Box Score Valley City, N.D. - The Comets football team traveled to Valley City to take on the Vikings in a North Star contest Saturday afternoon. The game needed two overtimes to decide a winner, with the Vikings escaping with a 24-21 win.

With the rain slowing down the passing game, Mayville State's running attack was effective early as the offensive line opening holes for Daniel Nevil, who rushed for 30 yards and caught three passes for 15 yards in the first quarter. The Comets second drive of the game went 14 plays for 88 yards and chewed up over eight minutes of the clock, culminating into a Tim Salmon strike to Javeion Davison from 18 yards out. The Braeden Lacombe PAT gave Mayville State a 7-0 in the second quarter.

"I'm proud of how we ran the football today. Our offensive line was pushing people and getting movement," said head coach Rocky Larson.

The Vikings managed to respond with a 13 yard touchdown run of their own, tying the score at 7. The Comets turned to Mason Ollman on the third drive and he delivered with six straight carries for 46 yards. After a Darrick Frederick reception, Ollman rumbled to the end zone from 28 yards out. Lacombe converts the PAT to expand the Comets lead to 14-7, which lasted to halftime.

Mayville State continued to utilize the running game to great effect to start the second half, but were forced to punt. The Vikings used a long drive of their own to tie the game at 14 after a short touchdown run.

Both teams moved the ball in the second half, but the defenses made enough plays on both sides to keep the score at 14. The Vikings picked off a Mayville State pass in the end zone midway through the fourth quarter to foil the best chance to break the tie. 

Larson added, "Defensively we talked better today and created confusion on their really good offensive line. Our coaches had a great game plan to slow the quarterback run game down."

The Comets opened the first OT with the ball and methodically marched down to the goal line, where Nevil punched into the end zone for the touchdown, making the score 21-14. Needing a touchdown to continue, the Vikings managed to convert a 4^th and 10 and ultimately sent the game into the second OT with a touchdown run of their own.

In the second overtime, the Vikings got the ball first. The Comets defense forced Valley City to make a 24 yard field goal, which they did to go ahead 24-21. Mayville State got a first down on a Salmon to Kelby Azure pass which got them to the 14. The Comets got down to the seven yard line, but a fourth and three pass fell incomplete, giving Valley City the win.

"College rules state in the 3rd OT both teams get one play for a 2 point conversion. We were at the 3 yard line and I figured we should run our best 2 point play and try to win the football game with one play instead of trading tries. I would do it 10-10 again," coach Larson explained after going for the win on fourth down. "Overall it was a fun day. We made some big strides as a program and we are excited to get back home next week."

The running backs were the stars of the Comet offense, with both Nevil (102 yards) and Ollman (100) hitting the century mark. Salmon finished with 147 yards and a TD and Davison finished with four catches for 53 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, Jordan Richardson and Johnathan Updike collected seven tackles each, with Bailey Mullenburg right behind with six. Mullenburg, Updike and Max Cussen each racked up a sack as well. The defense head the Vikings to only 56 passing yards and 265 total yards.

The Comets fall to 0-5, 0-3 in the North Star. Mayville State returns home to face the Dakota State Trojans next Saturday (9/30), kickoff is at 3:00pm.