September 6, 2014
Photos credit by Lexy Sattler
SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – Dakota State (S.D.) took advantage of Dordt's (Iowa) five turnovers – with four coming from interceptions – Saturday evening at Open Space Field to earn a 41-7 rout in a non-conference football action. With the victory, the Trojans started the season with a 2-0 record for the first time since 1993 season.
The Trojans won their second straight game for the first time since 2009 when DSU defeated Mayville State (N.D.) in back-to-back games (Oct. 31, 2009 in Madison, S.D. and Nov. 8, 2009 in the FargoDome in Fargo, N.D.)
Dakota State raced to a 34-0 halftime lead and never looked back, spoiling Dordt's season home opener. It was the Trojans' first-ever victory over Dordt, who won the previous three meetings when the series began in 2011.
DSU's Austin Ross intercepted DC Zach Barker's pass at the Trojans' 42-yard line and returned it for 52 yards in Defenders' opening drive of the game.
Starting on the Defenders' 6-yard line with twelve minutes and 42 seconds left in the first quarter, Justin Summers threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Austin Opdahl to give Dakota State their first lead of the game. Tanner Hubbard added a successful PAT kick to give Trojans a 7-0 lead with 11:31 left in first.
Later in the first quarter, the Defenders committed another turnover who was recovered by DSU's Eric Tieszen on the DSU's 44-yard line with 5:15 remaining in the opening quarter.
Dakota State quickly scored on the ensuing drive, thanks to Summers' 46-yard touchdown pass to Zach Ely with 4:25 left to play in the first quarter. The Trojans did not convert their 2-point conversion as they held a 13-0 lead.
After DC Kevin Giese's 28-yard field goal was missed in the early second quarter, DSU used two big plays for their next score. Summers threw a 46-yard pass to Brendon Waldner and Jabree Shorter followed up with a 34-yard touchdown run. Hubbard added a PAT kick to widen Trojans' lead to 20-0 with 13:46 remaining before halftime.
Dordt suffered their third turnover of the game when DSU's Ben Kullos intercepted Baker's pass on DSU's 36-yard line with less than eight minutes left.
Three plays later, DSU Summers connected to Ely for a 50-yard touchdown pass with 6:38 left in the second quarter. Hubbard nailed down the PAT kick, expanding Trojans' lead to 27-0.
Dakota State added another touchdown in the second quarter, extending their lead to 34-0 with less than three minutes before intermission. The Trojans used five plays for 44 yards in 1:37 when Shorter rushed for a 10-yard touchdown run. Hubbard's PAT kick was good.
DSU made it 41-0 to kick off the third quarter. Summers ran for a 3-yard touchdown run and Hubbard made the PAT kick with 11:52 remaining in the third.
The Defenders would score their only touchdown of the game on the next drive. Dordt went on to use 15 plays for 88 yards in 7:25. Taylan Seaman threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Jason Miller. Giese's PAT kick was good as the Defenders reduced DSU's lead to 41-7 with 4:09 left to play.
Neither team was able to score in the final quarter as the Trojans secured their second straight win.
It was the widest margin of victory for Dakota State since Oct. 1, 2005 when the Trojans defeated South Dakota Mines 42-7.
Summers completed eight passes in ten attempts for 157 yards with three touchdowns for Dakota State. He threw three touchdown passes. Shorter rushed nine times for 87 yards and recorded two touchdowns. Kamarri Watson added 10 rushes for 40 yards. Jeremy Christner had seven rushing attempts for 40 yards.
Ely caught two touchdown passes for a total of 96 yards for the Trojans. Waldner added three receptions for 48 yards. Opdahl had two receptions for 11 yards and a touchdown.
Barker was 9-for-15 in passing with 104 yards for the Defenders. Seaman added four passes in 15 attempts for 37 yards. Both committed two interceptions.
Daniel Fennig ran 17 times for 71 yards for DC. Trai Pickney added 33 rushing yards in seven attempts.
Miller had six receptions for 52 yards with a touchdown for Dordt. Pickney added three catches for 55 yards.
Cole Potter led the Trojans' defense with eight tackles. He had four tackles-for-loss of 22 yards. Kullos added seven tackles. Austin Ross and Tyler Poggemeyer each collected six tackles. Trevor Kenobbie had a quarterback sack.
Ross recorded two interceptions with 52 total yards return for Dakota State. Kullos and Ramel Dyer each added an interception.
DSU had 17 tackles-for-loss in the game for a total of 62 yards.
Cole McClain recorded eight tackles for the Defenders. Alex Vasquez and Vanoy Harris each added six tackles. Lenard Manuel had two quarterback sack. Ben Bajema added 1.5 quarterback sacks.
Dordt had 11 tackles-for-loss of 59 yards. The Defenders recorded six quarterback sacks in the game.
Both teams had 17 first-downs in the game.
The Trojans rushed 49 times for a total of 143 yards compared to DC's 44 rushes for 105 yards.
DSU outgained DC 155-141 in passing yards and 298-246 in total yards.
Dakota State converted 5-of-12 third downs, while Dordt was 3-of-16.
The Defenders had the ball for 34 minutes and 19 seconds in the game. The Trojans had a time possession of 25 minutes and 41 seconds.
Dakota State returns home to kick off their two-game home stand at the Trojan Field next Saturday (Sept. 13). The Trojans welcome Valley City State (N.D.) in the North Star Athletic Association conference game. Kick-off is set for 6 p.m.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
