Staff photo by Ari Selvey Minnesota Valley Lutheran’s Eric Sorenson fights off a tackle during a nondistrict football game against Minneota Thursday at Johnson Field.

NEW ULM — Minnesota Valley Lutheran opened its season against a tough opponent in Minneota, and they fell 42-7 to the Vikings in a nondistrict football game Thursday at Johnson Field.

Minneota has won the past three Class A State Football Championships, and MVL had a tough time against the program in the opening week.

“They do the small things right,” MVL head coach Jim Bubotlz said. “They do the little things right. They fire off the ball, they block the point of attack, they seal the line. There’s not a lot of holes there. Because of that, they’re going to have another great year, because that line is really, really good.”

Elias Schauland was 11 for 22 with 106 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions for MVL, while Eric Sorenson had seven catches for 63 yards and Blake Sexton had a touchdown reception. Caleb Hunter had six tackles, while Luke Merseth had an interception and Trace Gunderson had a fumble recovery.

MVL did have some moments where it found success, including the opening defensive drive where it held Minneota to a punt after just one first down.

“I just think the guys need to take it one play at a time,” Buboltz said. “They got the punt return where they didn’t have to run an offensive play, then the punt block where they only had to go one yard. That’s really hard on the psyche, to give up two touchdowns and not really have a defensive play or an offensive play with it.

“It’s good learning for a brand-new quarterback, brand-new running back, who I thought showed some really good things at times. Couple of new guys got some downs in there. I think we could have connected up top a little bit earlier. We didn’t take advantage of some height advantages we had. But we stuck with it and eventually hit one. If we give that type of effort and don’t give up, we’re going to be fine, but that’s a good team over there.”

MVL received the opening kickoff, but Minneota’s Joey Lacek intercepted a pass on the second play of the game. MVL got its stop on the next drive as Caleb Hunter got a sack on fourth down to turn the ball over.

“We’re seeing an opponent we’re not used to seeing,” Minneota head coach Chad Johnston said. “They came out running some stuff that we weren’t necessarily prepared for, and it kind of caught us off-guard a little bit. Our kids weren’t making the right adjustments. Defensively they were doing some things a little bit different, and it took us some time to get going on our blocking schemes and understand our blocking assignments.”

However, MVL was forced to punt in its drive, and Lacek returned the punt for a touchdown to open the scoring and take an 8-0 lead after a converted 2-point conversion.

Minneota scored on its next two drives as well to take a 21-0 lead. MVL got another stop as Luke Merseth tipped up a pass at the line of scrimmage and intercepted it, but the Changers were unable to move the ball and went three-and-out. Minneota’s Easton Johnston took the first play of the drive 57 yards for a score as the Vikings went up 28-0.

MVL punted again on the next drive, but a fumble on the return and a recovery by Trace Gunderson set up MVL in great field position at the Minneota 38. However, another fumble by MVL slipped possession again as the clock wound down to halftime.

Minneota scored on the opening drive of the second half as Kellen Bradley punched it in from 4 yards out for a 35-0 lead. MVL found some success on its next drive, marching the ball down the field into the red zone thanks to a 29-yard connection between Elias Schauland and Ethan Schauland and another 15-yard pass from Elias Schauland to Eric Sorenson, but an interception on fourth down in the end zone by Landon Esping put an end to the drive. Minneota took advantage as Lacek took a swing pass from Tristen Sussner 6 yards for another Vikings touchdown and a 42-0 lead.

MVL again found some rhythm on its next drive, with a connection from Elias Schauland to Sorenson going for 23 yards and Chase Tweit getting 12 yards on the ground. This time, Elias Schauland was able to connect with Blake Sexton for a touchdown pass though pass interference in the corner of the end zone, with an extra point making it a 42-7 game. However, Minneota was able to run the clock out on the next drive, ending the game.

MVL (0-1) travels to Le Sueur-Henderson on Friday, Sept. 5.