MNU used a 10-point 4th quarter to erase a 7-point deficit and beat #7 Missouri Valley 20-17 in the Defeat All Cancer Gridiron Challenge at Arrowhead on Saturday. The Pioneers last defeated the Vikings in 2010, the year MNU went on to the semifinals.
Neither team got much traction in the early going, as the first four drives were scoreless. MNU finally broke through with an 11-play 74-yard drive that ended with a
Cristian Casillas 21-yard field goal. After forcing a 3-and-out, MNU struck quickly with a trick play for a 38-yard touchdown from
Trent Hedlund to
Brandon Jeffries - the backup QB lined up at wideout - to
Bo Miller to put the Pioneers up 10-0.
Valley answered with a field goal to cut into the lead, then put together a 9-play 62-yard touchdown drive to tie the game just before halftime.
MNU's first drive of the second half ended with a pick-6, but Valley wouldn't score again. The Pioneers started the fourth quarter with another Casillas field goal to get within 4, and
Erik May finished a 5-play drive with a 2-yard touchdown to give MNU the lead. A Hedlund to
Earvin Simmons 32-yard strike was the key play in the drive.
The Pioneer defense took over. A
Matt Rashad sack keyed a 3-and-out, and MNU stopped a 4th down try on the following drive. Valley's final drive started with just under 3 minutes remaining, and after crossing midfield, the Vikings stalled.
DeMarco Kemp stuffed the run for a 1-yard loss, and 3 straight incomplete passes followed to give MNU the victory.
Hedlund was 21-37 for 257 yards.
Brandon Jeffries was 1-1 for 38 yards and a touchdown.
Bo Miller caught 6 balls for 109 yards and a touchdown.
Wesley Foryoh had 3 catches for 75 yards. And
Cristian Casillas hit field goals from 21 and 32 yards.
Luke Elam led all tacklers with 11.
Derek Pollox had 10 tackles and the game-sealing pass break-up. And
DeRahn Williams had 7 tackles and an interception.
MNU is 4-1 (3-1 HAAC). The next game is Saturday at Evangel (4-2, 2-2) at 1:30.
