BALDWIN CITY, KANSAS – The Vikings traveled for their first road game of the season to face Baker University. Grand View was up for the task, having great success early in the game and defeated the Wildcats 24-7. This team excelled on the defensive side of the ball and featured a balanced offensive attack. GV gained 231 yards through the air and 256 yards on the ground.
Grand View opened the game as hot as they could. The rushing attack freed up the play calling early as Jackson Waring, Ethan Schultz, and Bryant Williams all popped a 15+ yard rush on their first carries. The Vikings were quickly in the red zone and after a short dump to Isaac Kracl, Waring connected with Peyton Goode for a 13-yard touchdown reception. GV went 7 plays and 67 yards to put points on the board first.
The Vikings defense held Baker and forced a punt on their opening drive, and GV took advantage. This possession was even more efficient as #8 found Bryant Williams on a wide screen, and the speedster took it 75 yards to the house: just three plays and 81 yards for a Vikings touchdown.
Grand View's defense forced a three-and-out the next drive, keeping the momentum with the red and black. Big tackles from Kellen Moore and Isaac Cook that led to a second consecutive Wildcat punt. The punt ended up blocked for a net of 2 yards and set up the Vikings in great field position.
The Vikings were putting it all together in this quarter, and the next drive wasn't any different. On a short field, Ethan Schultz was given carries on back-to-back plays and a first down brought them to the BU 34. GV then put pressure on the Wildcat secondary, and both times were rewarded on defensive pass interference calls. Schultz ended the drive as he started it and punched in a 1-yard touchdown. GV up big, 21-0, before the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, things slowed down on offense, but the defense stayed strong. Bend but don't break was on display early in the quarter as the Wildcats put together a 16-play drive. Baker had first and goal at Grand View's 1-yard line, and the Vikings' defense stood tall. Moore broke up a pass and collected a tackle at the line of scrimmage. Nolan Simpson and Cook combined on 4th down and the GV pulled of the goal line stand to keep BU of the scoreboard.
Grand View did give up its first points at the end of the half on another long drive by the Wildcats.
The third was scoreless for both teams as the defenses were settled in. Grand View didn't take points on a 14-play drive, going for it on 4th and four, inside the Baker 10-yard line. Grand View held them up on the next drive around midfield and forced another punt.
The opening drive of the fourth, GV went 9 plays and 70 yards on big plays from B. Williams and Isaac Kracl, before a Cory Wood 27-yard field goal to go up 24-7.
GV defense continued to play well in the fourth. Lance Clayburg earned a 6-yard sack on first down, but a penalty on the following play offset the loss. The Vikings were defending at about midfield again, and Tracy Davis tracked down a deep ball. Davis went up for an interception and came down on the GV 6-yard line. A huge play for the Vikings, and now the GV was in the driver's seat if they could get out from a backed-up start.
The Vikings had more big rushes from B. Williams and Schultz, along with Isaac Kracl popping a 26-yard run. Aisea Toki was quiet all day, but a big 3rd down and 14 was converted on a Waring to Toki completion and sealed the game. GV ran the clock down and ended the game 24-7.
MATCH NOTES
UP NEXT
Grand View will host their Homecoming game next Saturday! The Vikings play at 12:00 PM on September 27th, at Duke Williams Stadium. They will face off against Saint Ambrose University.
