Des Moines, Iowa -- The No. 2-ranked Grand View University Vikings outscored the Friends 14-0 in the second half to escape with a 21-17 win in the NAIA Football Championship Series today (Nov. 30) at Mediacom Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa.
With the Falcons up 10 at halftime, Grand View scored on their first two possessions of the second half, starting with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Jackson Waring to Zane Johnson that made it 17-14.
Waring then ran in for a 2-yard score to give the Vikings a 21-17 lead at the 12:41 mark of the fourth quarter.
After the Vikings later missed a field goal from 36 yards out, the Falcons took over with 1:09 left. Â
But the final drive stalled on fourth and 10 as the Vikings held on for the win to advance to the NAIA FCS quarterfinal round.
The Falcon defense made the game's first statement when Braelyn Jay forced and recovered a fumble on the game's first possession to nullify a Grand View first down at the Friends 49.
After the Falcons were forced to punt, the defense again stepped up and stopped the Viking offense on third and eight.
The Grand View offense got going late in the first quarter and got on the board first on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Waring to Tate Stine-Smith.
On the Falcons' next possession, K'Vonte Baker broke free on third and six for a 72-yard touchdown to tie the score at 7-7.
The Falcon defense then forced another turnover, this time a fumble recovery by Braden Gordon to set up shop at the Viking 39-yard line.
The offense capitalized when a seven-run by Michael Lopez on fourth and six extended the drive that resulted in a two-yard score by Baker to put the Falcons on top for the first time with 7:59 left in the opening half.
Another strong stand by the defensive unit allowed the Falcon offense to go to work again and a 36-yard field goal by Cole Thompson gave Friends a 17-7 lead at the half.
Baker, the KCAC Co-Offensive Player of the Year, rushed for a game-high 151 yards with the two touchdowns.
Waring finished with 263 yards passing, with two touchdowns and one rushing score.
Friends was outgained 333-273 overall, but held a 273-70 edge in rushing yards. The Vikings had entered the game as the NAIA's top-ranked rush defense with just 42.3 rushing yards allowed per game.
Playing in his final game as a Falcon, Nolan Ewing led the Falcon defense with eight tackles, while Barrett Roads had one sack. Demarieo Sims and Leshaon Davis also teamed up for one sack for the Falcons.
John Argo paced the Viking defense with 16 tackles.
The Falcons, under third-year head coach Terry Harrison, finish the season with an 11-2 overall record for the program's most wins in the modern era. This also marked the Falcons' furthest advancement in the NAIA FCS in school history.
