September 13, 2014
Photos credits by Kaden Huntrods
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
MADISON, S.D. – Valley City State (N.D.) used a pair of big quarters Saturday evening to hand Dakota State (S.D.) their first loss of the season at Trojans in North Star Athletic Association conference game. After holding a 17-10 halftime lead, the Vikings scored 17 unanswered points in the third quarter to defeat the Trojans 34-10.
Dakota State dropped their overall record to 2-1 and 1-1 NSAA conference play. Valley City State improved their overall record to 2-1 and 1-0 NSAA record.
VCSU marched down the field in the opening drive of the game for the first score. Ian Keller rushed for a 2-yard touchdown run to give the Vikings a 6-0 lead. Thomas Cortes added the PAT kick to make it 7-0 VCSU with 9:42 left in the first quarter. The Vikings used 13 plays for 78 yards in 5:18 in the scoring drive.
After the Trojans went three-and-out, VCSU quickly added another touchdown. Kurtis Walls connected to Zach Johnson for a 76-yard touchdown pass with 7:31 left in the first quarter. Cortes kick a successful PAT kick as VCSU's lead grew to 14-0.
On the ensuing drive, Dakota State started their drive on their own 16-yardline and used 11 plays for 60 yards in four minutes. The Trojans were unable to convert their scoring opportunity as they were short on their fourth-and-two situation on VCSU's 21 yard line.
DSU earned their first score of the game in the early second quarter. Jeremy Christner rushed for a 1-yard touchdown run on the fourth-and-goal situation on VCSU's 1-yardline with less than 12 minutes remaining before halftime. Tanner Hubbard earned a successful PAT kick to cut Vikings' lead to 14-7.
The Trojans used 13 plays for 91 yards in 4:50 in their scoring drive.
After DSU's touchdown, the Vikings added a field goal to extend their lead to 17-7. Valley City State recorded 9 plays for 69 yards in 3:35 after Cortes hit a 26-yard field goal with 8:20 remaining in the first-half.
As the Trojans started their drive on their own 20-yardline with 2:46 left before intermission, Dakota State went on to add a field goal. Hubbard kicked a 32-yard field goal to trim their deficit to 17-10 with one second left before intermission. DSU used 13 plays for 65 yards in the scoring drive.
Valley City State scored in all three possessions in the third quarter to secure the victory.
After DSU's punt in the first drive of the second-half, VCSU Walls threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Demondre Boler with 10:41 left in the third quarter. Cortes recorded the PAT kick to give VCSU a 24-10 lead.
The Trojans were forced to punt in the next drive, the Vikings used 10 plays for 82 yards in 4:26 for their next score. Cortes kicked a 32-yard field goal to give VCSU a 27-10 lead with 4:09 left in the third quarter.
Dakota State committed a turnover on DSU's 46-yardline in the ensuing drive, which quickly resulted another score for the Vikings on their next drive. After Walls threw a 34-yard pass to Boler from DSU's 12-yardline to set up a 12-yard touchdown run by Trevor Goerts with 2:26 left in third. Cortes added the PAT kick to make it 34-10 in favor of Valley City State.
DSU was unable to add another score in the fourth quarter after using 17 plays for 70 yards in 5:26. From VCSU's 29-yardline, Justin Summers' pass intended for Zach Ely was intercepted by the Vikings in the end zone with 7:17 remaining in the game.
Valley City State secured the game by using the remaining 7:17 of the game after using 12 plays. Both teams did not score in the final quarter.
Christner rushed 25 times for 149 yards with one touchdown for the Trojans. Jabree Shorter added 11 rushes for 55 yards.
Summers was 12-for-22 in passing with 108 yards and an interception for the Trojans. Bobby Tisch had four receptions for 28 yards. Brendon Waldner added four catches for 18 yards. Austin Opdahl had two receptions for 23 yards. Shorter had a catch for 29 yards. Ely had a reception for 10 yards.
Jaysen Adams had four kick-off returns for 119 yards, including a longest kickoff return of game for 49 yards. Hubbard averaged 62.0 yards from kickoffs.
Walls was 20-for-30 passing with 428 yards with two touchdowns and an interception for the Vikings. Keller rushed 19 times for 75 yards with a touchdown. Goerts had 17 rushing attempts for 66 yards and a touchdown.
Boler had 10 catches for 165 yards and a touchdown for VCSU. Antoine Griffin added four catches for 147 yards. Johnson had two receptions for 79 yards and a touchdown.
Ben Kullos led the Trojans' defense with 14 tackles. Tyler Poggemeyer added 12 tackles. Adams and Trevor Kenobbie each collected nine tackles. Adams had an interception.
Nick McBeain recorded 19 tackles for Valley City State. Jawuan Pugh and Sam Cooke each had nine tackles.
The Vikings had 7.5 quarterback sacks in the game for a loss of 29 yards. Cooke had 2.5 quarterback sacks, while Ben Bruenjes added 1.5 tackles.
Pathen Asuncion had an interception for VCSU.
The Vikings outgained the Trojans 591-318 in total yards. VCSU had 428 passing yards compared to DSU's 108 passing yards. DSU outrushed the Vikings 210-163.
VCSU recorded 25 first-downs while DSU had 22 first-downs in the game.
Valley City State had a time possession of 31 minutes and 10 seconds in the game. Dakota State had the ball for 28 minutes and 50 seconds.
VCSU converted 7-of-13 on third-down conversions while DSU was 4-of-14. The Trojans were 3-of-4 on fourth-down conversions. VCSU was 1-of-2 on fourth-down situations.
Dakota State stays home next Saturday (Sept. 20) for another North Star Athletic Association conference game. The Trojans look to bounce back in the winning column as they welcome Presentation (S.D.) in the annual Trojan Day homecoming football game. Kick-off is set for 4 p.m. at the Trojan Field.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
