October 21, 2023

VALLEY CITY, N.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) made a late comeback in the fourth quarter in the final North Star Athletic Association road football contest with Valley City State (N.D.) at Shelly Ellig Field at Lokken Stadium Saturday afternoon.  The Vikings held off their comeback as they maintained the final possession for a 21-14 victory over the Trojans.

Dakota State fell to 0-8 and 0-6 record in North Star Athletic Association contests.  Valley City State, who was coming from a bye week last weekend, raised their overall record to 5-2 and 4-1 NSAA conference record.  VCSU completed the season series sweep, with both meetings this season decided by one possession (VCSU defeated DSU 14-6 in September in Madison, S.D.).

Dakota State takes a bye week next week and returns home for their final two home games at Dan Beacom Track Complex.  The Trojans host Mayville State (N.D.) on Saturday, Nov. 3, with a kick-off at 3 p.m.

FIRST QUARTER
The Vikings kicked off the game with nine plays for 46 yards in 4:12 for the first score of the game.  VCSU highlighted a fourth-and-six situation on DSU's 32-yard line as Noah Chambers threw a 27-yard pass to Justice Bice for a first down on DSU's 5-yard line.

Chambers rushed for a 1-yard touchdown with 10:46 left on the clock for VCSU's 6-0 lead.  Andrew Nielsen made a successful PAT extra point kick to extend the Vikings' lead to 7-0.

Dakota State was forced to punt on their first possession of the game.  Valley City State answered with another touchdown on the ensuing possession, thanks to a pair of fourth down plays that resulted in first downs.

With a fourth-and-two situation on DSU's 41-yard line, Bice rushed for three yards for a first down.  Another VCSU's fourth down situation on DSU's 30-yard line, Chambers rushed for 23 yards for a first down on DSU's 7-yard line.

Avery Thorsgard connected to Trent Finney for a 7-yard touchdown, ballooning VCSU's lead to 13-0 with 2:07 left in the first quarter.  Nielsen added the PAT extra point kick to make it 14-0 in favor of the Vikings.

Dakota State registered 61 total offensive yards in the first quarter, trailing 14-0 to the Vikings.

SECOND QUARTER
Dakota State was on Valley City State's side of the field from the end of the first quarter through the early second quarter.  The Trojans were unable to convert their scoring opportunity as VCSU's Micah Olson intercepted DSU's pass on VCSU's 17-yard line and returned it for three yards with 13:52 on the clock in the second quarter.

Both teams were unable to score in the second quarter, where a combined four punts were recorded.

DSU was unable to score near the end of the second quarter, despite using 12 plays for 58 yards in 3:25.  Aidan Jahns' 42-yard field goal attempt was no good as Valley City State held on to a 14-0 lead at halftime.

THIRD QUARTER
Dakota State got on the scoreboard to start the third quarter, using six plays for 71 yards in 3:03.  The Trojans converted a third down situation as Tray Hettick threw a 15-yard pass to Michael Hybertson from DSU's 32-yard line to DSU's 47-yard line.

DSU made another third down conversion as Hettick connected to Hybertson for a 48-yard touchdown with 11:55 left in the third quarter.  Jahns added the PAT extra point kick as the Trojans trailed 14-7.

After VCSU and DSU traded punts on their next possession, the Vikings added another score late in the third quarter highlighted with a 28-yard rushing touchdown by Bice with 3:46 remaining.  Nielsen made the PAT extra-point kick as Valley City State extended their lead to 21-7.

Dakota State moved the ball from their own 29-yard line to VCSU's 28-yard line by the end of the third quarter, trailing 21-7.

FOURTH QUARTER
Dakota State continued to move the ball to VCSU's goal line.  The Trojans were unable to convert their scoring opportunity as they turned the ball on downs on VCSU's 10-yard line with 12:24 left.

Valley City State was forced to punt on the next drive, setting up the scoring drive for Dakota State.  The Trojans kicked off the drive with a 31-yard reception by Jabe Kieso (from Hettick) from DSU's 47-yard line to VCSU's 22-yard line.

Preston Iverson rushed for nine yards to convert a third down play on VCSU's 17-yard line (third down and five), resulting in a first and goal on VCSU's 8-yard line.  Iverson followed up with an 8-yard touchdown rush with 8:37 remaining.  Jahns made the PAT extra-point kick as the Trojans cut the Vikings' lead to 21-14.

Valley City State used the final 8:37 of the game to secure the victory, using 15 plays for 42 yards.  The Vikings recorded four first downs in the final possession of the game. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Hettick completed 18 passes in 31 attempts for 252 yards with a touchdown for Dakota State.  Hybertson caught four passes for 103 yards and a touchdown.  Roger Moore added four catches for 52 yards.  Kieso had a 31-yard reception.  Austin Lake recorded two receptions for 25 yards.  Nathan Cook had three catches for 24 yards.

Iverson ran 12 times for 58 yards with a touchdown for DSU.  He also caught three passes for 11 yards.  Gavin Holland had four rushes for 37 yards.

Brandon Dannenbring led the Trojans' defense with 10 tackles.  Collin Brueggeman added nine tackles and a quarterback sack of nine yards loss.  Blake Duran had eight tackles.  Mason Lloyd and Taron Serr each recorded six tackles.  Gabe Chambliss had a quarterback sack of seven yards loss.

Cole Sylliaasen had three punts for 105 yards for Dakota State.  One of his punts landed inside VCSU's 20-yard line.

VCSU's Chambers was 14-of-24 for 142 yards.  Thorsgard had a seven-yard touchdown pass.  Bice rushed 22 times for 132 yards with a touchdown for the Vikings.  He also had four receptions for 43 yards.

Riley Gerhardt led the Vikings' defense with 12 tackles and 1.5 quarterback sacks of 12.5 yards loss.  He forced two fumbles.  Jahidi West added seven tackles.  Olson had five tackles and an interception. 

Masila Siua recorded five punts for 205 yards, with two of his punts landing inside DSU's 20-yard line.

TEAM COMPARISONS
Dakota State posted 347 offensive yards compared to Valley City State 292 total offensive yards.  The Trojans averaged 6.3 yards per offensive play, while the Vikings averaged 4.7 yards per offensive play.

VCSU rushed 37 times for 143 yards to DSU 24 rushing plays for 95 yards.  The Trojans threw 252 yards in the air, while the Vikings recorded 149 passing yards.

Dakota State produced 17 first downs to Valley City State 15 first downs.  The Trojans converted 7-of-12 on third downs.  The Vikings made 5-of-15 third down plays.  VCSU made all four fourth-down conversions in the game. 

Valley City State held the ball for nearly 35 minutes, while Dakota State maintained possession for 25-plus minutes.