October 13, 2018
Photos credits by Karen Giles and Donald Weidler
MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) built up a 34-14 lead over Presentation (S.D.) Saturday afternoon in the annual Rushin' for a Cure football game at Trojan Field. The Saints made a late comeback in the fourth quarter to trim their deficit down to six points, but the Trojans' defense came up big late in the fourth quarter including Marcus Vanden Bosch's pick six to secure a 44-28 victory.
Dakota State, which concluded their three-game home stand Saturday, ended their six-game losing skid to improve their overall record to 2-6 and 1-3 NSAA conference record. Presentation's two-game winning streak came to an end, falling to 4-3 overall record and 2-2 record in North Star conference.
DSU is 2-0 record against NAIA's South Dakota football teams this year (defeated Dakota Wesleyan 27-18 on Aug. 23). The Trojans also earned their first home win of the season.
Dakota State raised their record to 5-2 in the all-time series with Presentation.
FIRST QUARTER
Presentation was forced to punt on their first drive of the game, setting up the first scoring drive of the game for Dakota State. The Trojans recorded 12 plays for 80 yards in four minutes and 22 seconds as Torren Devericks threw a five-yard touchdown pass to Mason Leighton with 8:51 on the clock.
The PAT kick by Casey Bourque was good to put DSU up 7-0. The scoring drive was highlighted by Devericks' 26-yard pass to Leighton on the first play.
The Saints were forced to punt again on the following possession. DSU started their drive on their own 12-yard line and produced five first downs, marching the drive down to PC's 15-yard line. The Trojans had to settle for a 31-yard field goal by Bourque to extend their lead to 10-0 with 2:18 to go in the first quarter.
Dakota State registered 15 plays for 73 yards in 5:06 in the second scoring drive of the game.
DSU outgained PC 148-91 in the first quarter. The Trojans produced 10 first-downs compared to the Saints' four first-downs.
SECOND QUARTER
Presentation go on the scoreboard early in the second quarter. With their drive starting late in the first quarter through the early second quarter, the Saints used 9 plays for 67 yards in 3:46 in the scoring drive. Facing fourth-and-goal on DSU's 1-yard line, Melvin Cook ran for a touchdown. Jaiden Machuca's PAT extra-point kick was good as PC cut DSU's lead to 10-7 with 13:32 on the clock.,
Dakota State was forced to punt on the ensuing possession. PC answered on their next scoring drive with 12 plays for 88 yards in 4:45 when Innocent Okah ran for a 2-yard touchdown. Machuca added the PAT extra-point kick as the Saints earned their first lead of the game at 14-10 with 7:03 left before intermission.
The Trojans could not regain their lead after a turnover was committed in the end zone as PC regained possession with 5:45 on the clock.
The Saints had to punt on their own 16-yard line after going three-and-out. Machuca's punt was blocked by DSU's Brenner Furlong in the end zone, where Furlong recovered for a touchdown with 3:53 on the clock in the second quarter. Bourque's PAT extra-point kick was successful as DSU regained their lead at 17-14.
Presentation failed to score on the final possession of the second quarter, despite using 13 plays for 73 yards in 3:32. The Saints fumbled the ball on DSU's 1-yard line, which was forced by DSU's Ryan Dozier and was recovered by Wyatt Sanford with 21 seconds left before halftime.
PC racked up 251 offensive yards in the first half compared to DSU 214 offensive yards.
THIRD QUARTER
Frederiksen kicked off the third quarter with a 36-yard kick-off return from DSU's 14-yard line to the 50-yard line. Dakota State recorded three consecutive plays of 14 yards (Devericks' pass to Mitchell Galloway to PC's 36-yard line, Frederiksen rush to PC's 22-yard line and another Devericks' pass to Galloway to PC's 8-yard line).
Frederiksen followed up with an 8-yard touchdown run and Bourque's PAT extra-point kick to extend DSU's lead to 24-14 with 13:28 on the clock.
Presentation could not convert their scoring chances on the following possession after using 121 plays for 58 yards in 4:40. Machuca's 32-yard field goal was missed wide left with 8:48 left in the third quarter.
Dakota State took advantage of PC's missed field goal as they used 10 plays for 77 yards in 2:25 in the next drive. The Trojans had to settled for a 20-yard field goal as the Trojans' lead grew to 27-14 with 5:47 on the clock.
The highlight of the scoring drive was facing a third-and-26 situation on PC's 47-yard line where Devericks connected to Leighton for a 41-yard pass, resulting a first-and-goal on PC's 6-yard line.
Machuca missed a 29-yard field goal on the following possession for the Saints. His field goal kick was blocked by DSU's Michael Cleveland and was recovered by John Trout with 3:08 to go in the third quarter.
DSU outscored PC 10-0 in the first fifteen minutes of the second-half.
FOURTH QUARTER
Ending the third quarter with three straight 10-plus plays for the Trojans, DSU continued to march down the field to extend their lead. Dakota State registered 13 plays for 91 yards in 5:46 as Jared Richardson connected to Leighton for a 7-yard touchdown pass. Bourque's PAT extra-point kick was good as the Trojans posted the biggest lead of the game at 34-14 with 10:26 remaining.
