DES MOINES, IOWA – Second-ranked Grand View football hosted William Penn University on Saturday afternoon for the Rock & Ladder Trophy. Fueled by an explosive first half and a steadfast defensive performance, the Vikings secured their seventh consecutive win over William Penn, triumphing 42-7. The victory lifts Grand View to 8-0 overall and 4-0 in Heart of America Conference play.
The Vikings opened the game with a methodical 8-play, 75-yard drive, capped by a 40-yard touchdown pass from quarterback
Jackson Waring to
Aisea Toki, putting them up 7-0. The defense quickly made its presence felt as
Aaron Brown charged in with a powerful sack that drove William Penn back 12 yards, forcing them to punt.
Taking over at their own 2-yard line, Grand View's offense steadily advanced down the field, mixing solid runs by
Dalten Van Pelt with precise short passes from Waring. As the first quarter ended, the Vikings were positioned at William Penn's 21-yard line, ready to strike.
The second quarter saw Grand View widen its lead with a dominant offensive display. Van Pelt spearheaded the attack, finding the end zone twice—first with a 1-yard plunge to cap off the 98-yard drive and again on a 12-yard rush for his second score. Waring added to the tally with a 1-yard touchdown run, capping off another methodical drive to push the lead to 28-0. The Vikings' defense maintained relentless pressure, with
Daviere Jones securing an interception to set up yet another scoring opportunity. Grand View was firmly in control by halftime, leading 28-0.
The Vikings continued their commanding performance in the second half, opening with a solid defensive stand that forced William Penn into a quick three-and-out. On the ensuing possession, Van Pelt led a ground attack that set up Waring's 13-yard touchdown pass to
Jordan Kumm, extending the lead to 35-0. The defense stayed aggressive, with
Cade Sheedy and
Cameron Meislahn each recording sacks to stifle William Penn's drives.
Grand View's offense maintained control, with
Tate Stine-Smith and
Cale Culver powering a time-crunching 72-yard drive culminating in a short touchdown run by Culver, making it 42-0. William Penn managed to respond with two field goals in the fourth quarter, but the Vikings had already secured a decisive 42-6 victory.
Grand View's performance was marked by impressive offensive dominance, achieving 33 first downs compared to William Penn's 11. The Vikings amassed a total of 445 yards of offense, including a staggering 285 rushing yards on 54 attempts, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. Defensively, Grand View showcased its strength by limiting William Penn to just 29 rushing yards and recording three sacks for a loss of 21 yards. Additionally, the Vikings were highly efficient on third down, converting 8 of 10 attempts, and successfully scored on all five of their red-zone opportunities.
GAME NOTES
- Jackson Waring completed 13 of 15 passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns, showcasing remarkable accuracy with a passing rating of 194.3.
- Van Pelt led the ground game with 115 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries, averaging 5.2 yards per rush.
- Grand View's defense stifled William Penn, limiting them to just 29 rushing yards and forcing an interception by Daviere Jones.
- The Vikings converted an impressive 80% of their third-down attempts (8 of 10), significantly contributing to their ball control.
- Grand View capitalized on all five of their red-zone opportunities, scoring each time to maximize scoring potential.
- Tucker Dickherber and Cade Sheedy led the defense with a combined total of 10 tackles, contributing to Grand View's solid defensive performance.
- The defense excelled in the backfield, recording six tackles for loss, including a standout performance from Sheedy with 1.5 tackles for a loss of 7 yards.
Gallery: (11-2-2024) Rock & Ladder Victory
HIGHLIGHTS
UP NEXT
Grand View will head to Peru, NE, next Saturday for its final regular-season road game against the Bobcats. The Vikings and Bobcats will kick off at 1:00 p.m.
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