October 25, 2014
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
Photos credits by Kaden Huntrods
MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State raced to a 25-0 commanding lead Saturday afternoon versus Trinity Bible (N.D.) at Trojan Field. The Trojans never looked back as they dominated the Lions 69-13 on Senior Day (final home game of the season), earning their fifth victory of the season for the first time since 1999.
Dakota State won their second straight game to improve their overall record to 5-4, finishing with a 2-3 home record this season. Trinity Bible dropped to 2-6 overall record.
DSU scored the first points of the game with less than 10 minutes left in the opening quarter. Jacob Giles threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Zach Ely. Tanner Hubbard added a successful PAT kick to give Dakota State a 7-0 lead. The Trojans used five plays for 40 yards in 1:44 in their first scoring drive of the game.
After Trinity Bible was forced to punt on their next drive, DSU added a 27-yard field goal from Hubbard to extend their lead to 10-0 with 4:13 remaining in the first quarter. The highlights in this scoring drive came with a pair of long runs from Giles on third down situations (30-yard run on 3rd-and-14 on DSU's 14-yard line to DSU's 44-yard line and 41-yard run on 3rd-and-5 from DSU's 49-yard line to TBC 10-yard line).
The Lions were forced to punt again on the ensuing drive. Brendon Waldner recorded a 70-yard punt return for a touchdown, extending DSU's lead to 16-0 with 1:36 left in the opening quarter. It was the first time since Oct. 11, 2008 that the Trojans had a punt return for a touchdown (T.J. Simmons with a 82-yard punt return for a touchdown versus Minot State, N.D.)
Giles connected to Ely for the second time in the game with a 76-yard touchdown pass in the early second quarter. Hubbard added a PAT kick as DSU's lead grew to 23-0 with 12:21 left before halftime.
From the kickoff, the Trojans added two points when TBC Barry Bighorn could not make a kick-off return. He attempted a return inside the goal line, but was tackled in the end zone. As a result, DSU recorded a safety to give DSU a 25-0 lead with 12:10 left on the clock in the second quarter.
DSU committed a fumble on their own 18-yard line and was recovered by Trinity Bible with less than 10 minutes left in the second quarter. The Lions would quickly score after a 3-yard touchdown run by Kazdan Reis with 9:46 remaining. The PAT kick by Tyler Lightbody was good to cut Trojans' lead to 25-7.
Dakota State made it 31-7, thanks to a pair of long runs by Jabree Shorter. From DSU's 41-yard line, Shorter ran for 15 yards for a first down, followed by a 44-yard touchdown run with 5:38 left before intermission.
TBC went three-and-out on the next drive. The Trojans would added another score, thanks to Giles' 19-yard pass to Ely (third touchdown of the game). DSU built their lead to 38-7 with 2:33 remaining in the second quarter.
Dakota State outscored the Lions 22-7 in the second quarter, gaining a 31-point halftime lead. The Trojans racked up a total of 373 offensive yards (172 rushing yards and 201 passing yards) while the Lions were held to 65 offensive yards (8 rushing yards and 57 passing yards).
DSU extended their lead to 44-7 with 13:21 left in the third quarter. The Trojans only needed three plays in the scoring drive when Christner opened with a 16-yard run from TBC's 47-yard line to TBC's 31-yard line. Justin Summers threw a 26-yard pass to Waldner to TBC's 5-yard line on the next play, setting up a 5-yard touchdown run for Christner.
The Lions used 12 plays for 65 yards in 2:46 on the ensuing possession. Trevor Taylor threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Lim Windham, Jr. Trinity Bible could not convert their 2-point PAT try as DSU held on to a 44-13 lead with 10:35 left in the third quarter.
Trinity Bible failed to convert their scoring opportunity later in the third quarter by using nine plays for 44 yards. On DSU's 2-yard line, TBC's Andrew Sisk fumbled the ball (forced by Trevor Kenobbie) and was recovered by Dereck DeVries on DSU's 4-yard line. DeVries picked up the fumble and returned it for a 96-yard touchdown with 4:53 remaining on the clock in the third. Christner rushed for a successful 2-point PAT attempt as DSU expanded their lead to 52-13.
