Game Day: Valley City State at Southeastern

Football | 11/10/2016 8:00:00 AM

Valley City State University Vikings (5-4) at #14 Southeastern University Fire (7-1)
7:30 p.m.—Victory Field
Lakeland, Fla.
 
Tickets
 
Game Coverage
Live Video    Live Stats
Game Notes    Two-Deeps
 
When the Fire football team roars out of the tunnel at Victory Field Thursday night, it may look a little different. The team will be doing so as The Sun Conference Champions.
 
With last week's 24-0 shutout at Webber International, the Fire claimed the conference title, making it the second in program history.
 
The shutout marked the second straight week the Fire defense had not allowed its opponent to score, and has not allowed a point in its last 10 quarters of football.
 
On offense, the Fire rank 18^th in the NAIA in scoring at just over 35 points per game. The ground game has been key as of late, making at least 30 rushing attempts in each of its last five games, and six of seven total this year. The Fire have rushed for 300 yards in back-to-back weeks.
 
The Vikings make the 1,800 mile trip from just outside of Fargo, N.D. to Lakeland, Fla.; the longest trip the team has made since going to Menlo (Calif.) in 2013.
 
Like Southeastern, Valley City State has an upset victory over a team that was ranked 19^th in the NAIA Coaches' Top 25. The Vikings knocked off Dakota State on the road 41-22, and with a win against Presentation the following week, were in the hunt for the North Star Athletic Association title. A 27-21 loss the following week at Jamestown ended their postseason hopes.
 
VCSU quarterback Kurtis Walls makes his 41^st and final start for the Vikings. The 6-4 senior ranks 35^th in the nation in passing yards per game (189.7) and is 45^th in pass efficiency (120.8).
 
On defense, Nicholas McBeain leads the nation in tackles, averaging 18.2 per contest. In 30 career contests, McBeain has made 171 unassisted tackles, 9.5 sacks, 25.5 tackles for loss, and has two interceptions.
 
Gates open at 6 p.m. to the general public. Tickets are available by visiting fire.seu.edu/tickets.