MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa - Grand View's football team took their 22nd ranking in the NAIA to Mount Pleasant on Saturday afternoon. The Vikings took to Mapleleaf Stadium on the campus of Iowa Wesleyan College with a 6-2 record and perfect 4-0 record in conference play. Iowa Wesleyan had success moving the ball most of the afternoon, but an opportunistic Vikings defense forced nine turnovers in their 27-7 victory.

The first score of the afternoon fittingly came on an Iowa Wesleyan turnover. Sophomore linebacker Josh Monette intercepted Iowa Wesleyan's Kevin McConnell and returned it 42 yards for a touchdown. The two-point conversion failed, so the Vikings took an early 6-0 lead. The Tigers, celebrating their Senior Day, got their only score on the Vikings defense late in the first quarter, when Jaren Maybin scored on a 1 yard touchdown run. Trailing 7-6 in the second quarter the Vikings found their momentum and scored two times to take a 20-7 lead into halftime. The first touchdown of the second quarter came on a 4 play, 46 yard drive early in the quarter. Daryl Ford took the ball from the eight yard line and found the end zone for his first score of the afternoon.

The next Vikings touchdown came late in the second quarter after another Iowa Wesleyan interception. This time the Vikings' Brandon Howard intercepted the Tigers' back-up quarterback to set up Grand View's offense with great field position. Quarterback Charles Gregory dropped back and found Brett Opdahl for a 15 yard touchdown completion.

The second half started much like the first half with Iowa Wesleyan's Gerland Knighten returning a Blake Steil kick 41 yards into Grand View territory. However, the Vikings defense, proving tough to score on all season, rose to the challenge forcing a down sack and fumble. The Vikings then took over and drove 57 yards on seven plays, capped off by Charles finding Ford on an eight-yard swing pass for a score. The Ford touchdown finished the scoring for the afternoon, as neither team found the end zone in the fourth quarter. Grand View forced the Tigers into six turnovers on their final seven possessions of the game.

Gregory finished the game 9-for-18 passing for 163 yards and two touchdowns. The Vikings finished with four receivers catching 2 passes, led by Opdahl with 67 yards. Ford, Gavin Burns and Nick Eaton were the other three to catch two passes for the Vikings. Ford carried 14 times for 69 yards, while Lawrence Taylor carried 9 times for Grand View finishing with 39 yards rushing.

The Grand View defense was led by linebacker E.J. Peterson's 11 total tackles, including two tackles for loss and one sack. Monette ended with two interceptions and nine total tackles, while Mayron Martinez also ended up with nine total tackles.

The Vikings will be home next weekend as they take on MSFA conference opponent Saint Ambrose University (5-3, 3-2 MSFA).