Hubbard recorded his second field goal of the game in the early fourth quarter. He hit a 30-yard field goal to give DSU a 55-13 lead with 11:13 remaining in the game. The Trojans used eight plays for 30 yards in 2:26 in the scoring drive.
Cooper Hausmann intercepted TBC Donovon Flaherty's pass on TBC's 28-yard line on the ensuing drive. Hausmann would returned the interception for a touchdown, extending Trojans' lead to 62-13 with less than 10 minutes left.
Dakota State added another touchdown near the end of the game. Tyler Pruszynski connected to Geno Bursheim for a 20-yard touchdown pass. Hubbard added a PAT kick to make it 69-13 in favor of the Trojans.
DSU outscored TBC 17-0 in the final quarter.
Giles was 9-for-16 with 184 passing yards and threw three touchdowns passes for the Trojans. He added eight rushes for 78 yards. Summers was 3-for-4 with 43 passing yards. Pruszynski added 20 passing yards and a touchdown.
Ely caught four passes for 123 yards and recorded three touchdowns for DSU. Bobby Tisch and Christner each had three receptions for 36 yards. Waldner had 26 receiving yards. Bursheim had a catch for 20 yards with a touchdown. Austin Opdahl also had a reception.
Shorter rushed 11 times for 138 yards with a touchdown for Dakota State. Christner added 10 rushes for 61 yards and a touchdown.
Taylor was 18-of-28 with 142 passing yards and a touchdown for Trinity Bible. Flaherty added 8 passes in 16 attempts for 76 yards and an interception.
Reis had 13 rushes for 47 yards and a touchdown for the Lions. Sisk added nine rushes for 32 yards.
Windham, Jr. recorded eight receptions for 90 yards and a touchdown for TBC. Alex Wattley added four catches for 33 yards.
Cole Potter led the Trojans' defense with 13 tackles. He tied a DSU school record for most quarterback sacks in a single game with four sacks (Paul Naughton versus Huron, S.D. in 1989). Potter broke the DSU school record for most sacks in a single season with 12 sacks.
Eric Tieszen and Ben Kullos each tallied 10 tackles for DSU. Hausmann had eight tackles and an interception return for 28 yards. Aaron Gronwald had eight tackles.
DeVries and Mason Decker each had a fumble recovery for the Trojans. Hausmann recorded an interception and a return for 28 yards.
Twelve different DSU players recorded at least one-half tackles-for-loss, led by Potter with five tackles-for-loss of 43 yards. Kullos added 2.5 tackles-for-loss of 11.7 yards. Kenobbie had two tackles-for-loss of three yards.
Potter, Ridge Lindberg and Kenobbie each recorded a forced fumble for Dakota State. Hausmann had a blocked punt.
Cole White tallied 11 tackles for the Lions. Jerome Gree added eight tackles and 1.5 quarterback sacks. TJ Belmore and Michael Bowden each had a sack. Dnaiel Rodriques and Luis Barberna each had a fumble recovery.
The Trojans piled up a season-high 539 offensive yards in the victory (68 total plays). Trinity Bible was held to 285 total offensive yards in 86 plays.
DSU had 44 rushes for 292 yards compared to TB 42 rushes for 67 yards. Dakota State outgained Trinity Bible 247-218 in total passing yards.
The Trojans recorded 24 first-downs. Trinity Bible had 22 first downs.
Dakota State converted 7-of-14 on third-down conversions. The Lions were 8-of-22 on third-downs.
The Trojans earned eight quarterback sacks in the game while the Lions had five sacks.
DSU controlled the ball for 26 minutes and 37 seconds. TBC recorded a time possession of 33 minutes and 23 seconds.
It was the final career collegiate home football game for five DSU seniors – Ely, Matt Groff, Gronwald, Zac Woods and Mitchell Trestrail. They were honored prior to the game
Dakota State looks to extend their winning streak next Saturday (Nov. 1) as they visit Waldorf (Iowa) in the first-ever North Star Athletic Association conference meeting. Kick-off is set for 1 p.m. at Bolstorff Field in Forest City, Iowa.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
