THE OPENING KICKOFF
• Grand View University continues its 16th season of football on Saturday as the Vikings host Central methodist as part of the 2023 Homecoming Festivities. 
• The Vikings stayed put at No. 2 in this week's NAIA Poll, gaining one more point since the previous poll. 
• Last Saturday, The Vikings (4-0), defeated Missouri Valley in a one-sided high scoring affair 70-7. 
• Central Methodist is coming off a match-up against the William Penn Statesmen, following the day long delay the Eagles would fall 35-17 in Fayette. 

Series History vs. Central Methodist  
• Grand View holds a 8-0 advantage over Central Methodist, an even 4-0 on the road, and 4-0 at the Duke. 
• Last season the Vikings opened up their 2022 season in Fayette where they would post a 51-0 victory against the Eagles. 
• Grand View's largest win against the Eagles came in 2017 with a score of 59-7, the smallest margin being in 2016 where the Vikings won 36-17. 
• The Vikings have averaged 42.75 points against Central Methodist in the last eight contests. 

58th ANNUAL RUSSELL ATHLETIC-NAIA 2013 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 
• At halftime of this Saturday's game, the 2013 Grand View Football National Champions will be honored as they are being inducted into the Viking Hall of Fame. 
• The team had 17 athletes named to the Mid-States All-Conference team, Mike Woodley and Jon Pilcher earned Coach of the Year honors. 
• The 2013 No. 1 Vikings stretch to their National Championship berth included: Opening Round victory over Ottawa University 38-13, Quarterfinal win over Tabor College 44-24, a shutout over Morningside 35-0, and finished with it all on the line against University of Cumberlands 35-23. 
• Only team in Grand View Football history to have a perfect season ending 14-0.
• Former QB1, and current offensive coordinator for the Vikings, Derek Fulton, was named the Most Outstanding Player of the National Championship Game as his stat line read: 19-39 CMP. 300 Passing yards, 4 TDs, and 74 rushing yards on 13 attempts including one rushing TD. 
• Jason Gladfelder was named the Most Outstanding Defensive Player of the Game, Gladfelder rang up 15 tackles, 10 solos, including one TFL, and one pass breakup. 

QUOTE ARCHIVES FROM 2013 
Grand View (Iowa) Coach Mike Woodley
"Heck of a football game. Two really good football teams. I really think the difference in the game was a couple of turnovers Cumberlands had, and we took advantage of it. As I'm looking at these stats – and I'm not a big stats guy, the stats were pretty even. It came down to a couple things on special teams, and we took advantage of that."

"I'm proud of our football team. We challenged our defense, and there's 300 yards rushing here (by Cumberlands) and we don't like that, but they scored only 23 points. The bottom line in football is points scored and points given up, and we won that. We were absolutely one of the best defensive teams in the country this year, only giving up 14 points game. To hold Cumberlands to 23 when they're averaging 48, 49 points a game, it's a great compliment to our players, our defense."

"When we started this six years ago, I had a vision, had a dream. And I told my athletic director and president we want a national caliber type team. They didn't set a timetable. They didn't ask me for a timetable. Things turned around for us real quick. Started everybody as a freshman our first year and won two games, and really got run out of the stadium a few times. But we flipped it the next year, and those freshmen became sophomores and ended up going 8-3 and went all the way to the last league game and played McKendree (Ill.) for the championship but lost it. Otherwise, we would've won the league in our second year. We play in a really good league. Trust me. The three national champions the last three years are out of our league. We don't take a backseat to anybody."

"This group of kids is one of the finest (I've coached). Tonight's victory is the biggest victory for me coaching."

"You run the table and go 14-0, you're a pretty good football team. This NAIA football is good football. People who haven't watched enough of it need to watch it. It's good football." 

Brady Roland, Jr., WR  Carlisle, IA – "did he think he was in on that touchdown in 4th quarter"
"You know, I didn't know. I think I caught that pass three times to be honest. But it was nice for Derek (Fulton) to get a rushing touchdown too."

Jason Gladfelder, Sr., LB Ozark, MO – having 2 weeks to prepare for Cumberlands' offense
"Preparing for the triple option is nothing but assignments and alignment. But we faced two teams who run that offense as well this year, so we had plenty of practice for it. But the two weeks did help."

Derek Fulton, So., QB Bettendorf, IA – feeling at halftime
"The vibe in the locker room was really down. But I really didn't think it was a bad thing. It was a good thing for us. We had faced some adversity earlier in the playoffs." 

"Football is a game of momentum swings and tonight is a great example of that. My hat's off to Cumberlands. They fought hard, but lucky we came out on top."