August 29, 2015

Photos credits by Kaden Huntrods, Donald Weidler

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) grabbed a 13-7 halftime lead over long-time rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) Saturday evening in both teams' football season opener at Trojan Field.  The Trojans were unable to overcome DWU's strong second-half surge, outscoring DSU 19-6 (including 19 straight points to start the 4th quarter) in the final 15 minutes to break the 21-21 tie into a 40-27 victory.

The game was featured as the first edition of the North Star Athletic Association Football Game-of-the-Week, where the Great Plains Athletic Conference member Tigers and Trojans battled for the 68th time in the all-time series.  DWU currently owns the all-time record of 37-30-1, winning the last five meetings.

The Trojans scored the first points of the game in the opening quarter.  The Trojans' drive started on DWU's 11-yardline with eight minutes and 29 seconds on the clock after the DSU's defense recovered a fumble by DWU's Luke Stephens on DWU's 18-yardline.  The fumble was forced by Trevor Kenobbie and recovered by Darion Office and returned for seven yards.

Jacob Giles threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Doug Hale to give DSU's a 6-0 lead with 7:24 left in the first quarter.  The PAT kick by Nic Behrens was no good.

Dakota State was unable to convert another scoring opportunity on the ensuing possession, where the Tiger Cody Reder fumbled the ball during kick-off return.  The fumble was recovered by Danny Jordan on DWU's 32-yard line.  The Tigers regained their possession after DSU's Bobby Tisch fumbled the ball on DWU's 20-yard line with 6:40 left in the first.

DWU marched down the field with 11 plays and 76 yards in 3:24 on the next possession, but a bad snap for a field goal by the Tigers ended their drive on DSU's 4-yard line on the 4th-and-four situation.

After the Trojans went three-and-out, Dakota Wesleyan got on board.  Dillion Turner threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Hayden Adams with 18 seconds remaining in the opening quarter.  The PAT kick by Daniel Porter was good to give DWU a 7-6 lead.

DSU was unable to regain their lead in the early second quarter after recording 11 plays for 29 yards in 3:13.  Behrens missed a 45-yard field goal for DSU's chances to regain their lead.

Dakota State earned their lead back later in the second quarter, including a key 44-yard pass from Giles to Brendon Waldner during DSU's scoring drive.  Giles added a 16-yard touchdown pass to Preston Nordling with 5:29 left before intermission.  Behrens converted the PAT kick as the Trojans took a 13-7 lead.

DWU's Porter missed a 45-yard field goal with 33 seconds left as the Trojans held on to a six-point lead at halftime (13-7).

The Tigers quickly scored to kick off the third quarter.  Turner rushed for 66-yard touchdown in the opening drive and DWU Porter's PAT was good to give DWU a 14-13 lead.

The Trojans went three-and-out on the ensuing possession.  Dakota Wesleyan answered back on the next drive to extend their lead.  Tiger Dustin Livingston recorded a 40-yard punt return to set up the next scoring drive on DSU's 25-yard line.

DWU's lead grew to 21-13 after John Fabrizius rushed for a 2-yard touchdown (Porter's PAT was good).

Dakota State responded back after using 11 plays for 52 yards in 3:48 to tie the game at 21-21.  The Trojans' started the drive on their own 48-yard line and recorded three first-downs (Hagan Hines' 8-yard run, Giles' 12-yard pass to Waldner and Giles' 22-yard pass to Nordling).  Daveon Banks rushed for a 2-yard touchdown run to help Trojans trim DWU's lead to 21-19.

DSU converted the 2-point conversion as Giles connected to Tisch, knotting the game at 21-21.

The Tigers regained their lead in the early fourth quarter as Fabrizius rushed for a 9-yard touchdown run.  Porter added the PAT extra-point kick as DWU earned a 28-21 lead with 13:51 remaining in the game.  The Tigers used 8 plays for 59 yards in 2:27 in the scoring drive.

