DES MOINES, IA - Grand View celebrated Homecoming at Duke Williams Stadium in dominant fashion Saturday, routing Clarke (IA) 66-13 to improve to 5-1 on the season. But the day's biggest ovation came before the Vikings even took the field, when founding head coach Mike Woodley returned to Duke Williams Stadium as Homecoming's Honorary Captain, hours ahead of his formal induction into the Grand View Athletics Hall of Fame later that same night.
Woodley started the Grand View football program with a win over Briar Cliff at Duke Williams Stadium on August 30, 2008. Over 11 seasons as head coach, through 2018, he won 93 games and seven conference championships, and in 2013 he led the Vikings to the first national championship in program history, an NAIA title that launched Grand View into the program it is today. Woodley continued coaching after leaving Grand View, retiring from the sideline for good in 2020 after 46 years leading young men, and had previously been inducted into the Waterloo East, University of Northern Iowa, and Iowa Football Coaches Association Halls of Fame. About three hours after Saturday's final whistle, he took his place in the Grand View Athletics Hall of Fame as well.
Woodley headlined a 2026 Hall of Fame class that also included Kara Keller Gittings (women's cross country and track and field, class of 2012), Randy Brady (baseball, class of 2001), Meghan Finnell-Tomlinson (softball, class of 2010), and Chad Proehl (men's golf, class of 1992). Chris Von Mende, class of 1991, was separately honored with the Robert L. Mahaffey Community Service Award.
Once the game kicked off, Grand View wasted little time asserting itself. A 9-play, 65-yard opening drive ended with a 12-yard touchdown run from Bryant Williams, making it 7-0. Clarke answered with an 11-play, 71-yard drive of its own, capped by a touchdown pass, but Simeon Reichenbach blocked the extra point attempt, keeping Grand View ahead 7-6. The Vikings responded immediately, going 65 yards in six plays and getting a 21-yard touchdown pass from Casey Rooney to Ja'Quez Hall to make it 14-6 through one quarter.
Grand View pulled away in the second quarter. An 8-play, 51-yard drive ended with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Rooney to Rex Woodley, pushing the lead to 21-6. Clarke answered with an 8-play, 74-yard scoring drive to cut it to 21-13, but Grand View answered in a hurry, needing just three plays and 72 yards, the big gain a 32-yard Dalten Van Pelt run, to set up a 35-yard touchdown pass from Rooney to Peyton Goode and make it 28-13. The Vikings closed the half with an 8-play, 71-yard drive capped by a 3-yard touchdown run from Van Pelt, and after a Kellen Moore interception snuffed out Clarke's final possession of the half, Grand View took a 35-13 lead into the locker room.
The rout continued after halftime. Grand View got a 67-yard catch-and-run from Triston Williams to set up a Dominic Witt field goal, making it 38-13. Backup quarterback Jack Jepson then took over and threw two touchdown passes in relief, a 17-yarder to Patrick McCartney and a 31-yarder to Gabe Winterowd, sandwiched around a Harry Leinen interception. Isaac Kracl added a 9-yard touchdown run following a 49-yard Corin Greenwell interception return, and Grand View closed the third quarter with a commanding 59-13 lead.
Clarke mounted its longest drive of the day to open the fourth quarter, 17 plays covering 68 yards, but the possession ended in disaster when Blake Tubbs intercepted a pass at the goal line and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown, the signature defensive play of the night and the final points of the game. Grand View closed out the 66-13 win with its reserves finishing out the final minutes.
GAME NOTES
- Casey Rooney threw for 216 yards and 4 touchdowns, connecting with four different receivers, and Triston Williams led all receivers with 93 yards on the strength of a 67-yard catch and run
- Backup quarterback Jack Jepson went 3-of-3 passing for 62 yards and 2 touchdowns in relief
- Grand View's defense intercepted Clarke four times, with Kellen Moore, Harry Leinen, and Corin Greenwell all picking off passes before Blake Tubbs capped the night with a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown
- Isaac Kracl led Grand View with 60 rushing yards and a touchdown
- Mike Woodley, the program's founding head coach and architect of the 2013 national championship, served as Homecoming's Honorary Captain and was inducted into the Grand View Athletics Hall of Fame later that night
UP NEXT
Grand View heads into a week 6 bye, before hitting the road for a Thursday night matchup at Graceland University (Iowa) on October 15th at 6:00 PM.
