The Pioneers came up short in a back-and-forth 31-36 game vs. #9 Grand View on Saturday night. MNU started strong as Javon Taylor took the opening kickoff 83 yards to set up the offense at the 13-yard line, but the Pioneers had to settle for a Cristian Casillas field goal to take the early lead. After a fumble and a 3-and-out on Grand View's first two drives, Javon Taylor struck again. On the first play of the ensuing drive, he got to the edge and sprinted 72 yards for a touchdown.
MNU forced Grand View to punt on their next two drives, but the second one was fumbled and recovered by the Vikings in the end zone for a touchdown. The Pioneers responded when Trent Hedlund found Gio Gonzalez for a 3-yard touchdown, and MNU led 17-7. The Vikings answered immediately, however, as quarterback Derek Fulton kept it for a 63-yard touchdown run on the first play. The Pioneers were forced to punt on the next drive, and Grand View used a 7-play 83-yard touchdown drive to take a 21-17 lead.With 7:17 remaining in the half, MNU went on a 9-play 57-yard drive - highlighted by a Hedlund to
Wesley Foryoh 20-yard touchdown pass on 3rd and 9 - to take a 3-point lead. Grand View missed a short field goal in the final minute, and MNU took a 24-21 lead to the locker room.
Grand View opened the second half with a 15-play 52-yard drive which resulted in a game-tying field goal. The teams traded punts for the rest of the quarter, and the Vikings struck first in the fourth. Another 15-play drive, this time for 80 yards, resulted in an 11-yard touchdown. The point after was missed, and MNU took advantage. A 9-play 67-yard drive ended with a
Javon Taylor touchdown, and the Pioneers led 31-30 with 5 minutes remaining.
With 2:30 remaining, Grand View faced 4th and 5 from the MNU 45-yard line. The Vikings took a shot down field and converted a perfect 38-yard pass to set up at the 7. Three plays later Grand View punched it in for 6, failed on the 2-point converstion, and left MNU with 50 seconds.
After a quick first down, MNU failed to connect on their next 3 passes to set up 4th and 10 from the Grand View 44-yard line. The pass rush got to Hedlund and his desperation heave was picked off to seal it for the Vikings.
"What I appreciate about this team is they keep fighting until the end," said head coach
Brian Willmer." Grand View is a very good team that understands how to win. We had some crucial mistakes in pivotal situations during the game, and despite those mistakes, we still had a chance to win."
Javon Taylor had 150 yards rushing, 123 yards returning, and 8 yards receiving for 281 all-purpose yards and 2 touchdowns.
Trent Hedlund threw for 207 yards and 2 scores to 8 different receivers.
Dominic Swillum recorded 12 tackles.
Aaron Mossbarger had 10 tackles including 3 tackles for loss and a sack. And
Jo Jo Bones had 9 tackles with a sack.
MNU is 2-4 (0-0 South). This Saturday is a bye week, and the Pioneers return to action the following Saturday, October 17 for Homecoming vs. Evangel (3-3, 0-0) at 2:00.
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