September 2024

Valley freshman quarterback Cole Robertson looks for running room. Robertson rushed for 50 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns. He also passed for 113 yards in a 29-24 victory over Graceland on Gregg-Mitchell Field in Marshall last Saturday. (Hobby King/Democrat-News)

Valley rallies past Graceland in opener

The Casey Creehan head-coaching era at Missouri Valley College began with a win.The Vikings rallied from an early 21-6 deficit to beat the Graceland Yellowjackets 29-24 on Gregg-Mitchell Field in Marshall last Saturday.The Vikings overcame a couple of turnovers and numerous mental mistakes to defeat Graceland for the 17th straight year.

Read MoreValley rallies past Graceland in opener

Wildcats drop to 1-1 with 49-20 loss at Concordia

A week after winning in head coach Mitchell Jenkins’ debut, the Slater Wildcats led one time but ultimately allowed six of the last seven touchdowns and lost a non-conference game at Concordia 49-20 last Friday.The ‘Cats fell behind 7-0 but scored twice in a row, the first on a 60-yard kickoff return by senior Brandon Terrill, followed by a 74-yard strike from senior Chase Hemeyer to Terrill to lead 12-7.But the Orioles regained the lead with a TD prior to the end of the first quarter and added two more scores for a 28-12 halftime lead.Slater scored first in the third quarter on a 4-yard run by Hemeyer and subsequent two-point conversion to get within eight, but the Orioles put up the game’s final three scores to pull away for the win.The Wildcats finished with 254 total yards, including 160 rushing.

Read MoreWildcats drop to 1-1 with 49-20 loss at Concordia

Chiefs end 8-game losing streak

Junior Hayden Toliver picked off three passes and returned one for a touchdown, leading the Santa Fe Chiefs to their first victory on the football field since week two last year.The Chiefs scored the first 26 points, en route to a 26-12 victory over the Northland Christian Trailblazers on Buhlig Field last Friday night.Santa Fe’s previous win came in week two in 2023, as the Chiefs outscored Northland Christian 74-50 on the latter’s home field.The Chiefs have won their only four matchups with Northland Christian — including 90-14 in 2022 and 84-36 in 2021.In this one, Toliver got the Chiefs on the board first by picking off a Northland Christian pass and scampering 25 yards to the end zone on NCHS’s second possession of the game.Northland Christian responded with an 11-play drive, but turned over the ball on downs.

Read MoreChiefs end 8-game losing streak

Mistakes costly as Owls blanked by B’Ville

After a short, what sports broadcasters refer to as a feeling-out process, the Boonville Pirates dominated play on both sides of the football and rolled to a 47-0 victory over the Marshall Owls in the latter’s home opener last Friday night on Cecil Naylor Field.The Pirates took advantage of multiple Marshall turnovers to score more than one touchdown in each of the first three quarters.The final two quarters were played under quick-clock rules due to Boonville holding 35-0 lead at the half and 47-0 going to the fourth quarter.Boonville beat the Owls for the fifth straight time on the gridiron.

Read MoreMistakes costly as Owls blanked by B’Ville