November 3, 2018
DICKINSON, N.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) opened up with a 19-7 lead in the Dacotah Bank/North Star Athletic Association football conference regular-season finale at Biesiot Activities Center Saturday afternoon. The Trojans could not overcome the Blue Hawks' 20-0 third quarter surge, falling short for an upset bid by the score of 41-25.
Dakota State concluded their regular-season with an overall record of 3-8 and 2-5 NSAA conference record. Dickinson State, ranked No. 16 in the NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 national poll, secured the conference title outright for the fourth straight year. The Blue Hawks are 8-2 overall record and 6-1 record in North Star conference games.
FIRST QUARTER
Dakota State took advantage of Dickinson State's turnover in the first quarter, leading to the first touchdown of the game. Wyatt Sanford forced a fumble on DiSU's Amad Andrews, Jr. and was recovered by Curt Boeke as the Trojans regained possession of the ball on Blue Hawks' 39-yard line with 13 minutes, 28 seconds on the clock.
Torren Devericks threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Mason Leighton to give Trojans a 6-0 lead with 12:05 left in the first quarter. Casey Bourque followed up with the PAT extra-point kick to extend DaSU's lead to 7-0.
DiSU answered back on the ensuing possession with 9 plays for 62 yards in the scoring drive. Hayden Gibson threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Randy Ivey with 7:37 on the clock. Cody Johnson followed up with a successful PAT extra-point kick to knot the game at 7-7.
Dickinson State committed their second turnover of the first quarter. Nick Miller fumbled the ball on DaSU's 33-yard line as Marcus Vanden Bosch recovered the ball and returned it for a 67-yard touchdown. The Trojans led 13-7 with 1:34 left in the first quarter.
SECOND QUARTER
Dakota State extended their lead to 19-7 late in the second quarter. The Trojans recorded eight plays for 68 yards in 3:18 as Brenner Furlong rushed for a 1-yard touchdown. A 39-yard pass from Devericks to Mitchell Galloway highlighted the DaSU's scoring drive.
Dickinson State quickly score on the following possession. The Blue Hawks registered eight plays for 62 yards in 1:21 as Gibson connected to Jay Liggins for a 22-yard touchdown pass. Johnson's PAT extra-point kick was good as the Trojans hold on to a 19-14 lead.
THIRD QUARTER
DiSU kicked off the second-half with a touchdown. Gibson threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Walker to give Dickinson State earned their first lead of the game at 20-19 with 13:12 on the clock. The Blue Hawks failed to convert their 2-point PAT attempt.
After a 39-yard punt return by Corbin Wood to DaSU's 36-yard line. Roderick Ashford rushed for a 36-yard touchdown on third-and-10 situation for the Blue Hawks. Johnson added the PAT extra-point kick to widen DiSU's lead to 27-19 with 9:09 to go in the third quarter.
Gibson added a 31-yard touchdown pass to Andrews, Jr. to balloon Dickinson State's lead to 33-19 with 3:45 on the clock. Johnson's PAT extra-point kick was good to put DiSU up 34-19.
The Blue Hawks outscored the Trojans 20-0 in the third quarter.
FOURTH QUARTER
Dickinson State kicked off the fourth quarter with a 3-yard touchdown run by Kooper Ray with 14:56 remaining. Johnson's PAT extra-point kick was good to make it 41-19 in favor of the Blue Hawks.
Dakota State ended their scoring drought with a touchdown on the ensuing possession. DaSU used 8 plays for 75 yards in 2:58 as Devericks threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Galloway on third-and-14 situation. The Trojans could not convert their 2-point PAT try, trailing 41-25 with 11:58 to go.
DaSU could get no closer than 16 points as DiSU secured the season series sweep.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Devericks finished the game by going 17-of-32 with 201 passing yards in the air with two touchdowns for Dakota State. Leighton caught four passes for 101 yards and a touchdown, extending his single-season school record of 19 touchdown receptions. Furlong had seven catches for 24 yards. He also rushed 21 times for 75 yards and a touchdown. Galloway had two catches for 63 yards and a touchdown.
Boeke tallied a career-high 18 tackles (9 solo, 9 assist) for the Trojans' defense. He also had a fumble recovery. Ryan Dozier added 13 tackles. Karson Lindblad registered 11 tackles. Michael Cleveland recorded a quarterback sack of 7.0 yards loss. Jacob Hult had an interception. Vanden Bosch had a fumble recovery and returned it for 67 yards.
Gibson was 23-of-34 for 250 yards with four touchdowns for the Blue Hawks. He threw at least a pass to nine different receivers, led by Tyger Frye with six catches for 48 yards. Jarrett Lee had five receptions for 74 yards. Walker, Ivey and Andrews, Jr. each had a touchdown reception.
Ashford rushed 12 times for 120 yards and a touchdown for Dickinson State. Andrews, Jr. added 16 rushes for 83 yards. Ray had a rushing touchdown.
Daniel Moreno led the DiSU with nine tackles. Derick VandeBossche had an interception and returned it for 30 yards. Cain Boschee caught two interceptions. Moreno, Paxton Miller and Zeb Doe each tallied a quarterback sack.
TEAM COMPARISONS
Dickinson State racked up 505 total offensive yards compared to Dakota State 263 offensive yards in the game. The Blue Hawks used a balanced offense attack with 244 rushing yards and 261 passing yards. The Trojans recorded 61 rushing yards and 201 passing yards.
DiSU produced 27 first-downs compared to DaSU 14 first-downs. The Trojans were 5-of-14 on third-downs. The Blue Hawks were 5-of-12 on third-down situations.
TROJANS SENIORS
Michael Cleveland, Ryan Dozier, Mitchell Galloway, David Bond, Mahcia Davis, Curt Boeke, Deonte Randle, Jacob Habeger, Terry Jones, Jr. and Levar Colbert each played their final career collegiate football game at Dakota State Saturday.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
