September 18, 2021

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos credits by Cody Welu, Donald Weidler, Mike Black, Karen Giles, Ketia Hanson

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) caught three interceptions coupled with Caleb Nielsen's single-game school record of 59.3 yards punt average (with three punts inside the 20-yard line) fueled to a 40-13 North Star Athletic Association football season opener at Trojan Field Saturday afternoon.  The game was the 6th annual Ag Bowl game, lifting the Trojans to a 4-2 record all-time in Ag Bowl games, recognizing the economic importance of agriculture businesses in local Madison area.

DSU roared to a 30-0 halftime lead and extended their lead to 33-0 in the early fourth quarter.

Dakota State improved their overall record to 2-1 and 1-0 NSAA conference record.  The Trojans won their seventh straight meeting in the series meeting with the Saints, raising their all-time series record to 10-2.  Presentation remained winless in four games this season (0-4 overall record, 0-1 NSAA conference record).

FIRST QUARTER

• Presentation kicked off the game with eight plays for 30 yards in three minutes, thirty-three seconds and was unable to convert their scoring opportunity.  The Saints turned on downs on DSU's 35-yard line.
• Dakota State was forced to punt on their first drive of the game.  From DSU's 36-yard line, Nielsen recorded a 64-yard punt that resulted a touchback with 10:31 on the clock in the first.
• The Saints lost nine yards on the next drive, forcing to punt on their own 11-yard line.  The Trojans began their next drive on PC's 48-yard line.
• DSU quickly scored after Zach Brooks connected a 28-yard touchdown ass to Derick Siemonsma.  Nielsen followed up with a successful PAT extra-point kick for a 7-0 Trojans' lead with 7:53 remaining in the first quarter.
• A penalty committed by PC forced to begin their ensuing possession on their 12-yard line.  They were forced to punt as DSU started their next drive on the 50-yard line.
• Gavin Holland rushed for 36 yards for DSU's second touchdown of the game with 5:07.  Nielsen missed the PAT extra-point kick as the Trojans' lead balloon to 13-0.
• Presentation failed to punt on their own 25-yard as Luz Ferreira lost 12 yards to PC's 13-yard line.
• Dakota State answered on the next play with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Brooks to Austin Lake.  Nielsen hit the PAT extra-point kick as DSU's lead grew to 20-0 with 1:11 to go in the first.
• The Trojans held the Saints to minus 12 yards after PC's opening drive of 30 yards in the first quarter.

SECOND QUARTER

• Nielsen recorded a game-long 67-yard punt in the early second quarter, forcing the Saints to start on their own 3-yard line with 13:40 on the clock.
• Jay Skogerboe intercepted PC's Tim Evitt's pass on PC's 40-yard line and returned it for 23 yards to PC's 17-yard line for Dakota State with 6:33 to go in the second quarter.
• The Trojans had to settled for a 35-yard field goal to extend Dakota State's lead to 23-0 with 5:42 left before halftime.
• Gustavo Bonilla caught a 'pick six' interception return for touchdown on the ensuing possession.  He returned it for a 63-yard touchdown to extend DSU's lead to 29-0 with 3:38 on the clock.  Nielsen made it 30-0 after a successful PAT extra point kick.
• Presentation was unable to convert their scoring chances when the first half ended.  The Saints recorded 11 plays for 57 yards in 3:38 as Ferreira missed a 42-yard field goal.

THIRD QUARTER

• The highlight in the early third quarter was another 60-plus yard punt by Nielsen.  He registered another 67-yard punt from their own DSU's 30-yard line to PC's 3-yard line.  Anthony Lawson returned it for 12 yards to PC's 15-yard line with 9:15 on the clock.
• The Saints were forced to punt on the next possession, to DSU's 39-yard line with 6:54 to go in the third quarter.
• Dakota State was unable to extend their lead as Cameron McKeon's pass was intercepted by Shawn Moore on PC's 1-yard line with 5:07 to go.  McKeon's 17-yard pass to Michael Hybertson highlighted DSU's drive.
• Max Sonne intercepted PC's Evitt pass on DSU's 37-yard line with 1:05 left in the third quarter.  The Trojans opened the following possession with a 37-yard pass from McKeon to Hybertson to PC's 26-yard line.
• Both teams were unable to score in the third quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER

