It was the home opener for the Grand football team today for the Viking football team in Des Moines. The Vikings broke in their newly turfed field and kicked off the Mid-States Football Association season with a 31-21 win over the University of St. Francis of Illinois.
The Vikings scored on a run by sophomore Daryl Ford on the first possession of the game just two minutes into the first quarter. St. Francis tied the game with four minutes remaining in the first quarter after the Saints quarterback completed a 6-yard pass to Jason Fiske.
Grand View was able to add two more touchdowns on the board in the second quarter. Ford again scored on a 19-yard run to put the Vikings up 14-7. Eight minutes later, Titus Bland returned a USF punt 55 yards to give Grand View a 21-7 halftime advantage.
The Saints' Connor Krisch made a 3-yard run to close the gap 21-14 with 3:58 in the third quarter. Grand View answered with a 12-yard completed pass to freshman Gavin Burns from sophomore Taylor Bennett for another Viking touchdown and Grand View lead 28-14 going into the final quarter.
St. Francis' Javon Stewart scored at the 10:55 mark in the fourth to bring the Saints within a touchdown of tying the score. A 32-yard field goal by Blake Steil put the Vikings back up 31-21.
The Saints made a last attempt to score with 1:30 remaining in the fourth quarter, but Grand View senior Brandon Howard intercepted the pass along with a 28-yard return to end the game.
Ford led the Vikings in rushing with 146 yards on 31 carries. Bennett completed 10-of-14 passes for 120 yards. Dreylan Porter's led Grand View with two receptions for 67 yards.
Defensively, the Vikings were led by sophomore Mayron Martinez, junior E.J. Peterson, and junior Raytron Lamar's six tackles apiece. Freshman Garland Breedlove recorded a sack.
Sophomore kicker Steil successfully completed 4-of-4 PAT's and was 1-of-1 in field goal attempts.
Grand View (2-1 overall, 1-0 MSFA) hits the road again next weekend for a MSFA match-up against Marian College in Indianapolis, Indiana. Kick-off is at 1 p.m.
