Pioneers Come Up Just Short vs. #1 Grand View

The Basics
Score: Grand View 32 – MNU 28
Record: MNU (5-3), GVU (7-0)
Location: Olathe, Kan. – Pioneer Stadium

OLATHE, Kan. – MNU nearly pulled off the upset of the season on Saturday afternoon, taking a 28-17 lead into the fourth quarter against #1 Grand View before falling 32-28 in a Heart South thriller at Pioneer Stadium.

The Pioneers came out swinging, scoring touchdowns on their first two possessions to grab an early 14-0 advantage. Drew Miller was sharp early, tossing first-quarter touchdown passes to Aiyo'n Carter and Samuel Gonzalez, while the MNU defense forced a pair of turnovers to set up short fields.

Grand View fought back with a pair of long touchdown drives to even the score at 14 before MNU regained control midway through the second quarter. Devin Andrews capped a 10-play, 72-yard march with a 3-yard touchdown run to put the Pioneers back in front, 21-14, a lead they carried into halftime.

After the break, Grand View trimmed the margin to 21-17 with a field goal, but Miller again answered, connecting with Zane Hall for a 20-yard touchdown to make it 28-17. The top-ranked Vikings responded with a touchdown and two-point conversion late in the third to pull within three, then capitalized on a pair of fourth-quarter MNU turnovers to complete the comeback.

Grand View's go-ahead score came with 8:10 remaining on a 1-yard run following an interception deep in Pioneer territory. MNU's final drive reached the Grand View 32-yard line, but a holding penalty and back-to-back incompletions stalled the march, allowing the Vikings to run out the clock.

"I am really proud of our guys, said head coach Ivan Cordova. "Obviously not the result we wanted, but our guys fought hard for 60 minutes. That was a essentially a playoff game against a national championship contender, and our guys proved they belong."

Defensively, Elijah McFadden led the Pioneers with 11 tackles and a forced fumble, while Jonathon Brown added 10 tackles, half a tackle for loss, and a forced fumble of his own. Eli Saintjuste provided an early spark with a first-quarter interception that set up the opening score, returning it 32 yards.

MNU's offense produced 300 total yards, led by Miller, who completed 22 of 34 passes for 240 yards and three touchdowns. Carter hauled in nine receptions for 103 yards and a touchdown, and Gonzalez added eight catches for 93 yards and a score.

Grand View controlled possession (32:55 to 27:05) and churned out 262 rushing yards, wearing down the Pioneer defense late.

Turning Point
Early in the fourth quarter, with MNU clinging to a 28-25 lead, an interception turned the tide. Three plays later, the Vikings punched in the go-ahead score to take their first lead of the game at 32-28.

Individual Leaders
Drew Miller: 22-for-34, 240 yards, 3 TD
Devin Andrews: 14 carries, 42 yards, 1 TD; 1 KR, 26 yards
Aiyo'n Carter: 9 receptions, 103 yards, 1 TD; 5 KR, 102 yards
Samuel Gonzalez: 8 receptions, 93 yards, 1 TD
Zane Hall: 3 receptions, 25 yards, 1 TD
Elijah McFadden: 11 tackles, 1 FF
Jonathon Brown: 10 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 1 FF
Eli Saintjuste: 1 INT (32-yard return), 2 tackles

Up Next
The next game is Senior Night on Saturday at home vs. William Woods (1-7, 1-3) at 6:00.