Vikings defeat Beavers

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Campus News

Vikings Inch Closer with 30-21 Win over Beavers
Posted: Oct. 29th, 2005 7:54 PM
Author: Vikings Sports News
Updated: Oct. 29th, 2005 7:56 PM

VALLEY CITY, ND -- Valley City State forced seven Minot State turnovers including two returned for touchdowns as the Vikings came from behind to defeat the Beavers 30-21.

The Vikings defense made noise early with the return of  a Manny Gutierrez' fumble on Minot States opening possession. A Valley City State defender nailed Gutierrez in the backfield and Vikings recovered the ball racing 25 yards to give them a quick lead.

A long kickoff return put Minot State in good field position but the Viking defense held forcing a 21 yard field goal by Matt Hagen to end the first quarter scoring.

The Viking defense forced a second fumble to put their offense in scoring position to start the second quarter but Minot defense forced the QB to misfire on two pass attempts. The Valley City punt cornered Minot at the three yard line to start their next drive.

Minot quarterback Ryan Jutras, making his second collegiate, was replaced by early season starter Jamar Culver after being injuried on in the third offensive possesion.  His injury would not allow him to return.

The Vikings settled for a 20 yard field goal to go up 9-3.

Minot State answered by driving deep into Vikings territory but Hagen missed left on a 21 yard filed goal attempt.

Roschenel Absolu got in the act on the Vikings next drive scoring from 36 yards out with just over three minutes to play in the first half. Lueck's point after pass to Ray Caylor made the score 17-3.

Minot once again drove the ball to the Vikings three yard line but once again VCSU's defense bent but held the Beavers to a field goal from Hagen, this time from 20 yards to make it 17-6 Vikings.

The Beavers went ball control to begin the second half, limit VCSU to only two possessions and eight offensive plays but could not muster any points.

While a Gutierrez fumble into the end zone ended Minot's best scoring opportunity in the third stanza, MSU made things work on their next trip into VCSU territory by scoring on an Andre James 3 yard run. Jamar Culver's pass to Silas Sneed brought the Beavers to within three points.

VCSU failed to convert on fourth and one from midfield and Minot State traveled 56 yards in 10 plays to go ahead for the first time on the day on an 8-yard run by James to put the Beavers up 21-17 with 6:12 to play in the game.

The ensuing kick return to the VCSU 42 seemed to get the Vikings offense off of life support and back into the game. Workout from shotgun formation, Lueck picked and pecked away at the Beaver defense hitting on seven of nine passes to five different receivers. The drive culminated in a 5-yard pass on third down to put the Vikings back in the lead with just over three minutes in regulation.

Both teams’ trade punts before the Beavers mounted one last comeback. MSU managed to get the ball across midfield before the Vikings stepped in front of Culver's attempt and returned the pilpher 70 yards for a touchdown.

Minot State overwhelmingly won the statistics battle, out gaining the Vikings 413-188 but suffered from losing five fumbles and throwing two interceptions with one of each returned by the Vikings for points. Another interception by the Vikings for a touchdown was nullified by a penalty.

Valley City's Lueck completed 22 of 41 passes for 170 yards and two touchdowns and no interceptions. Caylor hauled in seven passes, Justin Folk four and Barrett Sczepanski and Absolu three each.

Gutierrez and James each rushed for 117 yards on 22 and 21 carries respectively while Beaver quarterbacks completed 16 of 34 passes for 149 yards.

Minot State falls to 4-5 overall and 3-3 in the DAC.