October 6, 2018

Photos credits by Karen Giles and Nathan Meyers

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) was unable to hold on to their 16-12 lead Saturday afternoon in the North Star Athletic Association football contest at Trojan Field.  Valley City State (N.D.), who took advantage after maintaining the ball for 41 minutes and 20 seconds in the game, outscored the Trojans 15-0 in the final 15 minutes of the game to earn a 27-16 victory.

Dakota State fell to 1-6 overall record and 0-3 record in North Star conference games.  Valley City State improved to 3-3 overall record and 2-1 NSAA conference record.

FIRST QUARTER

Both teams struggled to score in the first quarter.  The Vikings outgained the Trojans 107-36 in the first fifteen minutes of the game. 

Louis Quinones rushed for 24 yards from VCSU's 48-yard line to DSU's 28-yard line on the last play of the first quarter. 

SECOND QUARTER

The Vikings continued their drive early in the second quarter, kicking off with back-to-back 10-plus rushing plays by Quinones to DSU's 3-yard line.  VCSU had to settled down for a 19-yard field goal by Landon Arredondo for a 3-0 lead with 11:46 on the clock.

Dakota State answered back with a 92-yard kick-off return for a touchdown by Mason Leighton to earn the lead with 11:34 left in the second quarter.  The PAT extra-point kick by Casey Bourque was no good as DSU held on to a 6-3 lead.

It was the first time since Aug. 27, 2011 when the Trojans returned a kick-off for a touchdown (Robert Ortiz with a 90-yard return for a touchdown at Midland (Neb.).

Valley City State answered back on the next possession with 12 plays for 56 yards in 5:48 with another score.  The Vikings had to settle down for a field goal for the second time as Arredondo hit a 30-yard field goal.  VCSU knotted the game at 6-6 with 5:46 to go before halftime.

DSU could not convert their scoring opportunity with 30 seconds left in the second quarter.  The Trojans used 7 plays for 66 yards in 1:26 before Torren Devericks' pass was intercepted by VCSU's Andrew Hanretty in the end zone.

The game was tied at 6-6 by halftime.  The Vikings had 150 total offensive yards compared to the Trojans 89 offensive yards in the first-half.  VCSU had a time possession of 21:19 in the first-half, while DSU maintained the ball for 8 minutes, 41 seconds.

THIRD QUARTER

After the Trojans were forced to punt on the first possession of the second half, the Vikings quickly scored to regain their lead.  Jalen Pfeifer connected to Tyler Howell for a 46-yard pass from DSU's 47-yard line to DSU's 1-yard line.  Pfeifer followed up with a 1-yard touchdown run to give VCSU a 12-6 lead with 12:52 on the clock.  Arredondo missed the PAT extra-point kick.

With DSU starting their drive on their own 35-yard line with 8:07 on the clock, the Trojans registered 5 plays for 65 yards in 1:21 as Devericks rushed for an eight-yard touchdown run with 6:46 on the clock.  Bourque hit the PAT extra-point kick as Dakota State earned a 13-12 lead.  A 31-yard rush by Brodie Frederiksen highlighted in the scoring drive for DSU.

The Vikings went three-and-out on their next drive.  With DSU starting on their own 20-yard line, Devericks threw a 78-yard pass to David Bond to VCSU's 2-yard line.  The Trojans had to settle for a 23-yard field goal by Bourque to extend their lead to 16-12 with 2:05 remaining in the third quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER

Valley City State recorded 14 plays for 66 yards in 6:07 as they scored a touchdown.  Pfeifer threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Kellen Kessler with 10:58 remaining.  The Vikings failed the 2-point PAT attempt, holding on to an 18-16 lead.

The Trojans were forced to punt on the ensuing possession after going three-and-out.  Valley City State answered with another scoring drive with 9 plays for 69 yards in 4:24 with a 5-yard touchdown run by Quinones.  Arredondo missed his third PAT extra-point kick of the game as VCSU maintain a 24-16 lead with 4:46 left.

The Vikings recovered the ball on the kick-off on DSU's 26-yard line, leading up to a 28-yard field goal by Arredondo.  VCSU widen their lead to 27-16 with 3:03 to go.

Valley City State secured the game as Dakota State committed a turnover with 2:22 remaining.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Devericks finished the game by going 12-of-26 for 181 yards for Dakota State, including a game-long 78 yards pass to Bond.  He also had a rushing touchdown.  Bond caught three passes for 95 yards.  Leighton added three receptions for 51 yards. 

Leighton finished the game with 182 all-purpose yards (51 receiving yards and 131 kick-off return yards).

Frederiksen rushed 14 times for 79 yards for the Trojans. 

Four DSU defensive players recorded career-high in tackles, led by Curt Boeke with 17 tackles.  Ryan Dozier added 15 tackles.  John Trout had 14 tackles.  Marcus Vanden Bosch tallied 13 tackles.  Darby Neal recorded eight tackles and a quarterback sack. 

Levar Colbert, Jacob Hult and Michael Cleveland each registered a broken-up pass for Dakota State.

Quinones ran 40 times for 213 yards with a touchdown for the Vikings.  He also had three receptions for 27 yards.  He finished the game with 298 all-purpose yards (213 rushing yards, 27 receiving yards and 58 kick-off return yards).

Pfeifer went 12-of-27 with 127 yards in the air and threw a touchdown for Valley City State.  He added 14 rushes for 32 yards.

Kessler recorded two catches for 17 yards and a touchdown for VCSU.  Tyler Howell had a reception of 46 yards.

Hanretty led the Vikings' defense with five tackles and an interception.  Arron Martin, Hunter Slemmons and Brandon Elton each added five tackles.  Slemmons had two sacks.  Martin added a quarterback sack.

TEAM COMPARISONS

VCSU outgained DSU 389-227 in total offensive yards.  The Vikings recorded 87 plays (4.5 yards per play) while the Trojans had 47 plays (4.8 yards per play).

Valley City State outrushed Dakota State 262-46 in the game.  The Trojans registered 181 passing yards compared to the Vikings 127 yards.  VCSU produced 26 first-downs (with 17 first-downs from rushing).  DSU had 10 first-downs.

The Vikings had the ball for more than 40 minutes in the game, while the Trojans held the ball for 18 minutes and 40 seconds. 

VCSU converted 7-of-19 on third-down situations.  DSU was 1-of-11 third-downs.

UP NEXT

Dakota State looks to end their six-game losing skid next Saturday as they conclude their three-game home stand.  The Trojans host Presentation (S.D.) in the North Star Athletic Association contest at Trojan Field.  Kick-off is slated for 4 p.m.

Valley City State returns home next Saturday.  The Vikings host the current North Star's conference leader Waldorf (Iowa), who upset No. 16-ranked Dickinson State (N.D.) 23-22 earlier this afternoon.  Kick-off is set for 2 p.m. in Valley City, N.D.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director