September 24, 2022

Photos credits by Donald Weidler, Tom Jones, Mike Black

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) exploded for 273 rushing yards Saturday afternoon, the highest rushing yards since the 2019 season (when DSU hit 200-plus rushing yards six times during the season), to defeat Iowa Wesleyan 24-7 in the non-North Star Athletic Association contest at Trojan Field.  The game marked the final year of playing the Trojan Days homecoming football game held at Trojan Field.

It was the second all-time meeting between DSU and IWU, where the Trojans remained perfect 2-0 record.  The Trojans won back-to-back homecoming games for the first time since the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

Dakota State won their sixth straight home game, dating back to last season after going 4-0 record in the final four home games and defeated rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 29-19 on Aug. 25.  The Trojans remained undefeated at home this season (2-0 record) and improved their overall record to 2-2.

Iowa Wesleyan, associate member of the North Star Athletic Association football league, saw their two-game winning streak came to an end.  The Tigers fell to 2-3 overall record.

Both teams will meet for the second meeting next month as the NSAA conference contest in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, on Oct. 29.

Dakota State honored their six seniors prior to the game – Mason Lloyd, Travis Rebstock, Max Sonne, Cooper McDermott, and Mose Timoteo.

FIRST QUARTER

• After a penalty committed by Iowa Wesleyan on the opening drive to start DSU's drive on IWU's 40-yard line, Dakota State could not get their first lead of the game after a 61-yard field goal attempt by Noah Karwacki went right of the goal post with 12 minutes, 37 seconds on the clock.
• Dakota State's first scoring drive of the game came late in the first quarter.  Facing a fourth-and-3 situation on IWU's 22-yard line, the Tigers committed a penalty that resulted in an automatic first down for the Trojans to IWU's 10-yard line.
• After three rushing plays to the IWU's 1-yard line, the Trojans converted a fourth-and-goal situation as Tyce Ortman rushed for a 1-yard touchdown.  Karwacki followed a successful PAT extra-point kick to give DSU a 7-0 lead with 1:03 remaining in the first quarter.
• DSU recorded 11 plays for 41 yards in five minutes in the scoring drive.
• Dakota State's defense held Iowa Wesleyan to nine total offensive yards in the first 15 minutes of the game.

SECOND QUARTER

• Blake Duran caught an interception on DSU's 31-yard line and returned it for nine yards as DSU regained possession with 13:29 on the clock.
• After the Tigers were forced to punt on their next drive, Dakota State used 18 plays for 78 yards in 10:14.  The drive highlighted a fourth-down conversion as Cameron McKeon rushed for 7 yards that resulted a first down on IWU's 26-yard line.
• The Tigers prevented the Trojans to score after a fourth-and-goal on IWU's 2-yard line, turning the ball on downs with 30 seconds left before intermission.
• On the next play, Kani Johnson caught an interception from IWU's Zach Chevalier with 25 seconds left in the second quarter.
• DSU was unable to convert their scoring chance as Karwack's 34-yard field goal went wide left as the first half expired.
• Dakota State outgained Iowa Wesleyan 102-27 in the first thirty minutes of the game.

THIRD QUARTER

• Iowa Wesleyan kicked off the third quarter with a 35-yard kick-off return by Stafford Lewis to DSU's 44-yard line.  The Trojans' defense halted the Tigers on fourth-and-three situation on DSU's 25-yard line, turning the ball on downs after using the measurements which fell short for a first-down with 12:07 on the clock.
• With DSU starting a drive on DSU's 16-yard line with 2:27 to go in the third, Ortman rushed three straight times including an explosive 62 yards to IWU's 3-yard line.
• Dylan Johnson rushed for a 3-yard touchdown on the next play, ballooning DSU's lead to 13-0 with 31 seconds left in the third.  The Trojans made it 14-0 after a successful PAT extra-point kick.