Presentation quickly answered back on the ensuing possession, snapping their scoring drought. Austin Eggl threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Maurice Whiters, followed by Machuca's PAT extra-point kick with 7:49 left. DSU held on to a 34-21 lead.
The Trojans committed a fumble as the Saints recovered the ball on DSU's 31-yard line. Eggl opened up with an 18-yard pass to Marshal Chace, followed by a 13-yard touchdown pass to Whiters with 7:11 left. Machuca's PAT extra-point kick was good as the Saints trailed 34-28.
PC scored 14 points in a span of 38 seconds, but DSU held off the Saints' furious late comeback.
After the Trojans were forced to punt, DSU regained possession when Vanden Bosch intercepted Eggl's pass on the 50-yard line and returned it for nine yards to PC's 41-yard line with 4:41 to go.
Dakota State went on to record 7 plays for 35 yards in 2:23 as Bourque hit a 23-yard field goal, pulling away for a 37-28 lead with 2:18 remaining.
The Saints' comeback bid attempt fell short as Eggl threw his third interception of the game, where Vanden Bosch returned a pick-six for 73 yards with 47 seconds left. Bourque's PAT kick was good as DSU secured the game by the score of 44-28.
The Trojans scored 14 points in a span of 1 minute and 31 seconds.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Frederiksen, who leads the NAIA in total rushing, rushed 27 times for a game-high 221 yards and a touchdown for Dakota State. It was the second time this season that he recorded over 200 rushing yards in a game. He accumulated a season-high 360 all-purpose yards, including 135 kick-off return yards (also had two receptions for four yards).
Devericks finished the game by completing 17 passes in 27 attempts for 217 yards with a touchdown for DSU. Richardson added 9-of-11 for 64 yards with a touchdown.
Leighton caught 11 passes for a total of 149 yards with two touchdowns for the Trojans. He caught 13 touchdown passes this season, which tied for third most touchdown catches in a single-season Trojan Football record book. Trever Listman added eight catches for 72 yards. Galloway had four receptions for 51 yards.
Ryan Dozier led the Trojans' defense with a career-high 18 tackles (tied for ninth-most tackles in a single-game in DSU Football record book). He also had a forced fumble. Vanden Bosch added 13 tackles (tied for career-high tackles). He added two interceptions, including a pick-six, and returned it for 83 total yards. He also had a forced fumble, a quarterback sack and 2.5 tackles-for-loss for 12.5 yards loss.
Jeb Sanford (tied for his career high in tackles) and Karson Lindblad (career-high in tackles) each had 12 tackles for DSU. Sanford had an interception and returned it for eight yards. Cleveland had 10 tackles and a blocked field goal. Furlong had a blocked punt and recorded a touchdown from the blocked punt.
Bourque was perfect in the kicking, converting three field goals (23-, 20- and 31-yards) and all five PAT extra-point kicks. He registered nine kick-offs for a total of 511 yards (56.8 yards per kickoff).
Caleb Nielsen finished the game with two punts for 88 yards (44.0 average yards per punt).
Eggl completed 49 passes in 71 attempts for a game-high 467 yards with two touchdowns for Presentation. He committed three interceptions.
Ten different PC receivers recorded at least a catch in the game, led by Marshal Chace with 11 receptions for 132 yards. Whiters added 11 catches for 110 yards with two touchdowns. Nathan Jones had 10 catches for 43 yards. Jesse Babcock added four receptions for 63 yards.
Jones rushed 11 times for 51 yards for the Saints. John Oldenkamp added five rushes for 29 yards. Okoh and Covin each had a rushing touchdown.
James Jones-Smith and Ty Fox each tallied 11 tackles for Presentation. Fox had a quarterback sack. Davin Neitz recorded an interception and returned it for 33 yards. He also had forced fumble.
PC's Machuca went 0-for-2 on field goals and converted all four PAT extra-point kicks. He also had five kick-offs for a total of 287 yards (57.4 yards per kick-off). He had three punts for 92 yards, averaging 30.7 yards per punt.
TEAM COMPARISONS
Presentation outgained Dakota State 547-502 in total offensive yards. The Trojans, however, averaged 6.8 yards per offensive play. The Saints averaged 5.6 yards per offensive play.
The Saints produced 36 first-downs (30 first-downs from passes) while the Trojans had 27 first-downs (13 first-downs from rushes and 13 first-downs from passes).
PC converted 10-of-19 on third-down situations. DSU was 8-of-13 on third-downs. The Saints were 4-of-9 on red-zone conversions (4 touchdowns) compared to the Trojans 6-of-7 red-zone conversions (3 touchdowns, 3 field goals).
UP NEXT
Dakota State looks to make it two straight wins as they head on the road next Saturday (Oct. 20). The Trojans visit Mayville State (N.D.) in the North Star Athletic Association conference action. Kick-off from the Jerome Berg Field is set for 4 p.m. in Mayville, N.D.
Presentation stays on the road next Saturday, visiting Waldorf (Iowa) in the NSAA contest. Kick-off is slated for 1 p.m. at Bolstorff Field in Forest City, Iowa.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
