DECORAH, Iowa (Nov. 9, 2024) - Senior Eman Alaniz scored four total touchdowns and over 200 all-purpose yards, as he helped lead the Buena Vista football team to a convincing 40-13 American Rivers Conference road victory on Saturday afternoon.

Alaniz carried the ball a game-high 33 times for 119 yards and three scores and also hauled in a game-high five catches for 92 yards and one touchdown. In addition to his offensive duties, he also returned one punt for nine yards and one kickoff for 17 yards. Senior quarterback Zach Herrera completed 21-of-30 pass attempts on the day for 258 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions.

Aside from Alaniz, Johnnny Dickerson finished with five catches for 62 yards while junior Blaine Peebles hauled in four for 58. As a team, the Beavers chalked up 393 total yards of offense while holding the Norse to only 187.

BVU took its opening drive of the game down the field and used up nearly eight minutes off the clock. Despite getting into the red-zone, the Beavers had to settle for a 35-yard made field goal from junior Matthew Biesswenger with less than two minutes remaining in the quarter, and a 3-0 lead. On the ensuing kickoff, BVU went with a pooch kick directed toward the far sideline and were able to get down field and recover it at the Luther 28.

Herrera connected with Peebles on the first play from scrimmage for a 20-yard gain that set-up Alaniz's first rushing score of the game. The senior found his way into the endzone from four-yards out on second-and-goal. Beisswenger's PAT put the Beavers in front 10-0 with 29 seconds left in the opening quarter.

The two teams then traded punts early in the second quarter before Luther finally got on the scoreboard with a 14-yard touchdown pass midway through the quarter. Both defenses then stood tall the rest of the half as BVU clinged to the three-point cushion at the half.

Alaniz then came out of the halftime locker room and added his second rushing touchdown of the game with 9:30 left in the third quarter which capped a nine-play, 75-yard drive on the opening drive. Then late in the quarter, Beisswenger added his second field goal of the game (27 yards) to make it 20-7. 

BVU then broke the game open with 20 points in the fourth quarter, including a 55-yard pick-six from Beisswenger to cap-off the scoring. Alaniz also hauled in a touchdown catch of 27 yards that made it 27-7 before chalking up his third rushing score of the game from three yards out that made it 33-13.

Troy Reynolds, the reigning A-R-C Defensive Performer of the Week, led the way for the Beaver defense with six total tackles, including one for a loss, to go along with two pass breakups and one fumble recovery. Aydan Guenther and Alonzo Davis each added five total stops. BVU intercepted the Norse (1-8, 0-7 A-R-C) three times overall.

Buena Vista improves to 2-7 on the year (2-5 A-R-C) and hosts the University of Dubuque in the season finale next Saturday, Nov. 16, at 1 p.m.