Football Leads Late, Falls to MidAmerica Nazarene at Home

Marshall, Mo., (Nov. 4, 2023)- The Missouri Valley College football team hosted MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) in a Heart of America Athletic Conference South Division game Saturday afternoon inside Volney C. Ashford Stadium.  The team led in the fourth quarter, but fell by a final score of 28-24.

The game started with MidAmerica Nazarene receiving the opening kickoff, and putting together a long drive, moving 87 yards in 13 plays to take a 7-0 lead with nearly six minutes played.  Missouri Valley was unable to move across midfield on its initial possession of the contest, but the defense followed with a three-and-out of the ensuing MNU drive to get the ball back with just over five minutes remaining in the quarter.

The drive featured two pass completions from Senior Quarterback Tionne Harris (St. Louis, Mo.), both to Senior Wide Receiver Dorian Miles (Gwinnett Co., Ga.).  The first was a 16-yard completion, followed by a 52-yard completion that set the team up at the two-yard line.  The next play was a run into the end zone from Senior Running Back Jeremiah Bryant (Atwood, Tenn.).  Junior Kicker Justin Keller (Shawnee, Kan.) added the extra-point, and the teams were tied at 7-7 with less than four minutes to play in the first quarter.

The Viking defense followed with another stop, this time an interception inside the team's territory by Junior Defensive Back Taylor Hunt (Roxie, Miss.).  The offense carried possession into the second quarter after the turnover, but was forced to punt.  MidAmerica Nazarene responded with another long drive, this time running off 14 plays and covering 82 yards.  However, the defense forced a 22-yard field goal attempt, which was blocked by Sophomore Defensive Back Jeremiah McNair (Hattiesburg, Miss.) to stop the scoring threat and keep the teams tied midway through the quarter.

The two teams traded punts on their next possessions, and Missouri Valley started a drive with three minutes remaining in the half at its own 23-yard line.  The first play of the drive was an interception throw by Harris, and MNU gained possession on the Viking side of the field.  The Pioneers worked quickly, and scored another touchdown to move back on top, 14-7, with just over one minute to play in the half.  The Vikings were unable to score on the final possession of the half, and went into halftime trailing by the seven-point margin.

Missouri Valley received the kickoff to open the second half, but had a drive stall after failing to convert on a fourth down attempt in MNU territory.  The defense came up with another stop after the Pioneers moved across midfield, but the ensuing possession for the Vikings ended in another turnover, as Harris had a pass intercepted.

MIdAmerica Nazarene was limited to a three-and-out on its next drive, as Senior Linebacker Craig Travis (Kansas City, Mo.) finished off a sack on second down, followed by a sack on third down by Senior Defensive Lineman Christian Harvey (Kansas City, Mo.).  Missouri Valley started a drive late in the third quarter in Pioneer territory, and quickly worked down the field as Harris hit Miles for a 40-yard gain, and Bryant scored on a four-yard rushing attempt to cap the drive.  Keller made the extra-point, and the teams were tied again, at 14-14, with near the four-minute mark.

The Vikings nearly came up with another turnover, as Junior Linebacker Eddie Rankin IV (Bay Area, Calif.) forced a fumble on the first play of the next MNU drive, and the team forced a three-and-out.  However a 67-yard punt resulted in Missouri Valley starting a possession at its own seven-yard line, as the game went into the fourth quarter of play.

The drive for Missouri Valley lasted 10 plays early in the final quarter, but the team had to punt just inside MidAmerica Nazarene territory.  Again the MVC defense came up with another stop and forced a punt to start a drive with 12-minutes remaining in the game.  The first play of the possession was a 49-yard pass completion to Junior Wide Receiver Nate Pouliot (Clearwater, Fla.) to reach the MNU 13-yard line.  The team eventually settled for a 30-yard field goal attempt from Keller, which was successful, and the Vikings claimed their first lead of the game, 17-14, with 11-minutes to play in the contest.

The Pioneers worked quickly, and covered 75 yards in only four plays, taking up just over one minute of game-time to score a touchdown and move back in front, 21-17.  Missouri Valley punted on its next possession, but the punt was muffed by the MNU returner, and recovered by Freshman Long Snapper Logan Holt (Texarkana, Texas) at the MidAmerica Nazarene 17-yard line.  Bryant ran twice on the drive, covering 17 total yards and scoring for the third time to move Missouri Valley ahead, 24-21, midway through the fourth quarter.

MidAmerica Nazarene regained possession, and drove down the field, running off 13 plays to finish off a 78-yard drive with another touchdown and reclaim the lead at 28-24 with less than three minutes to play in the contest.  Missouri Valley could not cross midfield on the following drive, and turned the ball over on downs at its own 42-yard line.  However, the MVC defense came up with a stop, helped by a tackle-for-loss from Senior Linebacker Gabe Ellefsen (Marshall, Mo.) to bring up another punt. 

With less than one minute to play in the game, Missouri Valley started a drive at its own 28-yard line, and the first play featured a 32-yard completion to Pouliot to move the team into Pioneer territory.  However, the second play ended in an interception to end the threat.  MidAmerica Nazarene ran out the final seconds remaining on the clock and handed Missouri Valley a 28-24 defeat.

Harris had 387 yards on 25-49 passing with three interceptions.  He also added 46 yards rushing.  Bryant totaled 49 all-purpose yards with three touchdowns.  Miles led with six receptions for 166 yards, while Pouliot had two receptions for 81 yards and Junior Wide Receiver Khaleel Dampier (Columbia, Mo.) totaled seven receptions for 81 yards.

Defensively, Senior Linebacker David Gysbers (Columbia, Mo.) had 10 total tackles.  Travis added nine tackles, two tackles-for-loss and one sack.  Harvey had one sack and one forced fumble, while Hunt added three tackles and one interceptions.  McNair had four pass break-ups and the blocked field goal attempt.

Keller made all three extra-point attempts and a 30-yard field goal.  Senior Punter Justin Bridges (Park Hills, Mo.) had a 36.2 yards per punt average on five punts, with three downed inside the 20-yard line. 

The loss drops Missouri Valley to 5-4 overall and 2-2 in the Heart South Division.  MidAmerica Nazarene improves to 8-2 on the season and 3-1 in the division.

Up next, the Viking football team will host No. 25 Baker (Kan.) for Senior Day and the final game of the 2023 season.  The game will be Nov. 11 at 1 p.m., inside Volney C. Ashford Stadium.

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Known for its dynamic, richly diverse, and friendly educational environment, Missouri Valley College offers many opportunities to grow in mind, body, and spirit. Grounded in the liberal arts, undergraduate studies empower students to master interdisciplinary skills needed to succeed in a knowledge-based global society. MVC offers over 30 academic programs, study abroad program, extracurricular activities, and a wide variety of sports. The most popular majors include education and business, criminal justice and exercise science. Above all, Valley is committed to student success. For more information, call (660) 831-4000 or visit www.moval.edu.