The Grandview University Vikings are coming off a perfect 14-0 season that saw the 2024 NAIA National Championship Trophy return to Des Moines, Iowa, for the second time in program history.
The Vikings return a veteran team and a lot of talent, are set to defend the crown, and hope to take a trip to Fort Worth, Texas for the NAIA Championship game this fall.
The Vikings are led by QB Jackson Waring (Ankeny, IA), the reigning NAIA Football Player of the Year. Plus the Vikings return eight starters on offense and six on defense.
The big change is for the first time in the history of Grandview Football, it that they have a head coach not named Woodley.
The Woodley family has led Viking football since they fielded their first football team ever. Mike Woodley started the Grandview Football Program in 2008. Over 11 years, Mike Woodley had a 93-34 record including a National Title in 2014, before retiring in 2018. His son Joe Woodley became head coach and in his six seasons had a 72-5 record between 2019-2024 including last year’s national title.
The Vikings new coach E.J. Peterson starts the first post Woodley era in Grand View Football History. Coach Petersen is a Grandview Graduate (2011) and has spent the past six years as the Grandview Defensive Coordinator and Assistant Coach for one of the nation’s top NAIA defenses.
As defensive co-ordinator he was a key leader who helped lead the Vikings to 6 undefeated regular-season record over his six seasons. Coach Petersen is a Grandview man, and a proven commodity.
Grandview Viking leader QB Jackson Waring is protected by three starters from last year’s offensive line -James Wartick, Ryan Saddler, and Nate Timmons. The Vikings also return Wide receiver Aisea Toki and tight end Corey Phillips, and have Dalten Van Pelt and other veterans to help shoulder the offensive burden.
Defensively the Vikings return Jackson Filer and Casey Trudo rup front, and have John Argo and Cade Sheedy as returning starters at linebacker. They have veterans Kellen Moore and Tracy Davis returning in the defensive backfield.
The Vikings are a team built from the Iowa High School ranks with over 100 players from Iowa on the roster this fall. Grandview makes building an NAIA fence around the Des Moines metro a priority.
As Coach E.J Petersen shared earlier this year, when talking about the 2025 signing class. “Des Moines and the surrounding areas remain a top priority, and we’ve brought in talent from some of the best programs in the region and across the state.” *Source and Photo Grandview Athletics
As we get closer to the season and the NAIA Polls are released, it will be interesting to see how the Vikings are ranked. The Vikings have a top program and promoted Coach Petersen as Joe Woodley’s replacement so fast that I’m not sure the ink was dry on the contract Coach Woodley signed with Drake to become their new head coach.
That speaks to the fact that Grandview likely had Coach Petersen as the top resume in the “in case we need a new head coach” folder.
It will be interesting to see the new regime Vikings play this fall. I had the chance to see Grandview play in person last year, including their only one-score game in the playoffs, and they were impressive.
But…When you get a change at the top, there is usually some adjustment period.
This in-house hire inside the Viking family might make that adjustment period short-lived, but change usually creates some variables.
If the Vikings do make their way back to the playoffs as expected, one thing is almost certain, that a fellow Iowa NAIA football program will be in their way on the title path.
The NAIA football programs in Iowa are the current undisputed kings of NAIA football. Since 2018, Morningside University in Sioux City (3 titles, 1 2nd Place) and Northwestern College (1 title, 1- 2nd Place) and Grandview (1 Title, 1 2nd Place) have either won the National Title or lost in the title game. For the past 7 years, an Iowa NAIA team has always made the title game.
Will the Vikings make a return trip to defend their title in Fort Worth this year? It is going to be great to watch and find out.
As always, we appreciate your comments and support.
