Vikings football extended their winning streak to four games with a 49-21 win against Reedley College on Oct. 12.
The game was close only at the beginning with DVC shutting out Reedley in the first half 20-0. Despite a late-third-quarter, early-fourth-quarter surge by Reedley, the game was always with DVC.
“I thought the guys responded to a different type of athlete than we faced last week. You go from Monterrey where it’s a very cerebral team, a lot of scheme to what they do, to a team with… big, fast bodies,” said head coach Mike Darr. “It was great to see our guys match the intensity, match the physicality and match the speed. We played fast and physical and that’s what we’re always trying to do.”
Vikings’ quarterback Quinn Kaehler led the offense against Reedley, throwing his 28th touchdown of the season compared to Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers who threw 26 touchdowns with Butte College in his 2002 record-breaking season (Butte College Stats and Records).
Kaehler’s most impressive touchdown came after Reedley’s late-game run and put the final nail in the coffin. With 7:51 left in the fourth quarter, Kaehler connected with wide receiver André Lewis who took the ball 77 yards for a touchdown.
Sophomore running back CJ Best was another major contributor to the Vikings’ offensive game. With 2:19 left in the third quarter, Best broke through three Reedley defenders in a 58-yard touchdown run – the longest run of the game. Best credited his offensive line for providing blocking and room to run as well as his receivers for taking pressure off the running game.
Big plays by DVC’s defense, led by sophomore defensive end Kyle Kragen, allowed for offensive breathing room. “The (defensive) line is the hardest working group in practice,” said Kragen on the defensive line’s role in the win against Reedley. “We come out, we work hard. Everyone on the d-line busted their ass in the game.”
Sophomore cornerback Damon Collins also gave credit to the defensive line for keeping pressure on the pass rush and blocking the quarterback’s view. DVC’s only interception came at the end of the third quarter from Collins, who ran the interception back from within Reedley’s own 20-yard line for a touchdown to give the Vikings a 34-7 lead.
“We came out a little slow but we ended up getting together as a team for the first time this season,” said sophomore wide receiver Diante Jackson. “The defense stepped up, the offense stepped up, and everybody was catching balls.”
Jackson specifically credited the offensive line as a big part of the Vikings’ success. “We wouldn’t be anything without our o-line. Even though they gave up some sacks, points wouldn’t be on the board without them.”
“I really want to improve on our pass coverage and one thing for sure, is our penalties,” said freshman cornerback Malachi Harris. “Penalties was the main thing coach Darr had mentioned right after the game… we still have to take those away because we’re playing a really good team in Siskiyous in two weeks.”
The Vikings’ will play College of Siskiyous on Friday Oct. 26 at home.