September 27, 2014
SEWARD, Neb. – Trailing 21-16 at the Bulldog Stadium, the Dakota State University football team rallied back for a thrilling 22-21 non-conference victory over Concordia (Neb.) Saturday evening. Brendon Waldner caught a game-winning 6-yard touchdown pass from Justin Summers and held to earn their first victory over the Bulldogs in series meeting history.
Dakota State, which is 2-0 record on the road this season, snapped their two-game losing streak and lifted their overall record to 3-2. It was the first time since 2008 that the Trojans earned third victory of the season. Concordia, who received votes recognition in the latest NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 national poll, dropped to 2-2 overall record. The Bulldogs won the previous three meetings with the Trojans, which began the series in 2011.
Concordia jumped to a 14-0 lead in the opening quarter.
Bryce Collins recorded a 14-yard touchdown run with seven minutes and 23 seconds left in the first quarter and Adam Meirose added a PAT kick to give CUNE their first lead of the game at 7-0.
The Trojans were unable to put points on the scoreboard on the ensuing drive. DSU used 11 plays for 50 yards in 6:09, but a 43-yard field goal by Tanner Hubbard was blocked.
Concordia went on to score another touchdown on the next drive in the first quarter. Von Thomas connected to Collins for a 45-yard touchdown pass. Meirose added a successful kick to extend CUNE's lead to 14-0.
DSU earned their first points of the game in the second quarter. Starting on the own 4-yard line, the Trojans used 13 plays for 83 yards in 5:50 as Hubbard kicked a 30-yard field goal. DSU trimmed CUNE's lead to 14-3 with 4:11 left in the first-half.
The Bulldogs held on to lead 14-3 by intermission.
After CUNE went three-and-out to open the third quarter, the Trojans marched down the field to score their first touchdown of the game. Jeremy Christner ran for a 2-yard touchdown and Hubbard converted a successful PAT kick as Trojans cut Bulldogs' lead to 14-10 with 10:25 left in the third quarter.
DSU used eight plays for 51 yards in 3:09 in the scoring drive.
Concordia broke their scoring drought as Collins recorded his third touchdown of the game in the early fourth quarter. Collins rushed for a 1-yard touchdown run and Meirose added the PAT kick to extend CUNE's lead to 21-10 with 13:47 remaining in the game. The Bulldogs used nine plays for 85 yards in 2:59 in the scoring drive.
The Trojans reduced CUNE's lead to 21-16 after Christner rushed his second touchdown of the game with a 5-yard run with 5:56 left. DSU could not convert their 2-point conversion. Dakota State used nine plays for 83 yards in 2:41 for the score.
DSU's defense forced the Bulldogs to punt on DSU's 44-yard line on a fourth-and-one situation with two minutes left in the game.
Dakota State's game-winning drive started on DSU's 12-yard line with 1:57 remaining. Facing a third down situation on DSU's 18-yard line, CUNE was penalized for a pass interference and resulted on a first-down for the Trojans their own 29-yard line.
Summers threw a 41-yard pass to Austin Opdahl on the next play to CUNE's 30-yard line, giving another first down for the Trojans with clock ticking less than a minute. Summers added another first down on a rush to CUNE's 22-yardline and Summers threw a 10-yard pass to Opdahl for another first down on CUNE's 6-yard line.
Facing a third-and-goal on CUNE's 6-yard line, Waldner caught a diving 6-yard touchdown pass from Summers to give Trojans their first lead of the game at 22-21 with 10 seconds remaining in the game. DSU fell short to convert their 2-point try.
DSU used 12 plays for 88 yards in 1:47 in the game-winning drive.
The Trojans' defense prevented CUNE to come back as the game ended on DSU's 45-yard line after Thomas threw a 14-yard pass to Riley Herren and lateraled to Matt Keener for 1 yard. Keener was tackled by Ramel Dyer as DSU sealed the victory.
Summers was 15-of-26 with 199 passing yards and a touchdown for the Trojans. Christner rushed 21 times for 84 yards and recorded two rushing touchdowns. Jabree Shorter ran 17 times for 64 yards.
Opdahl had four catches for 64 yards for DSU. Zach Ely added four receptions for 48 yards. Bobby Tisch had three receptions for 65 yards. Waldner caught three passes for 18 yards and recorded a touchdown.
Thomas completed 12 passes in 25 attempts for 168 yards with a touchdown and an interception for the Bulldogs. He added 13 rushes for 68 yards. Collins had 21 rushing attempts for 80 yards with two touchdowns.
Collins caught five passes for 112 yards and a touchdown. Herren added two receptions for 29 yards.
Cole Potter led the Trojans' defense with seven tackles, including two tackles-for-loss of 13 yards. He had a quarterback sack for a loss of seven yards. Jaysen Adams added six tackles. Dyer, Ben Kullos and Clifton Marshall each had five tackles.
Ridge Lindberg and Eric Tieszen each earned a quarterback sack for Dakota State.
Brandon Long recorded an interception for DSU's defense and returned for eight yards.
Patrick Skwara collected 15 tackles for CUNE. Kyle Rakow added 13 tackles. Michael Gill recorded 12 tackles. Nakemm Evans had 11 tackles.
Gill recorded three quarterback sacks for Concordia. Rakow added two sacks. Alex Melius and Sam Noonan each had a sack.
Tarence Roby had an interception for the Bulldogs.
DSU's Nic Behrens had four punts for 167 yards, including two punts that resulted the ball inside the 20-yard line. Summers added two punts for 96 yards, which also included both of his punts inside the 20-yard line.
Sandy Fisher recorded eight punts for 301 yards in the game for the Bulldogs. His five punts were inside the 20-yard line.
The Trojans had 25 first-downs in the game, including six first-downs that resulted from penalty. CUNE recorded 17 first downs.
DSU outgained the Bulldogs 406-368 in total offensive yards.
The Trojans rushed 61 times for 207 yards compared to CUNE 38 rushing attempts for 200 yards.
Dakota State recorded 199 passing yards, while the Bulldogs had 168 passing yards.
DSU had the ball control for 33 minutes and 10 seconds. CUNE had a time possession of 26:50.
The Trojans converted 9-of-19 on third-down situations. The Bulldogs were 2-of-11 on third-down conversions.
Dakota State, who is 2-0 record against members of the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC), stays on the road next Saturday (Oct. 4). The Trojans travel to Mitchell, S.D. to take on their long-time rival and GPAC foe Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) in another non-conference game. Kick-off from the Joe Quintal Field is set for 6 p.m.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
