Football 10/12/2023 3:00:00 PM Nick Huntimer, Dakota State (S.D.) Sports Information Director

DSU football opens NSAA's second half conference schedule at home

Dakota State (S.D.) hosts Waldorf (Iowa) in final North Star conference meeting

October 12, 2023

Week 7 Preview
MADISON, S.D.—The Dakota State University (S.D.) Trojan football team (0-6 overall record, 0-4 North Star Athletic Association record) returns home Saturday after their two-game North Star Athletic Association road trip. The Trojans start the second half portion of the North Star Athletic Association schedule, flipping the home-away contests on their first half portion of the conference schedule. The Trojans host Waldorf (Iowa) (3-3 overall record, 2-2 NSAA conference record) in the Rushin' for a Cure contest. Kick-off is set for 4 p.m. at Dan Beacom Track Complex.

Fans are encouraged to wear pink clothing to the football contest to help raise cancer awareness during the month of October.

Dakota State fell to North Star's conference leader No. 22 ranked Dickinson State (N.D.) 40-14 in Dickinson, N.D. on Oct. 7. The Blue Hawks jumped to a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter and never trailed in the game. Waldorf raced to a 24-0 halftime lead at home versus Valley City State (N.D.) on the same day. The Vikings roared back with 28-0 second half run to hold off the Warriors 28-24.

Waldorf won the first North Star conference meeting this season by the score of 35-20 in Forest City, Iowa, on Sept. 9. Saturday's contest will be the last NSAA conference meeting between DSU and WU.

Next Up: Dakota State plays their final North Star Athletic Association road contest next Saturday (Oct. 21). The Trojans travel to Valley City State (N.D.) for a 4 p.m. kick-off in Valley City, N.D.

Week 7 Quick Hits
+ All North Star Athletic Association football members played each other once prior to this Saturday's contests. The second half portion of the North Star conference schedule will be a flip-flop from the first half of the conference schedule (switching home-away contests).
+ Dakota State (S.D.) will be playing three games at home during their second half of the conference schedule.
+ DSU and Waldorf (Iowa) are most likely playing their final North Star Athletic Association football meeting on Saturday. Waldorf was accepted in the Great Plains Athletic Conference, starting in 2024-25 season.
+ The Trojans are seeking for their first win at home this season. The last time DSU earned a home victory was on Nov. 12, 2022, at the old Trojan Field with a 13-0 shutout victory over Waldorf.
+ The Dakota State University Trojan football developmental squad will be playing their regular-season finale on Sunday, traveling to Mount Marty (S.D.). Kick-off is set for 3 p.m. at Crane Youngworth Field at Yankton High School.
+ DSU's remaining home contests at Dan Beacom Track Complex include Saturday versus Waldorf, Nov. 4 versus Mayville State (N.D.), and Nov. 11 versus Dickinson State (N.D.).
+ The Trojan are ranked No. 16 in the nation in fourth-down conversions. Dakota State converted eight first downs on their fourth-down conversions in 18 attempts.
+ Waldorf is 1-1 record on the road this season, losing at St. Francis (Ill.) 63-7 and defeating Mayville State (N.D.) 56-34.

The Series - 17th meeting - Waldorf (Iowa) leads series 9-7
Last Meeting—Sept. 9, 2023, Bolstorff Field, Forest City, Iowa—After a closely contest through the early second quarter, Waldorf (Iowa) scored 21 straight points to pull away past Dakota State (S.D.) 35-20 in the North Star Athletic Association season opener. WU held a slim 7-6 lead before outscoring the Trojans 28-14 in the final 32 minutes of the game.

The Warriors took the first possession of the game and used 15 plays for 75 yards in 5:44 for the first score of the game (7-0 with 9:16 on the clock).   DSU answered on the ensuing possession with 13 plays for 52 yards in less than five minutes and had to settle for a 31-yard field goal by Aidan Jahns with 4:18 remaining in the first quarter. Blake Duran intercepted WU's pass to kick off the second quarter, paving the way for 14 plays for 63 yards for DSU's next score. The Trojans settled for a 34-yard field goal by Jahns, trailing 7-6 with 5:47 before halftime.

Waldorf grabbed a 14-6 halftime lead and extended their lead to 28-6 in the third quarter and never trailed. The Warriors outgained the Trojans 467-364 in total offensive yards. WU threw for 325 yards to DSU 160 passing yards. Dakota State had 204 rushing yards to Waldorf 142 rushing yards.

The all-time series began on Aug. 27, 2005, in Forest City, Iowa, won by the Trojans 16-2. Waldorf became the North Star Athletic Association member in 2014. The Warriors currently own a 9-7 series meeting record, with Saturday's being the last time both teams will face each other in the NSAA football contest.

NSAA leader (22) Blue Hawks defeat Trojans
Dickinson, N.D. (Oct. 7, 2023)—The North Star Athletic Association's football conference leader and NAIA's nationally-ranked No. 22 Dickinson State (N.D.) scored the first 21 points, rolling past Dakota State (S.D.) by the score of 40-14 to stay undefeated in the conference play.

The Blue Hawks kicked off the game with 13 plays for 77 yards in six minutes and forty-nine seconds for the first score (led 7-0). DiSU extended their lead to 14-0 with 2:33 remaining in the first and widen to 21-0 in the early second quarter.

