October 3, 2015

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

Photos credits by Donald Weidler

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) racked up over 500 offensive yards for the second straight week as they rolled to a 60-6 Trojans Day's homecoming victory over Trinity Bible (N.D.) Saturday afternoon at the Trojan Field, ending DSU's homecoming drought for the first time since 2007 (defeated Mayville State, N.D.).  The Trojans scored 47 straight points and never looked back.

Dakota State moved back to .500 with an overall record of 3-3.  Trinity Bible remained winless in four games this season.  The Trojans finished their non-conference schedule with a 2-2 record.

The Trojans struck first late in the first quarter.  DSU began their drive on their own 42-yard line and used a pair of 10-plus running plays by Robert Johnson (15-yard and 11-yard runs) to move into the Lions territory.  He rushed for a 2-yard touchdown to give DSU their first lead of the game with 1 minute, 30 seconds on the clock in the opening quarter.  Nic Behrens added the PAT extra-point kick to give Trojans a 7-0 lead.

Dakota State made it 13-0 in the early second quarter as Jacob Giles connected to Austin Opdahl for a 22-yard touchdown pass with 13:23 remaining.  The Trojans used six plays for 49 yards in 1:37 in the scoring drive.

Austin Ross intercepted TBC Donovon Flaherty's pass (which was broken up by Austin Ross) on DSU's 30-yard line and returned it for 10 yards.  Giles started the Trojans' drive with a 28-yard pass to Brendon Waldner, followed by a 32-yard touchdown pass to Opdahl as DSU's lead grew to 19-0.  Behrens' PAT kick was successful as the Trojans increased their lead to 20-0 with 10:38 left before intermission.

DSU's Giles connected to Opdahl for the third touchdown of the game, a 66-yard touchdown pass with 6:01 remaining in the second quarter.  Behrens hit the PAT extra-point kick to extend Trojans' lead to 27-0.

Dakota State scored another touchdown near the end of the second quarter, thanks to an interception by Cooper Hausmann with 31 seconds remaining on Lions' 45-yard line and returned it for 12 yards to TBC's 33-yard line.  The Trojans converted their scoring opportunity as Justin Summers threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Opdahl with seven seconds left before halftime.  Behrens' PAT kick was good to put DSU up 34-0.

The Trojans outscored the Lions 27-0 in the second quarter to grab a 34-point halftime lead.  Trinity Bible was held to 48 total offensive yards and 2 first-downs in the first-half, while DSU had 328 total offensive yards and 17 first-downs.

After a 53-yard punt return (from DSU's 10-yard line to TBC's 37-yard line) by Waldner in the early third quarter, DSU quickly scored another touchdown on the ensuing possession.  Johnson ran for a 32-yard touchdown to give Trojans a 40-0 lead over the Lions with 10:13 left in the third.

DSU's Opdahl caught his fifth touchdown of the game as he caught a 24-yard touchdown pass from Summers with 3:31 left in the third.  Behrens' PAT kick was good as the Trojans expanded their lead to 47-0.  During the scoring drive, Mason Hemmer had a pair of 10-plus rushing yards for Dakota State.

The Lions broke their scoring drought with a touchdown in the fourth quarter.  Phillip Villanueva threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Jalin Bishop with 9:09 remaining in the game to cut DSU's lead to 47-6.

On the next possession, Danny Jordan returned a kickoff for 53 yards (from DSU's 24-yard line to TBC's 23-yard line) to set up the next scoring drive for the Trojans.  After Hemmer rushed for 7 yards, he ran for a 16-yard touchdown as Dakota State's lead grew to 53-6 with 8:30 left in the game.  Behrens made it 54-6 after his PAT kick was successful.

On the last play of the game, the Trojans made it 60-6 after Tyler Poggemeyer forced a fumble on TBC's Julian Garcia as Nigel Beckles returned it for an 85-yard touchdown.

DSU outscored Trinity Bible 26-6 in the final 30 minutes of the game.

Opdahl registered eight receptions for a career-high 178 receiving yards with five touchdowns for Dakota State.  His five touchdown catches tied the DSU school record for most touchdown catches in a single game with Jeff Rodman versus Southwest Minnesota State in 1976.

Waldner added a catch for 28 yards, along with Bobby Tisch with a reception for 20 yards for DSU.

Giles completed 6 passes in 14 attempts for a total of 184 yards for the Trojans.  He had three touchdown passes and an interception.  Summers added 6-of-13 for 52 passing yards with two touchdown passes and an interception.

Johnson rushed 15 times for a season-high 119 yards with two touchdowns for DSU.  Jeremy Christner added 13 rushes for 68 yards.  Hemmer ran eight times for 60 yards with a touchdown.  Jarion Gacosta had 14 rushes for 33 yards.

Ben Kullos led the Trojans' defense with seven tackles.  Eric Wahl and Travis Bodin each had five tackles.  Poggemeyer, Baily Edwards and Curt Boeke each had a quarterback sack. 

Fifteen different Trojan players had at least 0.5 tackles-for-loss, led by Brock Reinhiller who had two tackles-for-loss of 5.0 yards.

Beckles had a fumble recovery and returned it for 85 yards and a touchdown for DSU.  Hunter Smith added a fumble recovery and returned it for five yards.

Hausmann, Damon Johniken and Carlson each registered an interception for the Trojans. 

Trevor Taylor was 10-of-15 for 50 yards with an interception for Trinity Bible.  Villanueva added 2-of-3 for 39 passing yards and a touchdown.  Drake Schafer rushed six times for 23 yards.  Thomas Parsons added eight rushes for 21 yards.

Jimmy Taylor had five receptions for 24 yards for the Lions.  Bishop had four catches for 44 yards and a touchdown.  Tanner Twigg had three receptions for 30 yards.

Rondell Tucker-Bayne and Jack Tuia, Jr. each led TBC's defense with 11 tackles.  Clint Stout added 10 tackles.  Tucker-Bayne and Steven Fisher each recorded an interception.

Dakota State rushed 53 times in the game for a total of 286 yards compared to Trinity Bible 34 rushes for 50 yards.  The Trojans had 240 passing yards while the Lions had 123 passing yards.

The Trojans produced 28 first-downs compared to Lions 8 first-downs. 

DSU was 4-of-14 on third-down conversions.  Trinity Bible failed to convert a first-down on third-down conversions in 16 tries.

Dakota State returns back to the Dacotah Bank/North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) conference action next Saturday.  The Trojans visit Valley City State (N.D.) with a kick-off starting at 4 p.m. at Lokken Field Stadium in Valley City, N.D.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director