Grand View senior offensive Tyler Wells (Des Moines, Iowa) has been selected to the 2011 AFCA NAIA Coaches' All-America Team announced today by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945 and the teams are selected by the coaches.
Wells, a four-year starter and letter winner for the Vikings, earned MSFA First Team honors for the second straight year this season. He was also an MSFA Second Team selection in 2009. With the AFCA honor, Wells becomes a two-sport All-American for Grand View. He has also earned All-American honors in Track and Field.
Wells made a significant contribution to the Vikings offense that was ranked in many national statistical categories this season: 16th in the NAIA in Total Rushing Offense (2104), 23rd in Rushing Offense per Game (175.3), 26th in First Downs per Game (19.9), 29th in Total Scoring Offense (303), 35th in Pass Efficiency (122.6), 37th in Total Pass Offense (2084), 39th in Total Offense Yards per Game (349), and 43rd in Scoring Offense per Game (173.7).
The 2011 Mid-States Football Association Midwest League All-Conference honors have been announced.
Nineteen members of this year's Grand View squad were named to the MSFA Midwest League All-Conference Team; eight to the First Team, five to the Second Team, and six to the Honorable Mention Team.
Selected to the MSFA Midwest First Team was running back Darryl Ford, tight end Clarence Ward, offensive linemen Tyler Wells and Nate Hubanks, defensive linemen Osten James and Jon Higgins, linebacker Jason Gladfelder and defensive back Travis Mohler. Ford ends his career a three-time All-MSFA selection. Wells, James, and Mohler are two-time selections.
The No. 18 Viking football team traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana, this weekend to make its first appearance in the NAIA Football Championship Series.
Matched up against the No. 1 team in the nation, Marian University, Grand View had a tall order, but not an impossible one. The Vikings and the Knights met earlier in the season on September 3rdin Des Moines, with Marian edging out GV 19-14.
The Vikings didn't fare as well in Saturday's match-up, shutout by the Knights 31-0. Grand View, playing without starting quarterback Greg Charles and starting running back Darryl Ford, struggled offensively as the Knights' defense held the Vikings to just 41 yards of total offense, including 21 on the ground. It was the Knights' fifth shutout of the season. Marian entered the contest first in the NAIA in total defense (202.7 ypg).
The No. 18 Grand View University football team will take on No. 1 Marian University (Ind.) in the first round of the NAIA Football Championship Series on Saturday, November 19 at 12 p.m (CST). at St.Vincent Health Field in Indianapolis, the NAIA announced on Sunday afternoon.
It will be the second meeting of the season between the two institutions; Marian won the first match-up 19-14 in Des Moines on September 3rd. The Knights are undefeated at 10-0 this season. GV is 8-3.
The Vikings won a share of their first-ever MSFA Midwest League title and earned the automatic bid, while the Knights won their first-ever MSFA Mideast League championship and the league's automatic bid to reach the championships.
The Grand View Viking football team took to the field on Saturday afternoon in the one of the biggest games its four year history. The 23rdranked Vikings needed a victory over 8thranked William Penn University at Duke Williams Stadium and a Saint Ambrose loss to claim the Mid-States Midwest League title. Saint Francis took care of the Bees from Saint Ambrose and with 47 seconds remaining the stage was set for history.
Des Moines East High School graduate Dorian Ballentine, who replaced starting quarterback Greg Charles in the first quarter after he was injured, dropped back for the Vikings with under one minute remaining in the fourth quarter and the Vikings trailing 13-7. Ballentine found Des Moines North graduate Mike Hennick in the end zone for a 27-yard touchdown reception, giving the Vikings a 13-13 tie with 47 seconds remaining. Grand View's Huli Nunez came on to kick the point after to give the Vikings a 14-13 lead, sending the Viking crowd into a frenzy in the stands. WATCH THE WINNING PLAY!
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