October 14, 2023

News image courtesy by Mike Black

MADISON, S.D. – Waldorf (Iowa) rushed for nearly 300 yards Saturday afternoon, earning a 34-14 North Star Athletic Association football victory over Dakota State (S.D.) at the Dan Beacom Track Complex.  It is the final NSAA conference meeting between the Trojans and the Warriors.  WU completed the season series over DSU (won 35-20 in Forest City, Iowa, in the first NSAA conference meeting this season).

Dakota State fell to 0-7 overall record and 0-5 NSAA conference record.  Waldorf, who is leaving the North Star conference after the 2023-24 academic year, improved to 4-3 overall record and 3-2 record in the league. 

The Trojans play their final road contest of the season next Saturday (Oct. 21) as they travel to Valley City, N.D., to take on Valley City State (N.D.).  The game is set for 4 p.m. at Lokken Stadium.

FIRST QUARTER
The Warriors opened the game with eight plays (five rushing plays) for 38 yards in four minutes and forty-one seconds.  They were forced to punt as the Trojans earned their first possession with ten minutes and nineteen seconds on the clock.

Jakim Brock intercepted DSU's pass from DSU's 46-yard line and returned it for 11 yards to DSU's 35-yard line as WU regained possession with 9:25 left in the first.

Waldorf answered with a 20-yard rushing touchdown by Jordan Cooper for a 6-0 lead with 7:44 on the clock.  Connor Parker's PAT extra-point kick was successful to extend WU's lead to 7-0.

Dakota State committed their second turnover on the second possession of the game.  Keegan Handal intercepted DSU's pass and returned it for a 'Pick Six' 20-yard touchdown to balloon Waldorf's lead to 13-0.  Parker's PAT extra point kick was good to make it 14-0 in favor of the Warriors with 6:02 left in first.

The Trojans produced five first-downs on the ensuing possession, including three consecutive plays that returned a first-down.  The highlight of the first scoring drive saw a 14-yard pass from Austin Lake to Michael Hybertson to WU's 3-yard line. 

Preston Iverson followed up with a 3-yard touchdown rush as DSU trailed 14-6 with 1:44 remaining in the first quarter.  Aidan Jahns hit a successful PAT extra-point kick as the Trojans trimmed WU's lead to 14-7.

After a 64-yard kick-off by Jahns with the ball landed on WU's 1-yard line, Dom Watt returned for six yards to WU's 7-yard line to start their next drive.  Jatoviay Hill kicked off the drive with a 62-yard rush to DSU's 32-yard line.

Waldorf led 14-7 by the end of the first quarter.

SECOND QUARTER
Waldorf had to settle for a 45-yard field goal by Parker, extending Waldorf's lead to 17-7 with 14:52 remaining in the second quarter.

Both teams traded punts on the next three possessions.  The Warriors started their drive on DSU's 41-yard line and used six plays for 41 yards in 2:57 for their next score.  Hill rushed for a 19-yard touchdown with 4:38 on the clock.  Parker added the PAT extra point kick to balloon WU's lead to 24-7.

Dakota State was unable to convert their scoring opportunity when the first half ended, despite 12 plays for 45 yards in 4:38 as Waldorf maintained a 24-7 halftime lead.

The Warriors outgained the Trojans 187-131 in the first thirty minutes of the game.  DSU produced 10 first downs to WU seven first downs in the first half.

THIRD QUARTER
Dakota State ignited the third quarter with 11 plays for 70 yards in 5:54 as they snapped their scoring drought.  Tray Hettick threw three passes to Lake that resulted in first downs (8-yard from DSU's 34-yard line to DSU's 42-yard line on third-and-six situation; 19-yard reception by Lake from WU's 46-yard line to WU's 27-yard line and 15-yard pass from Hettick to Lake from WU''s 27-line to WU's 12-yard line).

Iverson rushed for a 5-yard touchdown as DSU cut WU's lead to 24-13 with 9:06 on the clock in the third.  Jahns made the PAT extra point kick as the Trojans trailed 24-14.

The third quarter ended with a 17-yard rush by Hill from DSU's 27-yard line to DSU's 10-yard line, followed by Taye Buchanan's 2-yard run to DSU's 8-yard line.

Waldorf led 24-14.

FOURTH QUARTER
Dakota State's defense halted Waldorf from scoring as they turned the ball on downs on fourth-and-goal on DSU's 7-yard line.  The Trojans regained possession with 14:15 remaining on their own 8-yard line.

Waldorf widened their lead to 27-14 with 6:26 left as they settled for a 30-yard field goal.  The Warriors used eight plays for 59 yards in 4:28, highlighted by Coopers' 28-yard rush on the first play of the scoring drive.

WU added another score with nearly two minutes remaining in the game.  Buchanan rushed for a 31-yard touchdown to balloon their lead to 33-14.  Parker added the PAT extra-point kick to make it 34-14 Waldorf, securing the victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Dakota State's Hettick finished the game by going 14-of-30 for 146 yards.  He added 14 rushes for eight yards.  Lake caught five receptions for 64 yards.  He threw for 14 yards.  Hybertson added two catches for 19 yards.

Iverson ran 16 times for 70 yards with two touchdowns for the Trojans. 

Jeremiah 'JJ' Beck led DSU's defense with 12 tackles.  Collin Brueggeman added eight tackles.  Brandon Dannenbring and Devonte Murphy each added seven tackles.  Murphy tallied two tackles for loss of six yards.  Marcis Hausman recorded six tackles.  Jay Skogerboe and Robert Cage each registered a pass break-up. 

Cole Sylliaasen had five punts for 162 yards, averaging 32.4 yards per punt for Dakota State.  Jahns made two PAT extra-point kick and averaged 60.3 yards per kick-off.

Cooper was 10-of-17 for 66 yards for Waldorf.  He rushed seven times for 57 yards and a touchdown.  Hill ran 14 times for 155 yards and a touchdown.  Buchanan had 15 rushes for 84 yards and a touchdown.

Hill caught three passes for 31 yards for WU.  Malik Adams added two receptions for 21 yards.

Shannen Williams and Brok each led the Warriors' defense with seven tackles.  Brock had an interception return of 11 yards.  Thomas Edwards and Exzavier Warner each added six tackles.  Handal had a 'Pick Six' interception return for touchdown of 20 yards.  Keylan Jackson collected three tackles-for-loss of 15 yards, including two quarterback sacks of 14 yards loss.

TEAM COMPARISONS
Waldorf outgained Dakota State 362-241 in total offensive yards.  The Warriors rushed 296 yards in 38 plays (7.8 yards per carry) compared to the Trojans 81 rushing yards in 32 plays (2.5 yards per carry).

DSU threw for 160 yards compared to WU 66 passing yards.

Both teams recorded 17 first downs in the game.  Waldorf held a slim time possession advantage over Dakota State (WU - 30 minutes, 46 seconds and DSU – 29 minutes, 14 seconds).

DSU was 4-of-14 on third down situations compared to WU 4-of-11 third downs.