zach vraa

Zach Vraa Breaks Receiving Touchdowns Record

zach vraa
GABBY HARTZE | THE SPECTRUM
Zach Vraa celebrates with teammates after catching a one-yard touchdown Saturday.

Zach Vraa caught an incredible one-yard touchdown in the second quarter of Saturdays game, which sums up his career for the Bison: incredible.

Through six years we’ve witnessed miraculous, unexplainable, clutch catches in the biggest moments from this senior.

On Saturday, Vraa and his fellow senior teammates ran out onto the field for the last time in their regular season careers. He was tied with Tim Strehlow with 26 touchdown catches coming into the game.

When given his opportunity, he rose to the occasion by adding one more SportsCenter Top 10 like catch to his resume.

“We talked with him throughout the week, we wanted to get him the record,” head coach Chris Klieman said.

The senior from Rosemount, Minnesota owns almost every receiving record for the Bison football team. He holds the record for career receiving yards and career receptions.

In his freshman year, Vraa broke both of his collarbones, but fought through it and returned stronger than ever.

“Zach deserves it,” Klieman said. “He has had a lot of injuries and been through a lot of adversity, and still has been an exceptional football player for us for a long time.”

The following year, he led the team in receiving yards. This shows the love and work ethic he has for this game. From a fan perspective, he sure is fun to watch.

Not only is he a good football player, Vraa has been on the Missouri Valley Football Conference Honor Roll four years in a row, and in 2014 was named MVFC All-Academic first team and Capital One Academic All-District.

The stat line for this guy is unreal, it never ends. He had 10 one-hundred yards games, and had caught a pass in 41 of his 43 career games, also, a touchdown catch in 18 of those 43 games.

After the game, Zach was asked what the record meant to him, “Completes my run as an individual,” he said. “Of course, we have team goals we’d like to accomplish, but being through so many injuries, it means a lot to me.”

After the play was reviewed, and overturned, Vraa had a moment with coach on the sideline which had fans getting choked up and heavy hearted. It shows you how much one guy can mean to a team, community, university.

“For me it was an emotional time, as you probably saw on the field a couple tears came rolling down.” Vraa said. This is more than just a game for these guys. It’s family and its love of this great game we call football.

Quarterback Easton Stick was asked about the seniors after the game, and said he is thankful for everything they’ve done.

“I speak for all the underclassmen when I say, we’re so thankful for everything they’ve given to this program,” the redshirt freshman said. “What they’ve taught us about Bison Pride, its a really special group and we love all of them and can’t thank them enough.’

The Bison won 55-0 on Saturday and secured a first round bye in the FCS Playoffs.

With skill, strategy, and a little bit of luck, the Bison will try to make another run into Frisco and win a 5th consecutive championship.

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