GEORGETOWN, TX - Viking football took to the Lone Star State for their final regular season game, where they dominated Southwestern by a final score of 49-7 to secure their second consecutive NCAA Playoff berth and most likely a first-round bye. 

QB Christian Lewis produced his best statistical game of the season with 239 yards through the air and 4 TDs, while Josh Rogers contributed over 100 yards on the ground and the air attack was led by a career-day from Khamari Smith, who pulled down five catches for 103 yards and 2 TDs. 

The game began with an impressive drive from the Pirates, who moved the ball down the field on a normally shut-down Viking defense, as they scored the first touchdown of the game. The Vikings calmly pushed the ball right back down the field offensively, with a connection between a bootlegging Christian Lewis and a streaking Khamari Smith resulting in a Viking touchdown. The two-point conversion attempt would be no good though, as they were still behind 7-6. 

Following two strong stops from each defense, the Berry defense would double up with their second stop of the game, courtesy of a red zone fourth down sack from Jaden Melville, which set up another Viking offensive possession. Following another big 28-yard connection between Lewis and Smith, a strong dose of rushes from Colby Sikes, Josh Rogers, and Jake Turner brought the Vikings right where they needed to be in the red zone. Facing a 3rd and 8, red zone QB Andrew Hunter fooled the defense and found a wide open Walker Williams open in the flat for an easy touchdown to take a 14-7 lead after a successful two-point conversion. 

On the ensuing Pirate possession, the defense held strong again thanks to offensive penalties and a big-time third-down tackle from Carver Cole. The Berry special teams unit then made their presence known, as long-time special teams extraordinaire Cade Petty lunged into the punter's vision to block a punt that rolled into the end zone and was recovered by Aidan Moore for a huge Viking touchdown to turn the tide of the game with just 5 minutes left in the first half. Both offenses then stalled for the remainder of the half, leaving the Vikings with a 15-point advantage at the break. 

Smelling an undefeated season in the SAA, QB Christian Lewis dotted up the opposing defense for 54 yards through the air, spearheaded by am 8-yard Touchdown to Khamari Smith. Things went from bad to worse for the Pirates as Jack Murray swindled the Southwestern QB for an interception that would set up a commanding nine-play drive that was capped off by a Nate Lyons touchdown to really shut the door on the Pirates with an insufferable 36-7 lead with 6 minutes left in the third period. 

It was all but over in the fourth quarter, as the Vikings added insult to injury with two touchdowns courtesy of a Bryce Herring screen play and a Jay Kanazawa rushing touchdown to cap off a 49-7 victory. 

With the win, the Vikings have a great chance to secure a first-round bye, with a top-8 NPI ranking. The selection show begins tomorrow at 5 PM ET on NCAA.com.