Football 10/5/2023 3:02:00 PM Nick Huntimer, Dakota State (S.D.) Sports Information Director

Trojans stay on road Saturday for NSAA football contest at No. 22 Dickinson State (N.D.)

North Star Athletic Association wraps up first-half portion of football schedule Saturday afternoon

October 5, 2023

Week 6 Preview
MADISON, S.D.—The Dakota State University (S.D.) Trojan football team (0-5 overall record, 0-3 North Star Athletic Association record) stays on the road for another North Star Athletic Association contest Saturday afternoon. The Trojans prepare for their longest trip this season as they visit NAIA's nationally-ranked and eight-time North Star's defending champion Dickinson State (N.D.) (4-1 overall record, 3-0 NSAA conference record, No. 23 ranked in the NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 national poll). The game is set for 2 p.m. (Central Time)/1 p.m. (Mountain Time) at Biesiot Activities Center (398 State Ave N) in Dickinson, N.D.

Dakota State returned to action on Sept. 30 after taking a bye week on Sept. 23. The Trojans kicked off their two-game NSAA road trip at Mayville State (N.D.), falling 13-0 to the Comets. MSU outgained DSU 193-182 in total offensive yards.

Dickinson State won their fourth straight game after rolling past Valley City State (N.D.) 34-10, thanks to their fast start with a 17-0 lead after the first quarter. The Blue Hawks return home Saturday for the first time since Sept. 2 when they defeated Mayville State (N.D.) 41-18, registering three straight road victories.

Dakota State and Dickinson State are meeting for their 25th meeting in the all-time series.

Next Up: Dakota State returns home as they open their second half portion of the North Star Athletic Association schedule, hosting Waldorf (Iowa) next Saturday (Oct. 14). Kick-off is set for 4 p.m. at Dan Beacom Track Complex.

Week 6 Quick Hits
+ Dakota State (S.D.) closes out their first half portion of the North Star Athletic Association football conference schedule on Saturday at No. 22 ranked Dickinson State (N.D.).
+ The Blue Hawks had won 10 straight meeting in the all-time series with the Trojans, including a 27-7 victory at the Trojan Field last season on Oct. 1, 2022.
+ Dakota State is seeking for their first win over Dickinson State since Oct. 17, 2015. The Trojans defeated the nationally-ranked Blue Hawks squad at the Trojan Field by the score of 54-21.
+ DSU and DiSU are scheduled to meet for the second North Star meeting in their regular-season finale on Saturday, Nov. 11 at the Dan Beacom Track Complex in Madison, S.D.
+ The second half portion of the North Star Athletic Association football schedule officially starts next Saturday, Oct. 14. The Trojans will be playing three of the four remaining conference contests at home and one road contest at Valley City State (N.D.) on Oct. 21.
+ The Dakota State University Trojan football developmental team fell short on the road at Morningside (Iowa) on Oct. 1. The Mustangs won by the score of 16-7. The Trojans wrap up their 2023 regular-season developmental schedule on Oct. 15 as they travel to Mount Marty (S.D.) in Yankton, S.D., with a 3 p.m. kick-off.
+ Saturday's game will be the second straight week that DSU played in the state of North Dakota.

The Series - 25th meeting - Dickinson State (N.D.) leads series 22-2
Last Meeting—Oct. 1, 2022, Trojan Field, Madison, S.D.—Dakota State (S.D.) and Dickinson State (N.D.) began their 2022 North Star Athletic Association schedule at the Trojan Field, where the game saw a combined seven turnovers by both teams. The Blue Hawks held on to a 27-7 victory in a defensive battle.

Dickinson State opened the first quarter with a 10-0 lead and ballooned their lead to 17-0 by halftime. The Blue Hawks then added another touchdown and PAT extra-point kick in the third quarter to extend their lead to 24-0. DiSU added a field goal in the fourth quarter to widen their lead to 27-0 before the Trojans scored with less than a minute remaining in the game.

Dickinson State outgained Dakota State 323-95 in total offensive yards. The Blue Hawks committed thee interceptions in the game. Gavin Holland rushed 10 times for 40 yards. Tyce Ortman added 21 rushing yards. Austin Lake had a reception. Jeremiah 'JJ' Beck led the Trojans' defense with a game-high 17 tackles. He had 2.5 tackles-for-loss of 11 yards and a quarterback sack. Mason Lloyd and Marcis Hausman each had an interception.

Dakota State and Dickinson State were former members of the Dakota Athletic Conference. The all-time series meeting began when the DAC conference was formed in 2000. The Blue Hawks hold the all-time series record of 22-2 over the Trojans, with both Dakota State's victories coming at the Trojan Field. After DAC conference folded, DiSU joined the North Star Athletic Association in 2014-15.

Comets shut down Trojans in defensive battle
Mayville, N.D. (Sept. 30, 2023)—Both Dakota State (S.D.) and Mayville State (N.D.) struggled offensively in the North Star Athletic Association football contest at Jerome Berg Field, recording less than 200 total offensive yards each. The Comets scored 10 points in the second quarter and held off the Trojans by the score of 13-0.

Mayville State opened the game with nine plays for 59 yards, but Dakota State's defense halted the Comets by turning the ball on downs on DSU's 21-yard line. The Trojans were unable to score on the goal line with 1:36 left in the first, turning the ball on downs. The game was tied at 0-0 after the first quarter.

