The Basics
Score: MNU 48 - Graceland 25
Record: MNU (1-0), GU (0-1)
Location: Huntsman Field - Lamoni, Iowa
LAMONI, Iowa - The Pioneers scored 20 points in the 4th quarter to turn a close game into a blowout at Graceland on Saturday. After forcing a punt, MNU turned the ball over of their first drive to give Graceland good field position, and the Yellowjackets promptly scored to take the early lead. Graceland scored again of their next drive but missed the PAT to take a 13-0 lead. MNU used a 3-play 70-yard drive highlighted by a
Trey Cooper to
Dalton Inlow 37-yard touchdown pass to get back in the game. Two plays later,
Jakob Jordan's Pick 6 put the Pioneers in front. Early in the second quarter, MNU put together a 14-play 71-yard touchdown drive to take a 21-13 lead. Just 1 minute before halftime, MNU went 68 yards in 6 plays and Cooper found
Sam Van Dyk for a touchdown to give MNU a 28-13 advantage at the break.
Early in the 3rd, Graceland used a 16-play 85-yard drive and a 2-play 48-yard drive to get back in the game, but 2 more blocked PATs kept MNU leading 28-25. In the 4th quarter, Graceland was in the red zone when MNU came up with a 4th down stop to get the ball back. On the first play of the ensuing drive,
Donald Garcia broke loose for a 75-yard gain to the 5-yard line. Dahmir Pross finished the drive with a short touchdown run and MNU led by 10.
Isaiah Robinson intercepted a pass on Graceland's next drive, and
Jordan Samson hauled in a 31-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead. After another turnover, the Pioneers put the game away with a 3-play 63-yard drive.
"This is a good team win by the players
tonight," said head coach Brian Willmer. "We had a few challenging spots, but the offense did a good job of moving the ball. I was pleased with how we were able to run the ball with
Donald Garcia, Dhamir Pross, and Kobe Harden.
Trey Cooper managed the game well, made a lot of plays happen and threw a lot of good balls. We need to do a better job of limiting our penalties and have a few first game mistakes to cleanup. Defense started slow, as we adjusted to their no huddle offense, but finished great with 6 turnovers. The 4th quarter stop on 4th down changed the momentum and the offense then went down and scored. We came together as a team, 'Power of One' 2017 Theme."
Turning Point
Early in the 4th, the Pioneers stopped the Yellowjackets on 4th down in the red zone, and
Donald Garcia's 75-yard run on the first play of the ensuing drive led to a touchdown to put MNU up by 10.
Individual Leaders
Donald Garcia had 14 carries for 183 yards.
Dahmir Pross had 11 carries for 91 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Trey Cooper was 25-40 for 284 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Sam Van Dyk caught 5 passes for 72 yards and a score. And
Jordan Samson and
Dalton Inlow caught TD passes.
On defense,
Dominic Swillum had 10 tackles and a forced fumble. And
Ryan Huerta,
Jaron Reed,
AJ Reeves,
CJ Dia, and
Justice Jardine recorded sacks.
Inside the Box Score
25 penalties were called for over 200 yards
Up Next
The next game is Saturday at home (
ODAC) vs. Culver-Stockton at 1:00.