• The Trojans started the fourth quarter by ballooning their lead to 33-0 after a 34-yard field goal by Nielsen with 13:31 remaining.  DSU used 7 plays for 46 yards in 2:34 in the scoring drive.
• Presentation ended their scoring drought with a touchdown on the ensuing possession with 10 plays for 75 yards in 4:54.  Innocent Okoh rushed for a 1-yard touchdown, followed by Ferreira's PAT extra-point kick as PC trailed 33-7 with 8:37 left.
• Dakota State was forced to punt on the next drive, where Nielsen hit a 57-yard punt to PC's 37-yard line.  Lawson returned the punt for 37 yards to DSUs 26-yard line with 7:37 remaining.
• The Saints quickly scored after a 25-yard touchdown pass from Hunter Giffrow to Marshal Chance with 6:46.  Ferreira's PAT extra-point pick was no good as the Trojans maintained a 33-13 lead.
• Dakota State answered on the next drive with a 50-yard touchdown run by Brenner Furlong.  Nielsen added the PAT extra-point kick to make it 40-13 in favor of DSU with 5:25 remaining.
• PC outscored DSU 13-10 in the final quarter.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Brooks was 7-of-19 for 75 yards with two touchdown passes for Dakota State.  He added five rushes for 25 yards.  McKeon added 5-of-12 for 71 yards.
• Furlong ran 10 times for 73 yards with a touchdown for the Trojans.  Holland added five rushes for 42 yards.  Jack Anderson recorded five rushes for 21 yards.
• Hybertson propelled the Trojans' receiving with five catches for 69 yards.  Siemonsma added two receptions for 35 yards and a touchdown.  Lake had two receptions for 19 yards and a touchdown. 
• Nielsen recorded six punts for a total of 356 yards with an average of 59.3 yards, breaking his previous school record of 52.0 yards per punt versus Waldorf (Iowa) on Oct. 27, 2018 (and Josh Licht at South Dakota Mines on Oct. 26, 2013).  Nielsen finished with two field goals and four extra-point kicks.
• Bonilla led the Trojans' defense with 11 tackles.  He also had an interception and returned it for a touchdown of 65 yards.  Skogerboe added seven tackles and returned an interception for 23 yards.  Jeremiah 'JJ' Beck and Mahdi Benalshaikh each added seven tackles.  Conner Tordsen and Cody Brown each had five tackles.  Sonne had an interception. 
• Jalen Stewart had a kick-off return of 47 yards for DSU.  Anderson added a kick-off return of 26 yards. 
• Evitt finished the game by going 13-of-33 for 95 yards and threw three interceptions for Presentation.  Giffrow added 3-of-4 for 42 yards and a touchdown.  He ran six times for 24 yards.  Okoh had 22 rushes for 88 yards and a touchdown.
• DiJuan McCullom caught five passes for 49 yards for the Saints.  Chace had a reception for 25 yards and a touchdown.
• Ferreira registered eight punts for 332 yards, averaging 41.5 yards per punt for PC.
• Lane Bourdon led Presentation's defense with eight tackles.  Braxton Bates and George Jones each had five tackles.  Jones recorded a quarterback sack of 10 yards loss.

TEAM COMPARISONS

• Dakota State recorded 302 total offensive yards in 58 plays compared to Presentation 255 total offensive yards in 75 plays. 
• The Trojans had 146 passing yards, while the Saints threw 137 yards. 
• DSU rushed 156 yards to PC 118 rushing yards.
• Presentation had the ball control for 34 minutes, 34 seconds in the game.  Dakota State maintained a time of possession for 25 minutes, 26 seconds.
• Presentation committed four turnovers in the game – three interceptions and a fumble lost.  Dakota State had one turnover (interception).

UP NEXT

Dakota State concludes their 3-game home stand next Saturday as they host Mayville State (N.D.) in another North Star contest.  The annual Trojan Day homecoming football game is set for 4 p.m., with the tailgate starting at 12 p.m. at Trojan Field.

Presentation returns home next Saturday, hosting Waldorf (Iowa) in their homecoming game.  Kick-off from the Swisher Field is set for 1 p.m. in Aberdeen, S.D.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director

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