September 29, 2018
PHOTO GALLERY - Photos credits by Cody Welu, Nicholas Hauser and Donald Weidler
MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State's (S.D.) upset bid came up short Saturday afternoon, falling short to No. 18-ranked Dickinson State (N.D.) 33-27 in the North Star Athletic Association Football conference contest at Trojan Field. The Blue Hawks scored the game's final 13 points, including a game-winning touchdown with 31 seconds remaining.
Dakota State, returned back home from a two-game road trip and played in their annual Trojan Days homecoming football game, fell to 1-5 overall record and 0-2 NSAA conference record. Dickinson State raised their overall record to 4-1 and 2-0 record in North Star conference games.
The Blue Hawks extended their NSAA's conference game winning streak to 17 games (last NSAA conference loss was at Dakota State on Oct. 17, 2015).
FIRST QUARTER
The Blue Hawks opened up the game with 12 plays for 58 yards in five minutes and fifty seconds for the first score. Facing fourth-and-12 situation on DaSU's 14-yard line, Hayden Gibson threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Gabe Meschke to give DiSU a 6-0 lead with 9:10 on the clock. Cody Johnson's PAT extra-point kick was no good.
The Trojans kicked off their first play of the drive with a 56-yard pass from Torren Devericks to Brodie Frederiksen from their 25-yard line to DiSU's 19-yard line. Dakota State settled for a 22-yard field goal to cut DiSU's lead to 6-3 with 5:52 left in the first quarter. The Trojans used 7 plays for 70 yards in 3:18 in the scoring drive.
Dickinson State recorded 13 plays for 38 yards in 5:27 on the ensuing drive, but was turned on downs on DaSU's 27-yard line with 25 seconds left in the first.
SECOND QUARTER
After a 16-yard punt by the Blue Hawks on their own 21-yard line to 37-yard line, the Trojans sparked their scoring drive with 6 plays for 37 yards in 2:29 for a touchdown. Frederiksen rushed for a 9-yard touchdown as Dakota State earned a 9-7 lead. Bourque followed up with a successful PAT extra-point kick to extend DaSU's lead to 10-6 with 6:44 left before intermission.
Dickinson State regained their lead with a touchdown. The Blue Hawks registered 8 plays for 63 yards in 2:53 as Amad Andrews, Jr. rushed for a 3-yard touchdown. Johnson's PAT extra-point kick was good as DiSU earned a 13-10 lead with 1:03 left.
The Blue Hawks had 221 offensive yards in 43 plays in the first-half. The Trojans had 189 offensive yards in 28 plays in the first thirty minutes of the game.
THIRD QUARTER
Dakota State was unable to convert their scoring opportunity to kick off the second half. The Trojans marched down the field with 6 plays for 44 yards in 2:39 but committed a turnover on DiSU's 24-yard line.
After the Blue Hawks went three-and-out on their first possession of the second-half, DaSU knotted the game with a field goal on the next possession. The Trojans used 9 plays for 49 yards in 3:18 as Bourque hit a 31-yard field goal, tying the game at 13-13 with 7:38 left in the third quarter. A 32-yard pass from Devericks to Trever Listman (from DaSU's 37-yard line to DiSU's 31-yard line) highlighted DaSU's scoring drive.
Dakota State recovered the ball on the kick-off following their field goal. Marcus Vanden Bosch recovered the ball as the Trojans maintained possession on DiSU's 36-yard line.
The Trojans would answer with a touchdown, thanks to a 13-yard touchdown rush by Frederiksen. Bourque added the PAT extra-point kick as DaSU grabbed a 20-13 lead with 6:06 on the clock.
Dickinson State quickly answered back with a touchdown on the ensuing drive, highlighted by Gibson's 27-yard pass to Tyger Frye on the first play of the drive. The Blue Hawks registered 7 plays for 67 yards in 2:07 as Nick Miller rushed for a 3-yard touchdown. Johnson made the PAT extra-point kick as the Blue Hawks knotted the game at 20-20 with less than four minutes in the third quarter.
Dakota State outscored Dickinson State 10-7 in the third quarter.
FOURTH QUARTER
Facing a third-and-12 situation on DaSU's 36-yard line, the Trojans kicked off the fourth quarter with a 43-yard pass from Devericks to David Bond and produced a first-down on DiSU's 21-yard line.