Dakota Wesleyan answered with another score after the Trojans went three-and-out on the next possession.  DWU recorded 9 plays for 55 yards in 2:55 as Turner connected for a 4-yard touchdown pass to Adams.  Porter's PAT kick was blocked by DSU's Bronson Arguello, where DSU trailed 34-21 with less than nine minutes left.

The Tigers intercepted Giles' pass to Waldner on DSU's 25-yard line on the ensuing possession.  DWU was able to convert the scoring chance as Turner threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Livingston.  Dakota Wesleyan's lead grew to 40-21 with 7:08 remaining (Porter's PAT kick was no good).

Dakota State stormed back with 8 plays for 94 yards in 1:58 to end their scoring drought.  The Trojans started on their own 6-yard line and opened up with a 36-yard pass to Waldner to DSU's 42-yardline and continued with four straight complete passes by Giles (17-yard to Waldner, 7-yard pass to Nordling, 7-yard pass to Waldner and 6-yard pass to Nordling).

Giles recorded a 12-yard touchdown pass to Hale with 5:10 remaining as the Trojans trimmed DWU's lead to 40-27.

The Trojans were unable to complete their onside kick for the chance to regain possession.  Tiger Brady Bonte successfully recovered the ball on DSU's 48 yard line.

DSU regained their possession as Dereck DeVries intercepted Turner's pass on DSU's 20-yard line and returned it for 25 yards to DSU's 45-yard line with 3:40 remaining.

DWU's Cody Bonte intercepted Giles' pass on DSU's 45-yard line as the Tigers maintained possession with 3:10 left.

Dakota Wesleyan secured the game by using the final 3:10 of the game, thanks to a 23-yard pass from Dillion to Adams on the third-and-nine situation on DWU's 46-yard line to DSU's 31-yard line.

Dakota Wesleyan outscored Dakota State 33-14 in the final 30 minutes of the game.

Giles was 23-of-45 for 315 yards with three touchdown passes and two interceptions for the Trojans.  Waldner had seven receptions for 137 yards.  Tisch added five catches for 50 yards.  Nordling had five receptions for 61 yards and a touchdown.  Hale recorded three catches for 23 yards and a touchdown.  Alex Babcock had a catch for 30 yards.

Hines rushed eight times for 42 yards for Dakota State.  Banks added seven rushes for 34 yards and a touchdown.

Turner was 19-of-29 for 222 yards with three touchdowns and an interception for DWU.  Livingston had six catches for 106 yards and a touchdown.  Adams also had six receptions for 64 yards and two touchdowns.

Turner rushed 16 times for 99 yards with a touchdown for the Tigers.  Fabrizius had 33 rushes for 96 yards and scored two rushing touchdowns.

Ben Kullos collected 13 tackles, including 3.5 tackles-for-loss and a forced fumble for DSU.  Cole Potter added 10 tackles (1.5 tackles-for-loss).  Arguello and Office each had nine tackles.  Office had two fumble recoveries. 

Kullos, Eric Tieszen and Spencer Carlson each had a quarterback sack for Dakota State.  DeVries had an interception return for 25 yards.    

Cody Reder led DWU's defense with 10 tackles.  Cohl Ratermann added eight tackles.  Cody Bonte and Nathan Dahl each had an interception.

Dakota Wesleyan recorded 25 first-downs in the game compared to Dakota State 18 first downs. 

DWU outgained DSU 434-402 in total offensive yards.  The Tigers rushed 56 times for 212 yards while the Trojans had 35 rushes for 87 yards.  DSU recorded 315 passing yards compared to DWU 222 passing yards.

DSU was whistled for 10 penalties for 65 yards, while DWU had 2 penalties for 25 yards.

Dakota Wesleyan had the ball possession of 32 minutes and 12 seconds.  The Trojans had a time possession of 27 minutes and 48 seconds.

Dakota State remains home as they continue their three-game home stand at Trojan Field.  The Trojans host another member of the GPAC – Dordt (Iowa) – in a non-conference match-up.  Kick-off is set for 6 p.m.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director