Skip To Main Content

Dakota State University

Scoreboard

6
Winner Dakota State DAKOTA S 1-0
0
Dakota Wesleyan DAKOTA W 0-1
Winner
Dakota State DAKOTA S
1-0
6
Final
0
Dakota Wesleyan DAKOTA W
0-1
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
DAKOTA S Dakota State 3 3 0 0 6
DAKOTA W Dakota Wesleyan 0 0 0 0 0

Game Recap: Football |

DSU wins defensive slugfest over rival DWU 6-0; keeps Chamber of Commerce Traveling Trophy

August 28, 2021

Photos credits by Karen Giles and Nathan Meyer

MITCHELL, S.D. – The college football season opening kick-off between long-time rivals Dakota State (S.D.) and Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) started with a lightning delay Saturday evening at Joe Quintal Field.  After an hour delay, the 75th all-time series meeting saw the Trojans maintained its Chamber of Commerce Traveling Trophy with a 6-0 defensive slugfest over the Tigers on a regional televised broadcast on MidcoSN.

DSU defeated DWU for the fifth straight meeting, which is the first time since 1977-84 that the Trojans had won at least five straight meetings (Trojans recorded eight straight victories over DWU in that span).  The Tigers own a 39-35-1 all-time series with the Trojans.   

Additionally, it was the first time since 1994 that Dakota State shut down Dakota Wesleyan (17-0 in 1994).  It was the third straight victory for DSU at Joe Quintal Field as a road team.

The Trojans stayed undefeated with a 4-0 record in the annual Chamber of Commerce traveling trophy since its inception in 2017.  Both teams did not play in 2020 due to coronavirus pandemic.   

FIRST QUARTER

  • Dakota State opened the game with a 33-yard kick-off return by Jalen Stewart from DSU's 4-yard line to 37-yard line. 
  • Jack Anderson followed up with an 11-yard rush for a first down on DSU's 48-yard line.  Josh Giles added an 18-yard rush from DSU's 46-yard line to DSU's 36-yard line.
  • Giles followed up with a 16-yard completion to Dajshon Keel to DSU's 20-yard line.
  • The Trojans had to settled down for a 33-yard field goal by Caleb Nielsen with 10:41 on the clock.  DSU used 7 plays for 42 yards in 4 minutes, 19 seconds to grab a 3-0 lead.

SECOND QUARTER

  • The Trojans added a score in the second quarter, highlighted by a 42-yard pass from Giles to Michael Hybertson from DSU's 40-yard line to DWU's 18-yard line. 
  • DSU was unable to convert their touchdown opportunity as Nielsen converted a 38-yard field goal with 4:41 to go before halftime. 
  • Dakota Wesleyan started the ensuing possession on their own 1-yard line from Nielsen's kick-off.  The Trojans' defense halted the Tigers and forced DWU to punt with less than three minutes to go in the second quarter.
  • Dakota State was unable to extend their lead after Nielsen missed a 42-yard field goal.
  • DSU held a 6-0 halftime lead.

THIRD QUARTER

  • Neither team were able to score in the third quarter as the Trojans maintain their 6-0 lead. 

FOURTH QUARTER

  • Dakota State halted Dakota Wesleyan's longest drive of the game in the fourth quarter.  The Tigers used 14 plays for 76 yards.
  • The Trojans' defense stopped DWU's offense on DSU's 31-yard line on a fourth-down situation.  DSU regained possession with less than seven minutes to go in the game.
  • Dakota State was forced to punt on the next possession.  Nielsen recorded a 49-yard punt from DSU's 30-yard line to DWU's 21-yard line with 4:41 remaining.
  • DSU used another defensive stop on the ensuing possession.  The Tigers could not convert a first down as the Trojans reclaimed possession on DWU's 29-yard-line with less than three minutes to go.
  • Dakota State was unable to widen their lea to two possession game as Nielsen missed a 43-yard field goal with less than 30 seconds remaining.
  • Blake Duran intercepted Kiel Nelson's won DWU's 35-yard line and returned it for 22 yards to DWU's 18-yard line, securing the victory for Dakota State.  It was the first career interception for Duran.

INDIVIDUAL BOX SCORE

  • Anderson rushed 25 times for 97 yards for Dakota State 
  • Giles was 12-of-24 for 96 yards.  Hybertson caught three receptions for 54 yards.  Keel added three catches for 14 yards. 
  • Nielsen had two field goals for DSU.  He also had four punts inside the 20-yard line. 
  • Mahdi Benalshaikh led the Trojans' defense with eight tackles.  Gustavo Bonilla added seven tackles.  Justin Cater tallied six tackles.  Edward Fritzler recorded four tackles and two tackles-for-loss.
  • Nico Feroni registered three broken-up passes for DSU.  Jay Skogerboe had two broken-up passes.
  • Nelson was 17-of-37 for 167 yards with an interception for the Tigers.  He also rushed seven times for 42 yards.  Jamin Arend had 22 rushes for 41 yards.
  • Jakob Oxos caught nine passes for 105 yards for DWU.  Preston Nedved added four catches for 35 yards.
  • Cody Reichelt had 11 tackles and 2.5 tackles-for-loss for Dakota Wesleyan.  Samuel Kretschmar added nine tackles. 

TEAM COMPARISONS

  • Both teams recorded 12 first downs in the game.
  • The Tigers amassed 262 total offensive yards compared to the Trojans 196 total offensive yards. 
  • DSU rushed for 100 yards, while DWU had 95 rushing yards.  Dakota Wesleyan recorded 167 passing yards compared to Trojans' 96 passing yards.
  • DWU converted 5-of-16 on third down situation (31 percent).  DSU was 1-of-13 on third downs.

UP NEXT

Dakota State kicks off their month-long three-game home stand next Saturday.  The Trojans host NCAA Division III Wisconsin-La Crosse. Kick-off is set for 4 p.m. at Trojan Field.  Local youth softball and baseball appreciation day will also be held.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director

Print Friendly Version