September 1, 2018

Photos credits by Mike Black, Nicholas Hauser, Nathan Meyer and Donld Weidler

MADISON, S.D. – Deadlocked 21-21 at halftime Saturday afternoon at Trojan Field, Saint Ambrose (Iowa) outscored No. 25-ranked Dakota State (S.D.) 28-6 in the final thirty minutes of the game for a 49-27 victory.  The Fighting Bees outgained the Trojans 602-477 in total offensive yards.

Dakota State was playing their home opener, falling to 1-1 overall record.  Saint Ambrose, member of the Mid-States Football Midwest conference, was playing their season opener and improved to 3-1 record all-time series record.

FIRST QUARTER

After going three-and-out in the opening possession, Dakota State regained the ball back on Fighting Bees' 17-yard line after SAU Koby Easley lost control of the ball.  The Trojans could not earn the first lead of the game after Casey Bourque's 30-yard field goal was missed left with 12:07 on the clock.

DSU's Wyatt Sanford intercepted SAU Jake Romani's pass on DSU's 16-yard line and returned it for 69 yards to SAU's 15-yard line with less than six minutes to go in the first quarter.  The Trojans would answer with a touchdown, thanks to a 19-yard pass from Jared Richardson to Mason Leighton on 4th-and-14 situation.  Bourque's PAT extra-point was good to give DSU a 7-0 lead with 4:26 on the clock.

Saint Ambrose would answer back on the ensuing possession with 11 plays (5 first-downs) for 75 yards in 3:26.  Jake Osterberger rushed for a five-yard touchdown, followed by Tom Gillen's PAT extra point kick as the Fighting Bees knotted the game at 7-7 with a minute to go in the opening quarter.

The game was tied at 7-7 after the first quarter.

SECOND QUARTER

Dakota State was unable to convert their scoring opportunity early in the second quarter after registering 11 plays for 51 yards in 3:09.  The Trojans turned the ball on downs on SAU's 12-yard line.

The Fighting Bees quickly scored on the next drive, an 80-yard touchdown run by Isaiah Hawkins.  Gillen's PAT extra point kick was good as SAU earned their first lead of the game at 14-7 with 8:55 on the clock.

DSU would score on the following possession with 8 plays for 79 yards in 2:32.  The highlight in the scoring drive was a 39-yard pass from Richardson to David Bond from DSU 31-yard line to SAU's 30-yard line.  Richardson ran for 2-yard touchdown while Bourque added the PAT extra-point kick to tie the game at 14-14 with 6:23 remaining.

The Trojans regained their lead late in the second quarter, thanks to three plays of over 20 yards.  Richardson opened up the scoring drive with a 24-yard pass to Trever Listman to SAU's 49-yard line.  Brodie Frederiksen followed up with a 24-yard rush to SAU's 25-yard line.

Facing a 3rd-and-13 situation, Richardson threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Leighton – their second touchdown connections in the game – with 2:05 left in the second quarter.  Bourque hit the PAT extra-point kick as DSU grabbed a 21-14 lead.

The Fighting Bees quickly marched down the field on the ensuing possession.  SAU used 9 plays for 84 yards in 1:20 as Romani connected to Tanner Champley for a 23-yard touchdown pass.  Gillen's PAT extra-point kick was good as the game was tied for the third time at 21-21 with 45 seconds remaining in the first-half.

Dakota State could not score in the final 45 seconds of the first half as their drive was halted on SAU's 26-yard line.

SAU outgained DSU 281-274 in total offensive yards in the first thirty minutes of the game.

THIRD QUARTER

Saint Ambrose kicked off the third quarter with 7 plays, 64 yards in 2:16 as Romani threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Tanner Champley.  Gillen's PAT extra point kick was good to put SAU up 28-21 with 12:44 on the clock.

The Fighting Bees were unable to extend their lead when Gillen missed a 41-yard field goal with 10:07 to go in the third quarter.

