Wesley Foryoh's great catch in the final minutes gave MNU a 16-13 victory over Missouri Valley in the season finale on Saturday. After the Pioneers celebrated Senior Day, they marched right down the field 75 yards on 5 running plays to get in the end zone. Valley answered with a quick touchdown of their own, and both teams missed the PAT so the score was tied at 6. Both defenses locked down, and punts and turnovers were the story for the rest of the half. The teams went to the locker room knotted at 6.
Valley scored on a trick play early in the third quarter, and MNU responded with a 12-play 64-yard drive which ended with a
Cristian Casillas 24-yard field goal to make it 13-9. When the Pioneer defense stood firm with two forced punts around a fourth-down stop, the offense provided the drive of the season with 10:15 remaining in the game.
MNU started at their own 14 and found themselves at the 9 after a holding penalty. Consecutive completions from
Jakob Jordan to
Bo Miller got the Pioneers out of trouble, and a personal foul penalty gave MNU a big first down when it would've been 4th and 1 near midfield. Another big completion to
Gio Gonzalez put MNU in the red zone, and on 3rd and goal from the 12, Jordan found Foryoh in the end zone. The senior receiver jumped over 2 defenders and snatched the ball away, completing a 15-play, 86-yard, 7 minute 23 second touchdown drive to give MNU a 3-point lead.
Valley got across midfield on their ensuing drive, but the defense held again to close the game.
"This was a great finish to the year," said head coach
Brian Willmer. "The team stayed the course and found a way to win at the end. I am proud of this senior class and their resiliency, these are 'teleo' men.
These guys fought hard to finish well after the early small-margin loses, including two in overtime. I'm proud of them."
Javon Taylor ran 29 times for 158 yards and a touchdown.
Jakob Jordan threw for 131 yards and a touchdown.
Bo Miller caught 4 balls for 47 yards. And
Wesley Foryoh grabbed the only ball thrown his way for the game-winning 12-yard touchdown. On the other side of the ball,
Connor Benado recorded 10 tackles.
Tanner Hamilton had 7 tackles and a pick. And
Jo Jo Bones also had an interception.
MNU finishes the season 6-5 overall and 4-1 in the Heart South, good for second place in the division.
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