MVC football: Vikings pull out 22-19 decision on HAAC road

ATCHISON, Kan. -- Benedictine proved it could play defense Saturday.

A week after Central Methodist set a school record with 640 total yards during a 45-26 upset, the Ravens held the Missouri Valley College football team to under 300 yards for the first time this season.

Fortunately for the 15th-ranked Vikings, they got what they needed when they needed Saturday for a 22-19 Heart of America Conference road victory.

"We did not play very smart or very well at times, but we made the plays when we had to," admitted MVC head coach Paul Troth. "It was huge to be able to win up there."

Valley was pinned in its own end of the field midway through the first quarter when forced to punt, the Ravens taking over at the visitors' 48-yard line and using seven plays before scoring on senior Ryan Kelly's 25-yard pass to senior Chris Langley -- the first of three touchdown connections between the two.

The Vikings didn't get moving until late in the first quarter, freshman Richard Konu carrying the ball three times for 19 yards and junior Chris White completing a 20-yard pass to sophomore Josh Reid to get within striking distance.

Valley tied the game on White's 16-yard throw to senior Bryan Blackley and took the lead when sophomore Gideon Israel returned an interception 44 yards for a touchdown.

Benedictine answered with a 13-play, 71-yard drive, Kelly converting through the air on a pair of third-and-13 situations. Langley's 14-yard catch with 1:08 remaining in the half closed the margin to 14-13, where it stayed when the Ravens missed the extra-point kick.

Neither offense was able to score during the third period, but the Vikings had a chance when seven runs for 48 yards by freshman Michael Peavy got them to the BC 20. However, senior Alex Trevino's field-goal attempt was blocked by junior Chase Brunick.

"We missed some scoring opportunities," Troth said, ruing over "seven or eight dropped passes. We did not execute at all."

Benedictine charged back, a 36-yard pass to Langley setting up first down at the MVC 25. Valley's defense held firm, starting with a sack by freshman Spencer Hython. On fourth down and 2 yards to go, sophomores Adam Maher and Sean Gracy dropped junior D.J. Matysek for a 1-yard loss.

But the reprieve didn't last long. Senior Wes Downing intercepted a White pass to set the Ravens up at the Valley 20. On the fourth play of the series, Langley caught a 4-yard pass in the end zone, but couldn't haul in the two-point conversion toss, for a 19-14 Benedictine lead.

The Vikings' offense, dormant much of the game, took over -- grinding out a 76-yard drive which took 17 plays and over nine minutes to finish. Twice Valley had to go for it on fourth down, the first time with Blackley catching an 11-yard pass to reach the BC 4-yard line.

The second one was on fourth and goal from the 6, with only 1:27 left in the game, when White hooked up with senior Jacob Cahill for the go-ahead touchdown. The Vikings went for two points and junior Darrell Madry held on to a White pass.

The Ravens (2-2, 2-2 HAAC) were unable to move the ball on the game's final possession, sophomore Richard Wick breaking through to drop Kelly for a 3-yard loss on second down and two passes falling harmlessly to the ground.

A week after losing to No. 3 Lindenwood on a last-minute drive, it was a win Valley (3-1, 3-1) desperately needed to remain alive in the league race.

The Vikings will have a challenge this week when they host Graceland, who boast talented tailback Jerome Messam -- who led them to an upset of the defending conference champions at Gregg-Mitchell Field two years ago.

"Any time you have an NFL-caliber running back in the backfield, that presents problems," Troth remarked.