MOVA Vikings Defense Once Again Shines, Turnovers Doom Raptors

April 28, 2024 Billy Splain

Last week against the Comanche they forced 5 turnovers to lead the Vikings to a big win. This week against the Raptors they did the same thing. Led by Sheldon Jones, who once again like last week had two picks, one returned for a td, the Viking defense dictated the game. We actually had a tight game for the first quarter, but it all fell apart for the undermanned Raptors who were missing several players. Raptors OL, Shaq Garner, was missing due to an incident that involved a shooting in which he was the victim.

With a scoreless game midway through the first quarter, Andre Dokes picked off Marques Pires at the Raptor 18. Several plays later GEFA Veteran QB Greg Medina hit a diving Rob Albro for the first score of the game and with 2:37 left in the first it was 6-0 Vikings.

That interception opened the flood gates that washed away any chance the Raptors had. An interception by Albro led to a 8 yard td run by Malik Breon, Jones got his first pick  of the game that led to a 5 yard pass from Medina to Albro and just like that it was 22-0 Vikings. The Raptors fought back, though it was a very short fight. Marques Pires to Messiah Smythe  from 16 yards out closed the score to 22-6 with 2:39 left in the half.

Very short lived. The Viking returned the kick to the Rapter 10 and Medina hit Jason Nyhart for a one play touchdown drive. On the next Raptor series Pires was swallowed up by the MOVA defense, dropped the ball and big Jimmy Werner scooped the ball up to make it a 34-6 halftime lead for the home team.

MOVA opened the second half with a one play TD, Jones got a pick-6 on the next drive and that pretty much sealed the deal. "Turnovers is always a good thing and it’s our job to capitalize on that," said Medina after the game.

The Vikings will have a forfeit win next week due to the team from Monroeville folding while the Raptors will host the Somerset Nightmare.