DES MOINES, IA - Grand View christened its home opener at Duke Williams Stadium in style, riding a big-play passing attack and a swarming defense to a 40-7 win over Central Methodist. The Vikings improve to 2-0 on the year behind another performance where all three phases pulled their weight.
Grand View needed just one snap to get on the board.
Casey Rooney found
Triston Williams in stride for a 75-yard touchdown on the Vikings' first play from scrimmage, and the extra point made it 7-0 just ten seconds in. The teams traded punts for the next several possessions as the Grand View defense kept the Eagles off schedule, before the Vikings closed out the quarter with a clean, three-play, 56-yard drive.
Ethan Schultz picked up 10 yards on the ground, Rooney hit
Louis Brooks for 16 yards down to the 30, and
Dalten Van Pelt capped it with a 30-yard touchdown run to make it 14-0.
The Vikings struck again just two plays into the second quarter.
Isaac Kracl ran for 5 yards before Rooney connected with
Ja'Quez Hall for a 68-yard touchdown, pushing the lead to 21-0. Central Methodist answered right back on its next possession, breaking off an 82-yard touchdown run to cut the margin to 21-7. Grand View had a chance to answer before halftime but turned it over on downs, and a 41-yard Central Methodist field goal try sailed wide right on the final play of the half. The Vikings' last possession of the half also stalled after a holding penalty, and Grand View carried a 21-7 lead into the locker room.
Grand View's defense set the tone to start the third quarter, sacking the Eagles' quarterback on third down (credit
Simeon Reichenbach and
Joel Greiner) to force a quick punt. The offense capitalized, going 49 yards in five plays and finishing with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Rooney to
Rex Woodley to make it 28-7. Central Methodist strung together its longest drive of the game, nine plays for 36 yards, but turned it over on downs at the Grand View 39. The Vikings' ensuing possession stalled and they punted it away, pinning the Eagles at their own 3-yard line. Three straight negative plays later, Central Methodist was forced into a safety by
Kellen Moore, and Grand View led 30-7. The free kick set up one more Vikings score before the quarter ended: Van Pelt broke off a 46-yard run down to the 10, and two plays later Rooney found Woodley again, this time from 9 yards out, making it 37-7.
Central Methodist forced a fumble on a punt return early in the fourth quarter but couldn't cash in, going three-and-out, punting it right back. Grand View then methodically drained the clock, putting together a 15-play, 72-yard drive that saw backup quarterback
Jack Jepson take over under center, connecting with
Lance Clayburg and
Curtis Horras through the air and getting a 24-yard run from Kracl to move the chains.
Cory Wood capped it with a 42-yard field goal to make it 40-7. Central Methodist's final drive ended in a punt, and Jepson ran out the clock to seal the win.
GAME NOTES
- Casey Rooney finished 11 of 17 for 257 yards and four touchdowns, connecting with three different receivers, Triston Williams, Ja'Quez Hall, and Rex Woodley (twice)
- Dalten Van Pelt ran for 89 yards on just 8 carries, including a 30-yard touchdown and a 46-yard burst that set up another score
- The Grand View defense forced a safety and held Central Methodist to two turnovers on downs, allowing only one offensive touchdown all night
- Backup quarterback Jack Jepson went 2 of 3 for 23 yards and directed a 15-play, 72-yard drive that set up a Cory Wood field goal to close out the scoring
- Cory Wood was perfect on all five extra-point attempts and made his only field goal try, a 42-yarder in the fourth quarter
UP NEXT
Grand View is back on the road, traveling to Marshall, MO to face Missouri Valley College on Saturday, September 12
th, where they look to extend their regular season winning streak to 73 wins-in-a-row.
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