FOURTH QUARTER

• IWU's Lewis kicked off the fourth quarter with a 32-yard rush to DSU's 42-yard line.  The Trojans committed a penalty, moving the ball to DSU's 27-yard line.
• Iowa Wesleyan snapped its scoring drought as Parker Heidt rushed for a 1-yard touchdown with 13:05 remaining.  Lucas Mosqueda added the PAT extra-point kick as the Tigers trimmed DSU's lead to 14-7.
• Dakota State answered with a score on the ensuing drive.  The Trojans used 9 plays for 50 yards in 4:03, highlighted by 21-yard rush by Ortman to IWU's 27-yard line. 
• Karwacki converted a 37-yard field goal as the Trojans stretched its lead to 17-7 with 9:02 left.
• Tamareon Foster forced a fumble on IWU's Lewis and was recovered by DSU's Michael Foster on IWU's 33-yard line with 7:37 to go.
• The Trojans answered with a touchdown in five plays for 33 yards in 2:47, thanks to a 19-yard rush by Johnson to IWU's 15-yard line.
• Josiah Vitale connected to Cole Sylliaasen for a 13-yard touchdown pass with 4:50 remaining.  The Trojans ballooned their lead to 24-7 after Karwacki's PAT extra-point kick.
• The Tigers lost 17 yards on their final drive of the game, securing the victory for Dakota State.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Ortman racked up season-highs 25 rushes for 164 yards (6.6 yards per rush) with a touchdown for Dakota State.  Johnson added eight rushes for 39 yards and a touchdown.  McKeon ran six times for 22 yards. 
• Vitale threw for 33 yards and rushed for 16 yards for DSU.  Gavin Holland had five rushes for 16 yards, while Isaak Swartout added 16 yards in three rushes.
• Sylliaasen had two receptions for 22 yards and a touchdown for the Trojans.  Michael Hybertson added an 11-yard reception.  Dajshon Keel and McDermott each added a catch.
• Karwacki recorded four punts for 155 yards, averaging 38.8 yards per punt.  He had a game-long 66 yards punt and his two punts landed inside the 20-yard line.
• Duran and Johnson each recorded an interception for DSU.  Devonte Murphy led the Trojans' defense with nine tackles.  Jeremiah 'JJ' Beck, Brooks Jansen, and Cody Brown each added seven tackles.
• Brown had 2.5 quarterback sacks for 18 yards loss and three tackles-for-loss of 22 yards for the Trojans.  He also had a forced fumble. 
• Chevalier threw for 47 yards and two interceptions for Iowa Wesleyan.  Askia Moses ran 17 times for 73 yards.  Lewis added four rushes for 34 yards.  Heidt had a rushing touchdown.
• Jaden Harris had four catches for 36 yards for the Tigers.  Tyler Ball had two receptions for eight yards.
• Jeremiah Pauling had a game-high 14 tackles for IWU.  He had five tackles-for-loss of eight yards.  Major Niccum added 11 tackles.  Comal Phillips tallied seven tackles and a quarterback sack of 9 yards loss.
• Jarius Evans recorded two broken-up passes for Iowa Wesleyan. 

TEAM COMPARISONS

• Dakota State racked up a season-high 315 total offensive yards and held Iowa Wesleyan to 136 total offensive yards.
• The Trojans rushed 57 times for 273 yards.  The Tigers ran 28 times for 89 yards.  IWU recorded 47 passing yards compared to DSU 42 passing yards.
• Dakota State produced 19 first downs in the game, with 17 first downs resulted in running plays.  Iowa Wesleyan had nine first downs.
• The Trojans converted 7-of-18 on third down situations, while the Tigers were 1-of-8 third downs.  DSU converted three fourth-down plays on four tries. 
• Dakota State maintained possession for 39 minutes, 2 seconds.  Iowa Wesleyan held the ball for 20 minutes, 58 seconds.
• DSU collected four sacks in the game for 27 yards loss compared to IWU one sack for nine yards loss.
• The Trojans registered nine tackles-for-loss of 42 yards.  The Tigers had 12 tackles-for-loss of 28 yards loss.

UP NEXT
Dakota State stays home next Saturday as they open the North Star conference season, hosting seven-time defending champion Dickinson State (N.D.).  Kick-off is set for 1 p.m. at Trojan Field.

Iowa Wesleyan returns home to open their conference action versus Mayville State (N.D.) in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.  The game is set for 1 p.m.

	2022 DSU Football Seniors
	2022 Trojan Days Homecoming Awards/Hall of Fame/Homecoming King & Queen
	SDSU ROTC presented colors guard for national anthem
	Prostrollo's Kick of Dollars

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director