August 29, 2019

PHOTO GALLERY - Photos credits by Cody Welu, Donald Weidler, Tom Jones

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) continued its dominance over long-time rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.), winning in an instant classic season-opening 33-30 double overtime victory Thursday evening at Trojan Field.  The Trojans won their fourth straight meeting with the Tigers, the first time since 1993-96 when DSU won four consecutive meetings over DWU.

DSU maintained its Chamber of Commerce traveling trophy for the third straight year.  The Trojans also lifted their annual Ag Bowl festivities to 3-1 record.

FIRST QUARTER

• Dakota Wesleyan strike first, thanks to a 59-yard rush by Luke Loudenburg from the DWU's 40-yard line to DSU's 1-yard line.  He answered with a 1-yard touchdown run, followed by Tate Gale's PAT extra-point kick for a 7-0 lead with 9 minutes, 10 seconds left in the first quarter.
• The Trojans ended the first quarter with six straight rushing plays (Brodie Frederiksen and Brenner Furlong) from DSU's 27-yard line to DWU's 47-yard line.

SECOND QUARTER

• Facing fourth-and-5 situation on DWU's 44-yard line, Frederiksen rushed for six yards to continue their drive from the end of the first quarter.
• Torren Devericks threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Josh Giles (his first collegiate touchdown reception) with 12:40 left on the clock.  Casey Bourque hit the PAT extra point kick as the Trojans knotted the game at 7-7.
• DSU used 13 plays for 73 yards in nearly five minutes for their first scoring drive of the season.
• After the Trojans were forced to punt on their own 34-yard line, DWU's Daniel Libolt returned it for 33 yards to set up their starting drive on DSU's 35-yard line.  Loudenburg rushed for a 23-yard touchdown run, but Gale missed the extra-point kick as the Tigers regained their lead at 13-7 with 7:39 remaining in the second quarter.
• DSU was forced to punt on the ensuing possession, while DWU gained a better field position for the second straight drive.  Starting on DSU's 30-yard line after a 38-yard punt return by Libolt, the Tigers had to settled down for a 25-yard field goal by Gale as the Tigers extended their lead to 16-7 with less than four minutes to go.
• The Trojans answered back on the next drive, thanks to Devericks connecting to Frederiksen for a 41-yard gain from DSU's 38-yard line to DWU's 21-yard line.  Devericks would score a 1-yard touchdown run, while Bourque converted the PAT extra-point kick as the Trojans cut Tigers' lead to 16-14 with 30 seconds remaining in the first-half.
• DWU outgained DSU 212-165 in the first thirty minutes of the game.  The Tigers rushed for 201 yards compared to Trojans 71 yards.  Dakota State outgained Dakota Wesleyan 94-11 in passing yards.

THIRD QUARTER

• Dakota State kicked off the third quarter as Frederiksen exploded for a 71-yard touchdown run to earn their lead for the first time in the game.  Bourque's PAT extra-point kick was no good as the Trojans posted a 20-16 lead with 13:32 left on the clock.
• DWU's Preston Emerson blocked DSU Caleb Nielsen's punt in the Trojans' end zone, recovered by Brandon Slama for a touchdown with 3:04 remaining in the third quarter.  Gale's PAT extra-point kick was good as the Tigers overtook a 23-20 lead.

FOURTH QUARTER

• From the continuation from the end of the third quarter with a pair of 20-plus passing plays (Devericks 20-yard pass to Frederiksen and 27-yard pass to Giles), The Trojans had to settle down for a 30-yard field goal to knot the game at 23-23 with 14:06 remaining.
• The Tigers were forced to punt on the next possession.  The Trojans then registered 10 plays for 61 yards in 4:38 on their next scoring drive, thanks to their four first downs including a personal foul penalty by the Tigers.
• On fourth-and-goal, Frederiksen rushed for a 1-yard touchdown as the Trojans regained their lead for the second time in the game.  Bourque's PAT extra-point kick was good as DSU took a 30-23 lead with 6:48 left in the game.
• The Trojans outscored the Tigers 10-0 in the first eight-plus minutes.
• DWU answered back on the ensuing possession after using 10 plays for 75 yards in 3:22. Kiel Nelson threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Spencer Neugebauer with 3:26 remaining.  Gale hit the PAT extra-point kick as the Tigers knotted the game at 30-30.
• Dakota State marched down the field for nine plays on the next drive, but was unable to convert their scoring opportunity to close the game.  Devericks' pass to Melic Jefferson was broken up by the Tigers in the end zone when the time expired.

OVERTIME

• Neither team were able to score in the first overtime (drive start on the opponent's 25-yard line in overtime).  The Trojans went four-and-out on the first drive.  Gale's 44-yard field goal was no good for the Tigers.
• Dakota Wesleyan kicked off the second overtime with a 9-yard pass from Kiel Nelson to TreVyon McDaniel, followed by another pass from Nelson to Libolt for 14 yards to DSU's 1-yard line.
• The Trojans' defense line halted the Tigers' offensive line from scoring, stopping on the next four plays.  The Tigers failed to convert their scoring chance.
• Frederiksen rushed for 13 yards to open up DSU's drive.  The Trojans were unable to convert another first down as they were forced to bring their field goal unit on the field.
• DWU called a timeout, but Bourque kicked the game-winning touchdown with a 21-yard field goal.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Frederiksen powered the Trojans' offense attack with a game-high 174 rushing yards in 35 rushes (career-high in rush attempts) and two touchdowns.  Devericks added 35 rushing yards.
• Devericks threw 13 times in 26 attempts, recording 189 yards with one touchdown.  Frederiksen caught six passes for 99 yards.  Giles added five catches for 57 yards and a touchdown.  Cooper McDermott added a catch for 29 yards.
• Loudenburg led the Tigers' rushing attack with 163 yards in 30 attempts and two touchdowns.  Nelson added eight rushes for 50 yards.  Nelson was 15-of-28 for 143 passing yards and a touchdown.  Libolt had eight receptions for 68 yards.
• Cole McCarty led DSU's defense with 16 tackles.  Marcus Vanden Bosch and John Trout each added 12 tackles.  Riley Janke tallied nine tackles.  Jason Sakamot-Ryan caught an interception.
• Dominick Warmbein recorded 10 tackles for DWU's defense.  Cody Reichelt had eight tackles and a quarterback sack.  Dayne Clark also had a sack.

TEAM COMPARISONS

• Dakota State outgained Dakota Wesleyan 404-366 in total yards.  The Tigers had 223 rushing yards (22 rushing yards in the secondo-half and overtime) compared to the Trojans 215 rushing yards.  DSU threw for 189 yards compared to DWU 143 passing yards.
• DWU converted 8-of-18 on third-down conversions while DSU was 4-of-16 on third-downs.  DSU was successful on the fourth-down plays by converting 3-of-4.  DWU was 0-for-2 on fourth-downs.
• Thursday's game was the 74th meeting between the Tigers and the Trojans.  DWU still owns the all-time series record of 39-34-1.

UP NEXT

Dakota State looks to make it two straight wins next Saturday as they play their first road game of the season.  The Trojans face another Great Plains Athletic Conference foe, visiting Briar Cliff (Iowa).  Kick-off is set for 1 p.m. at Memorial Field in Sioux City, Iowa.

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Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director