Football Suffers Home Loss to William Penn in Regular Season Finale

Marshall, Mo., (Nov. 16, 2024)- The Missouri Valley College football team hosted William Penn (Iowa) in a Heart of America Athletic Conference contest to close out the regular season.  The Vikings fell by a final score of 17-7.

The game started with William Penn taking the opening possession, and putting together a 10-play drive that ended in a touchdown to move in front, 7-0, with just over five minutes played.  Missouri Valley responded with a scoring drive of its own, on the team's first possession.  Freshman Quarterback Cole Robertson (Kansas City, Mo.) picked up 30 yards rushing, and completed a pair of passes, including a 13-yard competition to Senior Tight End Markus Stepanoff (Milton, Ontario) and an eight-yard gain to Senior Running Back Rondarius Gregory (Nashville, Tenn.).  The team eventually had first-and-goal from the six-yard line, and Robertson completed his third pass of the drive, a touchdown to Senior Tight End Melvendrick Johnson (Memphis, Tenn.).  Freshman Kicker Bruno Kincaid (Spain) added the extra-point, and the teams were tied, 7-7, with just over five minutes remaining in the quarter.

William Penn was stopped on its next drive, which included a sack and forced fumble from Freshman Defensive Lineman Rahshad Hill (Sarasota, Fla.), which was recovered by the Statesmen.  The teams traded punts until early in the second quarter, as WPU started a drive at its own 29-yard line.  William Penn drove down the field, and went back in front, 14-7, with five minutes played in the quarter.  After the Viking offense punted on its ensuing possession, the MVC defense forced a three-and-out, which included a tackle for no-gain by Senior Defensive Lineman Ethan Towers (Chicago, Ill.).

Missouri Valley started a drive late in the quarter inside its own five-yard line.  Robertson converted a third-down attempt with a six-yard rush, and the team eventually moved towards midfield.  The drive stalled, but a short punt allowed William Penn to take over on the MVC side of the field.  The Statesmen took advantage of the field position, and settled for a 39-yard field goal.  The kick was successful in the closing moments of the half, and the Vikings went into halftime trailing, 17-7.

The third quarter started with Missouri Valley taking the opening possession, but the team was held to a three-and-out.  Senior Punter Justin Bridges (Park Hills, Mo.) got off a 42-yard punt to put William Penn inside its own 20-yard line for its first possession of the half.  The Statesmen picked up three first downs on the drive, but a third-down pass break-up from Junior Defensive Back Jeremiah McNair (Hattiesburg, Miss.) put an end to the drive, and a short punt from WPU put Missouri Valley near midfield midway through the third quarter.

Freshman Wide Receiver Malik Brown (Tampa, Fla.) made a pair of receptions, gaining 15 yards, but the drive ended on an interception.  William Penn followed with a long drive, taking nearly six minutes off the clock, and moving the contest into the fourth quarter.  The Statesmen reached the MVC seven-yard line, and tried to convert a fourth down attempt.  A pass was incomplete, and the Viking defense came up with the stop to keep the team in a 17-7 deficit.

After the teams traded punts early in the fourth quarter, Missouri Valley began a drive at its own 24-yard line.  Robertson completed a pass to Brown for 15 yards, and Junior Running Back Devonte Armstrong (North Las Vegas, Nev.) gained 16 yards rushing.  Crossing midfield into WPU territory, the drive ended on another interception, midway through the quarter.  William Penn followed by working down the rest of the clock with a number for first down conversions.  The Vikings fell by a final score of 17-7.

Robertson had 66 yards rushing, to go with 73 yards passing and one touchdown.  Brown totaled 30 yards receiving on three receptions and Johnson had one reception for six yards and one touchdown.

Defensively, Senior Defensive Back Bryan Sarante (Sacramento, Calif.) led with 10 tackles, followed by nine tackles, and one tackle-for-loss, from Senior Defensive Back Taylor Hunt (Roxie, Miss.).  Hill had six tackles, one sack and one forced fumble.

Bridges finished with a 35.6 yards per punt average on five punts, with a long of 42 yards and one punt inside the 20 yard line.  Kincaid made his only extra-point attempt in the game.

The loss drops Missouri Valley to 4-6 on the season, while William Penn moves to 4-6.

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About Missouri Valley College

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.