Dakota State snapped its scoring drought in the second quarter as they answered with a touchdown, highlighted by a 53-yard pass from Tray Hettick to Michael Hybertson. Hettick followed up with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Roger Moore with 10:57 on the clock in the second quarter (DaSU trailed 21-7). The Blue Hawks scored the next 19 points to balloon their lead to 40-7 in the third quarter. DaSU's Hybertson caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from Hettick to round out the final score.

Hettick was 21-of-34 for 223 yards with two touchdowns for Dakota State. Hybertson added seven catches for 124 yards and a touchdown. Preston Iverson added three rushes for 39 yards and rushed for 24 yards. Jeremiah 'JJ' Beck led the Trojans defense with eight tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss of seven yards, and a quarterback sack of four yards loss. Brandon Dannenbring and Chris Guipi-Bopala each added five tackles. Blake Duran caught an interception.

Dickinson State outgained Dakota State 445-250 in total offensive yards. The Blue Hawks threw 241 yards to Trojans 223 passing yards. DiSU rushed 204 yards compared to DaSU 27 rushing yards. Dickinson State converted 9-of-17 on third-down situations, while Dakota State was 4-of-11 third-downs.

A look back to Trojans-Warriors series
Madison, S.D. (Oct. 12, 2023)—Saturday's North Star Athletic Association football contest between Dakota State (S.D.) and Waldorf (Iowa) would be the final conference meeting for both teams. The Warriors are leaving for the Great Plains Athletic Conference, starting at 2024-25 season.

Dakota State and Waldorf began their all-time series on Aug. 27, 2005, in Forest City, Iowa. The Trojans won the first-eve meeting in a low scoring affair by the score of 16-2. DSU won the second meeting at Trojan Field on Aug. 26, 2006, by the score of 31-23.

Waldorf became the North Star Athletic Association member in 2014. The Trojans won the first-ever North Star conference meeting on Nov. 1, 2014, in a high scoring affair by the score of 51-41 in Forest City.

The Trojans won four times in the first five North Star conference meetings from 2014 through 2017. The Warriors then went on to win seven straight meetings before DSU recorded a 13-0 shutout victory in the final game ever held at the Trojan Field on Nov. 12, 2022.

DSU in the North Star conference ranks
Madison, S.D. (Oct. 12, 2023)—According to the NAIA/PrestoStats as of Thursday, Dakota State's (S.D.) Jeremiah 'JJ' Beck ranks fourth in the North Star Athletic Association with 7.8 tackles per game. Devonte Murphy is also 12th in the league with 5.3 tackles per game.

Caleb Dwyer is tied for fifth in overall quarterback sacks with 2.5 sacks in the North Star Athletic Association for the Trojans. Collin Brueggeman also ranks tied for 12th with 1.5 quarterback sacks in the conference.

Dakota State is second in the North Star's rushing defense during conference play, allowing 115.8 rushing yards per game prior to Saturday's game versus Waldorf (Iowa).

Austin Lake averages 54.0 receiving yards per game for DSU, which is sixth best receiving yards average in the North Star Athletic Association. Michael Hybertson also ranks ninth in the league with 48.3 receiving yards per game. Cole Sylliaasen is 13th in the conference with 25.8 receiving yards per game.

Remaining North Star conference contests
Madison, S.D. (Oct. 12, 2023)—Dakota State (S.D.) have four remaining North Star Athletic Association contests on their 2023 football schedule, including Saturday's home contest versus Waldorf (Iowa).

The Trojans then play their final road contest of the season on Oct. 21 at Valley City State (N.D.).   DSU then takes their second North Star Athletic Association bye week on Oct. 28 before returning home for the final two games.

Dakota State hosts Mayville State (N.D.) on Nov. 4 and Dickinson State (N.D.) on Nov. 11 at the Dan Beacom Track Complex in Madison.

North Star football first half recap
Madison, S.D. (Oct. 12, 2023)—The North Star Athletic Association wrapped up their first half portion of the conference schedule on Oct. 7. Dickinson State (N.D.) went undefeated in the first half with a 4-0 record.

Valley City State (N.D.) is second in the North Star conference standings with 3-1 record, followed by Waldorf (Iowa) third with 2-2 record, Mayville State (N.D.) fourth with 1-3 record and Dakota State fifth with 0-4 record.

The second half of the North Star Athletic Association will be flip-flop home-away contest from the first-half schedule for each conference member. Each North Star member will have a bye week during the second half portion of the conference schedule.

The winner of the North Star Athletic Association football conference will receive an automatic bid to the NAIA Football Championships Series (FCS), which is set to open on Nov. 18.

2023 DSU Football Team Leaders

Rushing: Tyce Ortman - 198 yards (36 attempts - 66.0 yards per game)
Passing: Joseph Cole - 309 yards (31-of-59 - 52.5 completion rate)
Receiving Yards: Austin Lake - 324 yards (32 receptions - 54.0 yards per game)
Tackles: Jeremiah 'JJ' Beck - 47 tackles (19 solo, 28 assists)
Tackles-for-loss: Devonte Murphy - 7.5 tackles-for-loss (21.0 yards loss)
Quarterback sacks: Caleb Dwyer - 2.5 quarterback sacks (19.0 yards loss)
Interceptions: Blake Duran - 2 interceptions (23 yards return)
Fumble recoveries: Devonte Murphy - 1 fumble recovery
Scoring: Aidan Jahns - 17 points (5 PAT extra-points, 4 field goals)
Punting: Cole Sylliaasen - 34.1 yards per punt (23 punts for 785 yards)
Scoring (kicking): Aidan Jahns - 15 points (5 PAT extra-points, 4 field goals)