Frederiksen rushed for his third touchdown of the game, recording a 9-yard touchdown run with 13:55 left in the game. The PAT extra-point by Bourque was good as the Trojans regained their lead at 27-20.
The Blue Hawks answered quickly with a touchdown on the next possession. Gibson threw back-to-back passes of over 20 yards – a 20-yard to Adrian Hughes-Tovar followed by a 36-yard line to Randy Ivey to DaSU's 1-yard line. Andrews, Jr. rushed for a 1-yard touchdown. Johnson added the PAT extra-point kick as the game was tied for the third time in the game at 27-27 with 12:09 left.
Dakota State halted Dickinson State from scoring when Curt Boeke intercepted Gibson's pass on DaSU's 26-yard line and returned it for 13 yards with less than six minutes to go. The Trojans could not take advantage of DiSU's turnover as they went three-and-out.
Dickinson State committed another interception on the next possession. Michael Cleveland intercepted Gibson's pass on DaSU's 25-yard line with 3:19 to go in the game. DaSU went three-and-out and was forced to punt with 2:18 left.
The Blue Hawks began their game-winning on their own 32-yard line and produced four first-downs. Andrews, Jr. rushed for a 1-yard touchdown with 31 seconds left in the game. Johnson's PAT extra-point kick was no good as the Blue Hawks held on to a 33-27 lead.
DiSU secured the game as Jay LIggins intercepted Devericks' pass on DaSU's 46-yard line with ten seconds left.
Dickinson State outscored Dakota State 13-0 in the final 12:09 of the game.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Frederiksen rushed 24 times for a game-high 122 rushing yards with three touchdowns for Dakota State. He also had two catches for 61 yards. Devericks completed 19 passes in 37 attempts for 263 yards and an interception.
Mason Leighton caught six passes for 65 yards for the Trojans. Listman added four receptions for 55 yards. Bond had two receptions for 48 yards. Mitchell Galloway recorded two catches for 30 yards.
Bourque was 2-of-2 field goals (31- and 22-yards) and 3-of-3 on PAT extra-point kicks for DaSU.
Boeke led the Trojans' defense with 16 tackles. He also had an interception and returned it for 13 yards. Jeb Sanford, Ryan Dozier and John Trout each tallied 12 tackles. Cleveland and Darby Neal each recorded eight tackles. Neal had a quarterback sack for eight yards loss. Cleveland and Wyatt Sanford each had an interception. Wyatt Sanford returned the interception for 31 yards.
Andrews, Jr. rushed 27 times for 97 yards with three touchdowns for Dickinson State. Miller added nine rushes for 35 yards and a touchdown.
Gibson went 25-of-41 for 327 yards in the air with a touchdown and three interceptions for the Blue Hawks. Frye had seven catches for 88 yards. Jarett Lee added six recdeptions for 63 yards. Ivey had four catches for 64 yards. Mesche had three receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown.
Kevin Brown tallied 11 tackles and a quarterback sack for DiSU. Derick VandeBossche and Jalen Hendrickson each added eight tackles. Mitch Mehrer had a sack.
TEAM COMPARISONS
Dickinson State racked up 485 offensive yards compared to Dakota State 381 offensive yards. The Blue Hawks rushed 158 yards, while the Trojans registered 118 rushing yards. DiSU had 327 passing yards compared to DaSU 263 passing yards.
The Blue Hawks recorded 28 first-downs in the game compared to the Trojans 20 first-downs. DiSU converted 7-of-13 third-downs. DaSU was 3-of-16 on third-down conversions.
Dickinson State maintained a time possession of 34 minutes, 3 seconds and converted 5-of-6 red-zone opportunities. Dakota State had a time possession of 25 minutes, 57 seconds and was perfect 5-of-5 red zone conversions.
Both Dakota State and Dickinson State will meet for the second NSAA conference meeting on their regular-season finale on Nov. 3 in Dickinson, N.D.
UP NEXT
Dakota State looks to end their five-game losing streak next Saturday (Oct. 6). The Trojans will play the second game of the three-game North Star conference home stand versus Valley City State (N.D.). Kick-off is set for 4 p.m. at Trojan Field.
Dickinson State stays on the road as they visit Waldorf (Iowa) in the North Star conference game. The game is set for 12 p.m. kick-off in Forest City, Iowa.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
