The Grand View Vikings football team put their perfect record to the test Saturday afternoon at Quincy University. The Vikings capitalized on six Quincy turnovers in the game, defeating the Hawks 39-16. Grand View (5-2, 4-0 MSFA) could not find the end zone in the first quarter, but were able to get a field goal from Blake Steil and a touchdown pass from Taylor Bennett in the second quarter. The Vikings took a 9-3 lead into halftime.
Grand View was able to strike first in the third quarter on a 35-yard touchdown pass from Taylor Bennett to Brett Opdahl. The Hawks answered on the ensuing drive with a 41 yard touchdown run from Mark Harris, but the 16-10 score was as close as Quincy would get all afternoon. The Hawks kicked off after the touchdown to the Vikings' electric return man, senior Titus Bland. Bland took the kick on the 12 yard line and returned it 88 yards for a Viking touchdown. After another Quincy turnover, sophomore running back Daryl Ford punched it in from one yard out for another Grand View touchdown.
The fourth quarter started off with the Hawks throwing an interception to the Vikings which resulted in a 26 yard field goal from Steil. With the score 33-10, the Vikings defense forced their fourth straight interception. Grand View linebacker Raytron Lamar picked off Dustin Jacoby for the second time and returned the interception 35 yards for the Vikings final score of the game. A late 3 yard run by Quincy's Adam Dry brought the final score to 39-16.
The stingy Grand View defense was led in tackles by E.J. Peterson with 9.5 tackles, including one sack. Josh Monette, Dywaun DeBoest and Brandon Howard all finished the game with 5 sacks. Lamar's two interceptions led the Vikings, while Howard, Ian Rose and C.J. Pollins each had an interception as well. Grand View finished with 332 yards of total offense. Quarterback Taylor Bennett finished 14-24 for 212 yards and one touchdown pass. The Vikings were led on the ground by Ford's 76 yards on 12 carries. Freshman Gavin Burns finished with a team high five catches, while Travis Reidel hauled in two catches for 72 yards.
Grand View will be on the road again next weekend against Kentucky Wesleyan. The Vikings will not return home until November 7 when they play host to Saint Ambrose University.