SAU took advantage of DSU's turnover on the next possession, starting the drive on DSU's 35-yard line.  Romani threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Champley on the third down situation with 8:21 on the clock.  Gillen's PAT extra-point was successful as SAU's lead grew to 35-21.

Dakota State would trim Saint Ambrose's lead down to 35-27 with 5:35 to go in the third quarter.  Frederiksen rushed for a 29-yard touchdown run, while Bourque's PAT kick was no good. 

The Fighting Bees would quickly score after Trojans' touchdown, needing only three plays for 64 yards in 59 seconds.  Garret Tiarks ran for 48-yard touchdown run with 4:36 on the clock.  Gillen added the PAT extra-point kick to put SAU up 42-27.

DSU used 12 plays for 64 yards in 3:52, but was halted in the end zone as the Trojans committed a turnover.

Saint Ambrose outscored Dakota State 21-6 in the third quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER

Dakota State could not take advantage of SAU's poor punt in the early fourth quarter, allowing the Trojans to start the drive on SAU's 24-yard line.  The Trojans committed a turnover with a fumble, regaining the possession for the Fighting Bees.

Saint Ambrose made it 49-27 with 9:47 to go after a 65-yard touchdown run by Hawkins (Gillen's PAT kick was good).

The Fighting Bees outgained the Trojans 321-203 in total offense yards in the second half.

BOX SCORE

Richardson completed 27 passes in 54 attempts for career-high 331 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for Dakota State.  Leighton caught eight passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns.  Mitchell Galloway added five catches for 53 yards.  Listman had five receptions for 49 yards.  Bond recorded four receptions for 89 yards.

Frederiksen rushed 33 times for 156 yards and a touchdown for the Trojans.

Curt Boeke led DSU's defense with 14 tackles and two quarterback sacks for DSU.  He also had 4.5 tackles-for-loss of 19.5 yards.  Ryan Dozier added 13 tackles.  John Trout tallied 12 tackles.  Marcus Vanden Bosch had nine tackles.  Trout, Michael Cleveland and Levar Colbert each registered a half-sack.

Wyatt Sanford had an interception and returned it for 69 yards for Dakota State.

Saint Ambrose had a pair of 100-yard rushers in the game, led by Hawkins with 14 rushes for 174 yards and two touchdowns.  Osterberger added 25 runs for 104 yards and a touchdown.  Tiarks had eight rushing attempts for 80 yards and a touchdown.

Romani was 18-of-28 in the air for 231 yards with three touchdowns and an interception for SAU.  Champley had eight catches for 107 yards and three touchdowns.  Vince Vignali added four receptions for 48 yards.

Taylor O'Donnell collected nine tackles for the Fighting Bees.  Greg Burnett, Jake Schramm and Ryan Zitkus each added eight tackles.  Parker Henderson had 1.5 quarterback sack.  Ejae Hicks and Ethan Miebach each added s sack.  Griffin Zajac had an interception. 

TEAM COMPARISONS

Saint Ambrose racked up a total of 602 offensive yards in 85 plays – 371 rushing yards and 231 passing yards.  Dakota State recorded 477 total offensive yards – 331 passing yards and 146 rushing yards.

The Fighting Bees produced 28 first-downs in the game compared to the Trojans 23 first-downs.

DSU maintained possession for 30 minutes, 31 seconds.  SAU had a time possession of 29:29.

Dakota State committed four turnovers in the game, while Saint Ambrose had two turnovers.

UP NEXT

Dakota State looks to bounce back in the winning column as they host Briar Cliff (Iowa) Thursday night.  The third annual Ag Bowl game is set for 7 p.m. at Trojan Field, with pre-game activities set for 5 p.m.

DSU is 2-0 record since the annual Ag Bowl game was established in 2016.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director

Color Guards - Madison VFW American Legion

Flyers fly over during national anthem

Heartland Consumer Power District - Game Day Sponsor

Recognition of Sample Strong running program