September 12, 2020
PHOTO GALLERY - Photos credits by Cody Welu, Donald Weidler, Thomas Jones
MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) and Dickinson State (N.D.) kicked off their 9-game North Star Athletic Association conference football schedule Saturday afternoon at Trojan Field. It was the season opener for both teams. The game was knotted at 14-14 by halftime, but the Blue Hawks shut down the Trojans 12-0 in the final thirty minutes of the game to earn a 26-14 victory.
It was the fifth annual Ag Bowl game for Dakota State, recognizing the economic importance in agriculture in the local communities.
Both Dakota State and Dickinson State will be meeting for their second NSAA conference meeting in less than one month later in Dickinson, N.D. Dickinson State had won the last five league titles.
FIRST QUARTER
- Dickinson State raced to a 7-0 lead in the first possession of the game, thanks to a 43-yard pass from Drew Boedecker to Alec Lovegren from DaSU's 48-yard line to DaSU's 5-yard line.
- Riley Linder followed up with a 5-yard rushing touchdown to give the Blue Hawks its first lead of the game at 6-0 with 13 minutes, 1 second left on the clock in the first period. Jeremiah Paine hit a successful PAT extra-point kick to extend their lead to 7-0.
- DiSU extended their lead to 14-0 after a 77-yard punt return for touchdown with 5:07 left in the first (Paine added a PAT extra-point kick).
- Dakota State answered back on the ensuing possession after using 9 plays for 71 yards in 4:18 for a touchdown. The highlight in the scoring drive was a 41-yard pass from Torren Devericks to Dajshon Keel from DiSU's 46-yard line to DiSU's 5-yard line.
Devericks connected to Tucker Bennett for 5-yard touchdown with 49 seconds remaining. Caleb Nielsen followed up with a successful PAT extra point kick to cut the Blue Hawks' lead to 14-7.- The final 49 seconds of the first period saw a turnover committed by both teams. Boedecker was sacked and fumbled the ball on DiSU's 21-yard line, recovered by Trojan Conner Tordsen. On the following possession, Devericks' pass was intercepted by Blue Hawk Paxton Miller in the end zone to end the first quarter.
SECOND QUARTER
- Both teams were unable to move to the ball into the opponents' territory in the first six minutes of the second period.
- Dakota State rallied back to tie the game at 14-4 after using 7 plays for 77 yards in nearly four minutes in the scoring drive. The Trojans produced three first downs, including a 13-yard pass from Devericks to Keel, 20-yard pass from Devericks to Cooper McDermott. The highlight of this scoring drive came as Jacob Hirsch caught a 36-yard pass from Devericks from DiSU's 38-yard line to DiSU's 2-yard line.
Devericks rushed for a 2-yard touchdown on the next play for the Trojans. Nielsen followed up with a PAT extra-point kick as Dakota State tied the game at 14-14 with 4:40 remaining in the second period.- The Trojans could not convert their scoring chance after Wyatt Sanford intercepted Boedecker's ass at DaSU's 38-yard line. Sanford returned it for 13-yards to DiSU's 49-yard line with 2:06 left. Dakota State was forced to punt on the next drive, with both teams headed to the locker room with the score tied at 14-14 by halftime.
THIRD QUARTER
- Dakota State was forced to punt on the first possession of the third quarter. Dickinson State used 8 plays for 61 yards in 4:37 on the ensuing possession to regain their lead.
- The Blue Hawks produced four first downs in the scoring drive, highlighted by a 21-yard pass from Boedecker to Jaret Lee from DaSU's 35-yard line to DaSU's 14-yard line. Boedecker connected to Kellen Ray for a 9-yard touchdown pass with 8:29 left on the clock to earn 20-14 lead. Paine's PAT extra point kick was no good.
- Dakota State used 7 minutes, 48 seconds and 12 plays with 40 yards in the next possession. The Trojans were unable to convert their scoring opportunity as Nielsen's 46-yard field goal was short with 41 seconds left in the third.
FOURTH QUARTER
Dickinson State answered on the following possession with 9 plays for 72 yards in 4:43. Boedecker threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Lee to extend their lead to 26-14 with 10:58 remaining in the game. Paine's PAT extra-point kick was no good.- Both teams were unable to score in the final 10:58 of the game. The Trojans halted the Blue Hawks from scoring as the Blue Hawks fumbled the ball (forced by Jordan Thomas) and was recovered by Cole McCarty on DaSU's 8-yard line with 1:33 left.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Devericks led the Trojans' offense attack by going 17-of-29 with 196 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed 10 times for 23 yards. He threw at least a pass to 10 different receivers, led by Keel with four receptions for 63 yards. Hirsch had two catches for 51 yards. Gavin Holland produced a 24-yard reception. McDermott had a 20-yard reception, while Josh Giles added a 12-yard catch.
- Branson Taylor ran four times for 15 yards. He also had three catches for 11 yards.
- Marcus Vanden Bosch led DaSU's defense with nine tackles. Thomas added eight tackles, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble.
- Gustavo Bonilla and Braedon Wallenstein each added eight tackles for the Trojans. McCarty had six tackles and a fumble recovery. Riley Janke tallied six tackles. Noah Guse recorded five tackles and a tackle-for-loss of two yards.
- Sanford had an interception and returned it for 13 yards for DaSU. He also had a fumble recovery.
- Nielsen recorded five punts for 198 yards total (39.6 yards per punt) for Dakota State.
- Boedecker was 14-of-19 for 196 yards with two touchdowns for the Blue Hawks. He also ruan seven times for 15 yards.
- Lee had four receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown. Tyger Frye added four catches for 30 yards. Ray had three receptions for 29 yards and a touchdown.
- Linder rushed 18 times for 79 yards and a touchdown for Dickinson State. Derek Tabor added eight rushes for 38 yards.
- Nick Miller led the Blue Hawks' defense with 10 tackles. Reece Hoherz added nine tackles. Aaric Spring and Paxton Miller each had 0.5 quarterback sack for loss of 3.5 yards.
- Hoherz, Justin Tauaefa and Paxton Miller each recorded an interception for Dickinson State.
TEAM COMPARISONS
- Dickinson State posted 335 total offensive yards compared to Dakota State 234 total offensive yards. The Blue Hawks recorded 173 total offensive yards in the second half and held the Trojans to 96 offensive yards.
- The Blue Hawks rushed 139 yards while the Trojans rushed for 38 yards. Both teams recorded 196 passing yards.
- DiSU produced 17 first-downs. DaSU had 13 first-downs. The Blue Hawks converted 3-of-8 on third-downs compared to the Trojans 2-of-12 third-downs.
- Dakota State had the ball control for 30 minutes, 54 seconds. Dickinson State maintained time of possession for 29 minutes, 6 seconds.
- The Blue Hawks registered 11.0 tackles-for-loss of 28 yards loss compared to the Trojans one tackle-for-loss of 2 yards loss.
UP NEXT
Dakota State continues their North Star Athletic Association conference action next Saturday, Sept. 19. The Trojans kick off their 2-game road trip, visiting Presentation (S.D.) at Swisher Field. Kick-off is set for 7 p.m. in Aberdeen, S.D.
Dickinson State begins their 2-game home stand next Saturday, Sept. 19, hosting Mayville State (N.D.) at Biesiot Activities Center in Dickinson.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
