October 10, 2015
Photo credits by Lexy Sattler and Lori Waldner
VALLEY CITY, N.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) led 21-10 at halftime and held a 24-17 leading entering fourth quarter in the Dacotah Bank/North Star Athletic Association Football conference action at Lokken Field. The Vikings shut down the Trojans 15-0 in the fourth quarter by a pair of touchdown runs by Jacob Duilio for a 32-24 come-from-behind victory over the Trojans.
Dakota State fell to 3-4 overall record and 1-2 record in the North Star Athletic Association conference games. Valley City State, who won their tenth straight meeting in the series history with DSU, ended their two-game losing streak to lift their overall record to 4-3 and 2-2 NSAA.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Trojans struck first with a two-yard touchdown run by Robert Johnson on the first play of the second quarter. Nic Behrens added the PAT extra-point lead to give DSU a 7-0 lead with 14:58 on the clock. DSU used 4 plays for 60 yards in 1 minute, thanks to a 51-yard pass from Jacob Giles to Brendon Waldner on the first play on the scoring drive.
The Vikings answered back to tie the game at 7-7 after Kurtis Walls connected to Zackary Schmidt for a 21-yard touchdown pass with 11 minutes left in the second quarter (PAT kick by Lucas Norblom was good). VCSU recorded 13 plays for 81 yards in 3:55 in the scoring drive.
Dakota State struck back quickly as Giles hit Bobby Tisch for a 44-yard touchdown and a 14-7 lead with 9:45 left before intermission (Behrens' PAT kick was good).
VCSU got within 14-10 on a 25-yard field goal by Norblom with 6:06 on the clock in the second quarter.
DSU extended their lead to 21-10 after Giles found Zach Wilkinson for a 25-yard touchdown pass with less than four minutes remaining in the second quarter (Behrens added the PAT extra-point kick).
The Trojans prevented the Vikings to trim DSU's lead at halftime as Danny Jordan blocked Norblom's 32-yard field goal on the last play of the first half.
Valley City State reduced their deficit to 21-17 with 5:25 remaining in the third quarter after Duilio rushed for a 25-yard touchdown on fourth-and-four situation on DSU's 25-yard line (Norblom's PAT kick was good).
Behrens hit a 40-yard field goal on the ensuing drive as the Trojans' lead grew to 24-17 with 1:02 remaining in the third quarter. DSU used 10 plays for 52 yards in 4:23 in the scoring drive.
Dakota State could not extend their lead when they moved the ball to the Valley City State's 9-yard line in the fourth quarter. The Trojans recorded 10 plays for 53 yards in 3:35 as DSU committed a turnover on VCSU's 5-yard line with 10:27 remaining in the game.
VCSU converted their scoring chance from DSU's turnover on the next drive, earning their first lead of the game as Duilio recorded a three-yard touchdown run with 6:08 left. The Vikings converted a 2-point PAT attempt by Colby Lum's run for a 25-24 lead. VCSU used 10 plays for 95 yards in 4:19 in the scoring drive.
After DSU went three-and-out on the ensuing drive, the Vikings extended their lead to 32-24 with less than two minutes remaining after Duilio rushed for a 10-yard touchdown run (Norblom's PAT kick was good).
Dakota State took advantage of two 15-yard penalties by VCSU, moving the ball to VCSU's 39-yard line. The Vikings secured the game as Ethen Preston caught an interception at the Vikings' 22-yard line.
Giles was 12-of-21 for 229 passing yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for the Trojans. Jeremy Christner rushed 20 times for 86 yards. Johnson added 16 rushes for 64 yards and a touchdown.
Doug Hale collected four receptions for a total of 43 yards for DSU. Bobby Tisch had two receptions for 54 yards and a touchdown. Preston Nordling recorded two catches for 23 yards. Brendon Waldner had a catch for 51 yards. Wilkinson recorded a catch for 25 yards and a touchdown.
Ben Kullos led the Trojans' defense with 14 tackles. He also had a quarterback sack and an interception. Tyler Poggemeyer added nine tackles. Jordan, Darion Office and Bronson Arguello each had six tackles. Arguello had a sack. Austin Ross registered four tackles and an interception.
Walls completed 20 passes in 38 attempts for total of 190 passing yards with a touchdown and two interceptions for VCSU. Duilio rushed 25 times for 194 yards with three touchdowns.
Lum had five receptions for 64 yards for the Vikings. DJ Edwards added four receptions for 36 yards.
Preston led Valley City State's defense with 13 tackles and an interception. Nicholas McBeain added nine tackles. Harvey McMahon had a sack.
VCSU outrushed DSU by seven yards (243-236), but the Trojans had 229 passing yards compared to Vikings' 190 passing yards. Dakota State outgained Valley City State 465-433 in total offensive yards.
Dakota State looks to bounce back in the winning column next Saturday as they host the NSAA's conference leader Dickinson State (N.D.), who is ranked No. 25 in the latest NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 poll. Kick-off is set for 1 p.m. at Trojan Field in Madison, S.D.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