The Comets struck first with a touchdown and PAT extra-point in the second quarter. MSU added a field goal near halftime, taking a 10-0 lead. Both teams struggled offensively in the third quarter with no score. The highlight in the third quarter saw Devonte Murphy forced a fumble and recovered the ball on DSU's 46-yard line with 6:18 on the clock. Mayville State extended their lead to 13-0 in the early fourth quarter with a field goal. DSU could not convert their scoring chances in the middle of the fourth quarter.

Tray Hettick was 10-of-23 for 72 yards for the Trojans. Joseph Cole added 49 passing yards. Austin Lake had a 30-yard pass and caught two passes for 51 yards. Gus Sanford rushed seven times for 26 yards. Michael Hybertson caught three passes for 61 yards.

Murphy led DSU's defense with 12 tackles, including five tackles-for-loss of 10 yards. He had a forced fumble and fumble recovery. Jeremiah 'JJ' Beck added 11 tackles. Caleb Dwyer had eight tackles, two tackles-for-loss of 13 yards and 1.5 quarterback sacks of 12 yards loss.

MSU produced ten first-downs in the game to DSU nine first downs.

Trojans-Blue Hawks series meeting overview
Madison, S.D. (Oct. 5, 2023)—Dakota State (S.D.) and Dickinson State (N.D.) were original members of the Dakota Athletic Conference-10 that was established in 2000. The conference later renamed to DAC Conference when University of Mary (N.D.) and Minot State (N.D.) left the conference, as well as the closure of the Huron campus.

Both DSU and DiSU played their final DAC conference contest on Sept. 18, 2010, the year when the conference folded. Dickinson State joined the Frontier Conference in the early 2010's and joined the North Star Athletic Association in 2014-15 (the NSAA conference was formed in 2013-14).

The Blue Hawks held off the Trojans 20-17 in overtime in their first North Star Athletic Association meeting on Nov. 8, 2014 in Dickinson, N.D. Dakota State is seeking for their first win over the Blue Hawks on their home field.

DSU recorded a pair of wins over DiSU on Sept. 15, 2007, and Oct. 17, 2015, at Trojan Field.

Dakota State in the North Star conference ranks
Madison, S.D. (Oct. 5, 2023)—According to the NAIA/PrestoStats as of Thursday, Austin Lake is fourth overall in the North Star Athletic Association with 59.6 receiving yards per game for Dakota State.

Jeremiah 'JJ' Beck is also fourth overall in the NSAA with 7.8 tackles per game for the Trojans. He is fourth overall in the conference with 8.3 tackles per game.    Caleb Dwyer is tied for fourth most overall quarterback sacks with 2.5 sacks.

Dakota State ranks third in the NSAA in defensive allowed per game with 23.2 points per game during the conference season. The Trojans are second in the conference with 305.0 yards allowed per game in conference play. DSU holds the second best rushing defense in the North Star conference with 86.3 yards rushing yards allowed in league play.

Dakota State ranks second overall in the NSAA in total rushing yards allowed per game with an average of 104.4 yards.

Save the Date-Rushin' for a Cure football game
Madison, S.D. (Oct. 5, 2023)—After Dakota State's (S.D.) road trip at Dickinson State (N.D.) on Oct. 7, the Trojans return home for the first time in nearly one month on Oct. 14 at the Dan Beacom Track Complex. Dakota State welcomes Waldorf (Iowa) to kick off the second half portion of the North Star Athletic Association schedule.

This game will be designated as the annual Rushin' for a Cure football game. Fans are encouraged to wear pink clothing to help raise cancer awareness during the month of October. Football players also wear pink athletic tape, pink towel, or pink socks.   Kick-off is set for 4 p.m.

Looking ahead to DSU's second half of NSAA conference
Madison, S.D. (Oct. 5, 2023)—After their road trip at Dickinson State (N.D.) Saturday (Oct. 7), Dakota State (S.D.) begins their second half portion of the North Star Athletic Association with four games remaining. Three of those games will be held at the Dan Beacom Track Complex.

The Trojans begin their second half of the North Star Athletic Association football schedule at home versus Waldorf (Iowa) on Oct. 14 with a kick-off at 4 p.m.

Dakota State plays their final road contest of the season at Valley City State (N.D.) on Oct 21 and then take their second North Star's bye week. The Trojans return home on Nov. 4 versus Mayville State with a 3 p.m. kick-off and close their regular-season schedule versus Dickinson State on Nov. 11 with a 12 p.m. kick-off.

Each North Star Athletic Association football members play each other twice during the conference season and have two bye weeks.

DSU football games on KJAM radio
Madison, S.D. (Aug. 25, 2023)—KJAM Radio will broadcast all 10 Dakota State (S.D.) football in 2023.

The Trojan football games can be heard live on Jammin' Country 103.1 FM. You can also go to the following link to list to the game on https://www.amazingmadison.com/dsu-sports/.

Drew Ivery is the 'Voice of the Trojans' this season. The audio link to the KJAM radio is also available on DSU athletics' website on dsuathletics.com.

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 - 298 yards (27 receptions - 59.6 yards per game)
Tackles: Jeremiah 'JJ' Beck - 39 tackles (13 solo, 26 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: Jay Skogerboe. Blake Duran - 1 interception (0 yards return/20 yards return)
Fumble recoveries: Devonte Murphy - 1 fumble recovery
Scoring: Aidan Jahns - 15 points (3 PAT extra-points, 4 field goals)
Punting: Cole Sylliaasen - 32.3 yards per punt (20 punts for 645 yards)
Scoring (kicking): Aidan Jahns - 15 points (3 PAT extra-points, 4 field goals)