(5) Grand View hands (17) Football first loss, 41-20

Raven Football dropped a tough contest at home on Saturday.

The (17) Ravens lost 41-20 to the (5) Grand View University Vikings. A Vikings special teams score flipped momentum early in the fourth quarter to seal the game for GVU.

After trailing by 14 points at halftime, the Ravens cut the Vikings lead to one score with a 23-yard pass from Garrett Kettle to Austin Buteaux in the third quarter, making the game 27-20 in favor of Grand View. After the Ravens defense stopped the Vikings, the Ravens offense began driving again.

Lining up for a 49-yard field goal, Teagan Trammel's kick was blocked and returned 60 yards for a Vikings touchdown, putting the visitors up 34-20 early in the fourth quarter. The Vikings scored an insurance touchdown later in the fourth to wrap up the 21-point win.

Both teams' offenses were rolling in the first quarter. The Vikings received the opening kick and drove 65 yards for a touchdown and 7-0 lead. The Ravens answered right back with a 75-yard drive that was capped off with a Kettle 2-yard rushing touchdown. A missed extra point kept the Ravens behind, 7-6.

On the ensuing Grand View drive, the Vikings scored on a 29-yard rush to extend their lead to 14-6.

Still, in the first quarter, the Ravens answered right back. A 58-yard drive was completed when Kettle connected with Reed Levi for a touchdown to pull the Ravens to within 1 point, 14-13.

With 11 seconds left in the opening quarter, the Vikings added one more score to take a 21-13 lead after 15 minutes of action.

The defenses settled in during the second quarter as the only points scored were two Vikings field goals, giving the visitors a 27-13 lead at halftime.

The Ravens offense made a solid adjustment during the break and came out with an impressive drive to start the second half. They opened the third quarter with a 14-play, 75-yard drive that culminated in a 23-yard touchdown pass from Kettle to Austin Buteaux.

The Ravens offense continued to move the ball in the third quarter, but the blocked field goal returned for a Vikings touchdown early in the fourth quarter proved to be too much to overcome.

Kettle finished with 191 yards through the air with two touchdowns and an interception. Rayshon Mills led the Ravens rushing attack with 59 yards, and JaShawn Todd was the leading receiver, pulling down two catches for 93 yards, while Buteaux had four grabs for 38 yards.

Jalen James, Gavin Spangler and Tyler Tierney led the defense with 7 tackles. Zach Gill and Joe Glaser each added 6 tackles.

The Ravens (1-1) will hit the road for their next contest, a 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11 game at Peru State College.