Stevenson
Stlouis and Marvin Conley had one interception.

Mayville’s lone touchdown came on a 4-yard run by Lance Jackson midway through the
second quarter.

The Vikings improve to 6-1 overall. Mayville State drops to 2-5 overall. Saturday’s
game was a non-conference matchup. The two teams will play again Nov. 1 in Mayville
for the conference game.

Up next: Valley City State University.(6-1, 3-0 NSAA) hosts Dickinson State on
Saturday, Oct. 18 at 3 p.m.

from Mark Potts VCSU