DES MOINES, IOWA – Grand View came back from their bye week to host Peru State College. Their lone Thursday Night matchup of the year was a competitive battle. Grand View gained the edge and moved to 6-0 on the year, with a final score of 34-20.
The Duke after dark was a slow start for the top-ranked Vikings. Grand View fumbled on the first offensive play of the game, in their own territory. The defense held strong and only allowed a field goal from a first-and-goal start for the Bobcats.
The Vikings drove down the field in the second series of the game. On the opposite side of the 50, GV muffed a handoff and put the ball on the ground again. The defense was back on the field again on short notice, but found their first takeaway the very next play. Grand View's Tucker Dickherber found an interception on the GV 40-yard line, and the offense was right back on the field.
The Vikings went three and out on this possession, though, still not getting much going.
Peru State put together a great possession next, and the Vikings let up their first touchdown of the game. GV now trailed 0-10 after the first quarter of play.
GV was forced to punt early in the second quarter, and some penalties halted the next drive as well. The GV defense was playing fast and held the Bobcats to 2 three outs early in the quarter.
It was the special teams that finally cracked the scoreboard for the Vikings. GV blocked a Peru State punt in their own end zone, and Curtis Horras recovered for a Vikings touchdown!
Grand View defense was out on the field again quickly, though, and the Bobcats put together another steady drive. A huge fourth down was converted for Peru State, and they scored with seconds left on the clock for the half. GV went into the locker room, down 7-17, and work to do.
GV defense came out of the half with a three-and-out, getting the ball to the offense right away. The offense established the run in their opening second-half drive. Dalten Van Pelt was running downhill, and Jackson Waring found a scramble for 24 yards to push past midfield. Waring then connected with Aisea Toki for 11. The Vikings were in the red zone, but on 4th and 1, Grand View came up short, and without points on the drive.
The next possession, John Argo sparked the team with a second GV interception. Grand View got the ball back quickly, on the Peru State 33.
Waring completed two first-down passes to Triston Williams, setting up an Ethan Schultz punch-in. The rushing touchdown was the first offensive score of the night and a big one. The Vikings just trailed by 3.
Argo was flying in the next possession as well with two tackles for loss, one on third down and one to go. Another three-and-out, but the Vikings punted right back to them.
The next possession, GV gave up three straight completions. The Bobcat momentum stopped in a 2nd and 1, as Defensive End Casey Trudo got his hands up on a drop back. Trudo lived out the defensive lineman's dream as he brought in the bat down for a Viking third interception and only had green ahead of him! A pick-six from number 46 took the lead for the Vikings, 20-17. An extra point was missed to keep the score there.
Peru State answered with an 11-play drive, but Grand View only yielded a field goal. Tie ball game at 20 a piece.
On the first play of the next possession, Van Pelt took a zone for 52 yards, flipping the field in one play. Bryant Williams earned a good first down run next, giving #3 a breath, and then Waring found Jordan Kumm for a 19-yard touchdown through the middle of the defense. 27-20 Vikings.
A huge three-and-out was executed by the GV defense, which was strong all night. The Vikings Jackson Filer and Cameron Meislahn combined for a timely sack on second down and put them into a tough third and distance.
Grand View's next drive was a put-away drive, and what a time for it. The Vikings went 11 plays for 77 yards and clocked down over 6 minutes. Ethan Schultz, Van Pelt, and B. Williams all carried the ball on this drive. B. Williams popped a 27-yard punch that put them well into Peru State territory. The Vikings trickled the clock some more, and Peru State spent two of their timeouts. GV's Ethan Schultz found the end zone for the second time today from 7 yards out and put the Vikings up 34-20 with just 2:19 left on the clock.
The Vikings pushed things to a 4th and 8, and Cameron Meislahn earned a 14-yard sack to end the night for the defense. Grand View knelt to end the game 34-20 on Thursday night.
GAME NOTES
UP NEXT
Grand View will travel to Olathe, Kansas, next Saturday. That is October 25th to play MidAmerica Nazarene University at 1:00 PM.
