The 2024 season was certainly one to remember for the Grand View University Vikings football team. They ran through their Heart of America foes in the regular season, took care of business in the NAIA playoffs, and capped off a perfect 14-0 season with a national championship.
With a high-octane offense that averaged just under 40 points per game, their defensive unit was arguably more impressive as they allowed just eight points per contest. The Vikings featured four All-Americans on that squad and cleaned house with the Heart of America Conference (HOA) postseason awards.
Head Coach Joe Woodley was the conference’s Coach of the Year, EJ Peterson won Assistant Coach of the Year, Jackson Waring was named conference Player of the Year for the second time (and won the NAIA National Player of the Year), and John Argo was the HOA’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Certainly, for Grand View’s 2025 opponents’ sakes, the cupboard is now empty in Des Moines, right?
Au, contraire my friends. Out of the four names mentioned above, only Coach Woodley is no longer with Vikings as he departed to Drake University to oversee their program. Who is taking over for Woodley and overseeing Grand View’s roster that features well over 100 former Iowa high school preps? None other than Coach Peterson, a Grand View alum and Monroe native, the defensive coordinator of the historically dominant 2024 defensive unit.
Grandview has 138 players on the roster that contains 125 Former Iowa High School players.
Waring, (former Des Moines Christian Lion) returns after a 2024 season where he threw for 2514 yards and 25 touchdowns. He also galloped for 744 yards on the ground, and his 13 rushing touchdowns were tied for the best along with (former Van Meter Bulldog), Dalten Van Pelt. Van Pelt, a Second Team All- Heart North honoree ran for a team high 816 yards last season and is back for more in 2025. He’ll get to run behind three returning First Team All-Conference offensive linemen: Noah Clark, Nate Timmons, and James Wartick (Algona High School). Second Team member Ryan Saddler (Pleasant Valley HS) also returns for the Vikings. The electric Aisea Toki will suit up at wide receiving in 2025 as well after leading the Vikings with 38 receptions, 731 yards, and eight touchdowns one season ago, efforts good enough to land him on the All-Heart North’s First Team.
On the defensive side of the ball, Argo (former Davenport Assumption) looks to lay more lumber along with fellow All-American defensive end, Jackson Filer. The duo combined for 165 tackles in 2024 with 32.5 of them stopping their defenders for a loss. Filer (former Dowling Catholic Maroon) notched 11 sacks and forced a fumble last year and hopes to build on those numbers this season. Argo must be the only Davenport native who earned First Team All-Conference honors returning for Grand View, yeah? Try again. Davenport North’s Cade Sheedy recorded 70 tackles in 2024 and returns in 2025, giving the Vikings arguably the toughest pair of linebackers in all of NAIA.
On special teams, long snapper Adam Caudle was on the All-Conference First Team last year and he returns this season. Second Team All-Conference kicker Cory Wood is back as well.
On paper, Grand View seems to be poised for another huge season. The NAIA’s preseason polls won’t be released until Monday, August 25, but it would be a bit of a surprise to see Grand View ranked anything besides number one given their returning talent offensively, defensively, and special teams-wise.
The Vikings will kickoff their season at home on Saturday, September 6, against Benedictine College. Grand View leads the all-time series with a 7-2 record over the Ravens. The two played last year in Atchison, KS and the Vikings lit up the scoreboard with a 52-28 triumph. Benedictine has been ranked as high as #4 by Victory Sports Network so it will likely be the highest-rated team they face in the regular season.
So, if we had to set a floor realistically it’s difficult to see Grandview losing a regular season game, but we will set the floor at 9 wins with a ceiling (prediction) that a 10-0 regular season is probable. Then the playoffs await and the Vikings will have a real shot at taking a trip to Ft. Worth Texas this fall (the site of the 2025 NAIA title game).
Will Grand View take care of business in the Heart of America Conference again in 2025? Do they have the firepower to replicate their 2024 season? Let us know what you think! As always, we appreciate your viewership and we thank you for supporting Sports Guys Iowa. X @sportsguysiowa
