Vikings overcome penalties

Missouri Valley more than doubled the offensive production of the Benedictine Ravens on Saturday night in Marshall.

However, the Vikings needed 10 fourth-quarter points to finish off Benedictine, 26-16, in a Heart of America Athletic Conference football game.

The Vikings accumulated 391 yards of total offense while Benedictine churned out only 167.

Penalties were the equalizer in the Vikings’ season opener. They lost 219 yards on 11 penalties.

Missouri Valley jumped out to a 16-0 lead in the second quarter.

Adrian Trevino kicked a 37-yard field goal, and Chris White hit Jacob Cahill on a 40-yard touchdown pass to give the Vikings a 10-0 lead after one quarter.

White completed 16 of 31 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns.

Robert Holmes scored on a 4-yard run, but the Vikings’ 2-point conversion try was turned away.

Holmes ran for 73 yards on 20 carries to lead Missouri Valley.

Benedictine cut its  deficit to 16-7 by halftime. Jake Mohr caught a 5-yard TD pass from Ryan Kelly 6:10 before the break.

Kelly finished 13-of-24 for 147 yards and  two touchdowns.

He was sacked five times.

Jordan Banion booted a 42-yard field goal halfway through the third quarter to slice the Vikings’ lead to 16-10.

Trevino made a 27-yard field goal at the start of the fourth quarter, and Darrell Madry hauled in a pass from White for an 8-yard touchdown with eight minutes remaining to push the Vikings’ lead to 26-10.

Conor Walsh scored on a 39-yard pass play that drew Benedictine closer with 4:33 left.

The Vikings will travel to Lamoni, Iowa, next Saturday to take on Graceland.

Central Methodist beat Graceland 20-3 on Saturday night in Fayette.