October 16, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY - Photos credits by Cody Welu
HIGHLIGHTS: KELO SPORTS - KDLT SPORTS - KSFY SPORTS
VERMILLION, S.D. – Trailing 17-16 in the fourth quarter in a Thursday night football game at the University of South Dakota's DakotaDome, Dakota State used 10 plays for 70 yards to regain their lead after Jacob Giles threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Zach Ely for a 22-17 win over Briar Cliff (Iowa). The Trojans were able to hold off Chargers' late comeback for DSU's fourth victory of the season.
Dakota State snapped their two-game losing skid to improve their overall record to 4-4, including a 3-1 road record this season against members of the Great Plains Athletic Conference. It was the first time since 2005 that the Trojans had notched their fourth victory of the season. Briar Cliff fell to 1-5 overall record.
BCU scored the first points of the game after using 11 plays for 51 yards in 3:39. Patrick Taccogna kicked a 31-yard field goal to give Chargers their first lead of the game with 11 minutes and 30 seconds remaining in the opening quarter.
The Trojans quickly answered back with a touchdown in the ensuing drive. As DSU started their drive on their own 9-yard line, Jacob Giles connected to Austin Opdahl for a 91-yard touchdown pass – the longest pass this season for DSU – to give the Trojans a 6-3 lead with 11:11 left in the first quarter. Tanner Hubbard missed the PAT extra point kick.
Briar Cliff regained their lead later in the first quarter after Mitch Heikes rushed for a 2-yard touchdown with 5:01 left in the first quarter. The highlight in BCU's scoring drive was a 49-yard pass from Kevin Van Egodom to Brad Van Dusen from BCU's 48-yard line to DSU's 3-yard line. Taccogna added the PAT kick to give Briar Cliff a 10-6 lead.
Dakota State was unable to respond with a score in the next drive. The Trojans used nine plays for 56 yards in 3:19 and were stopped on fourth-and-goal on BCU's 2-yard line where DSU committed a turnover (fumble).
DSU regained their lead at 13-10 in the second quarter with a 1-yard touchdown run by Giles. During the scoring drive, Giles threw a 46-yard pass to Brendon Waldner from BCU's 47-yard line to BCU's 1-yard line. Hubbard kicked a successful PAT kick to give Trojans a three-point lead with 7:33 remaining before halftime.
Hubbard made a 33-yard field goal as Dakota State's lead grew to 16-10 with 3:28 left in the second quarter. The Trojans recorded seven plays for 59 yards in 1:51, including a 46-yard pass from Giles to Ely.
The Trojans held a 16-10 halftime advantage.
BCU's scoring opportunity was halted in the early third quarter as Van Egdom's pass from DSU's 23-yard line was intercepted by Tyler Ross in the end zone with less than ten minutes on the clock.
Both teams were unable to score in the third quarter. Dakota State was held to eight total offensive yards, while Briar Cliff only recorded 55 total offensive yards.
The Chargers overtook the lead from the Trojans to kick off the fourth quarter. BCU started their scoring drive from the DSU's 44-yard line in the late third quarter. Van Egdom recorded a 32-yard touchdown pass to Tyler McGhee with 14:52 left in the game. Taccogna's PAT kick was good to give Briar Cliff a 1-point lead at 17-16.
The Trojans started their game-winning drive with 11:23 remaining on the clock in the fourth quarter at their own 30-yard line. DSU used three plays of 10-plus yards that resulted for first downs in the scoring drive as Giles threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Ely with 8:19 left in the game. The Trojans were unable to convert their 2-point attempt as DSU held on to a 22-17 lead, the fifth lead change in the game.
DSU was forced to punt from BCU's 40-yard line with only one minute left in the game; the Chargers started their drive from their own 5-yard line with 57 seconds remaining. Van Egdom opened up with a 38-yard pass to Bret Van Muyden to BCU's 43-yard line for a first down. After an incomplete pass, Van Edgom added a 33-yard pass to Van Muyden to DSU's 24-yard line.
Briar Cliff called a timeout with seven seconds remaining after Van Egdom threw a 11-yard pass to Fred Fields to DSU's 13-yard line. The Trojans prevented the Chargers from scoring after a pair of incomplete passes by Van Egdom, securing DSU's third series meeting victory over the Chargers in the fourth all-time meeting.
Giles completed 15-of-34 pass attempts for 317 yards with two touchdowns passes in his first career collegiate start for the Trojans. He added a rushing touchdown.
Dakota State had a pair of 100-plus receiving yards in the game, led by Opdahl with five catches for 124 yards and a touchdown. Ely added seven receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown. Waldner had five receptions for 69 yards.
Jabree Shorter led DSU's rushing attack with 68 yards in 13 carries. Jeremey Christner added 17 rushes for 50 yards.
Van Egdom was 16-of-46 in passing with 240 yards and a touchdown for the Chargers. Heikes rushed 20 times for 56 yards with a touchdown. Robert Wilson recorded 12 rushes for 45 yards.
Fred Fields had five catches for 41 yards for Briar Cliff. Van Muyden added three receptions for 72 yards. McGhee had three catches for 45 yards and a touchdown.
Ben Kullos led the Trojans' defense with 13 tackles. Tyler Poggemeyer added 10 tackles. Dan Ngandali and Cole Potter each had eight tackles. Eric Tieszen had 1.5 tackles-for-loss of four yards.
DSU's defense recorded seven broken-up passes, led by Ngandali with two broken-up passes. Kullos, Trevor Kenobbie, Austin Ross, Brandon Long and Ramel Dyer each had a broken-up pass.
Devin Yabo collected 14 tackles for the Chargers. Kenny Hanes added nine tackles. Tyler Dean recorded seven tackles with a quarterback sack. Johnath Carter had a forced fumble, while Eric Nicholsen and Kevin Occil each had a fumble recovery.
Dakota State outgained Briar Cliff 423-364 in total offensive yards. The Trojans had a season-high 315 passing yards compared to the Chargers' 240 passing yards. BCU outrushed DSU 124-108.
DSU tallied 19 first-downs in the game, while BCU recorded 15 first-downs.
Briar Cliff was whistled for 15 penalties for a total of 131 yards. DSU had six penalties for a total of 55 yards.
The Trojans converted 6-of-18 on third down conversions while the Chargers were 6-for-21 on third-downs.
Dakota State returns home next Saturday, Oct. 25 as they host Trinity Bible (N.D.) in the final non-conference game of the season (the Trojans play two straight road games on Nov. 1 at Waldorf, Iowa and Nov. 8 at Dickinson State, N.D. in North Star Athletic Association conference play). The Trojans will recognize their seniors prior to the game as part of Senior Day ceremony. Kick-off from the Trojan Field in Madison, S.D. is set for 1 p.m.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
