November 10, 2023
Week 10 Preview
MADISON, S.D.—The Dakota State University (S.D.) Trojan football team (1-8 overall record, 1-6 North Star Athletic Association record) wraps up their 2023 season Saturday afternoon as they host the nine-time defending conference champion Dickinson State (N.D.) (8-1 overall record, 7-0 NSAA conference record, No. 20 ranking in the latest football national poll). Kick-off is set for 12 p.m. at the Dan Beacom Track Complex.
Dakota State snapped their losing streak with their first victory of the season on Nov. 4, edging Mayville State (N.D.) by the score of 19-14. The Trojans shut down the Comets in the second half to secure the victory, their first victory held at the Dan Beacom Track Complex. It was the fourth straight home victory for Dakota State over Mayville State.
Dickinson State collected their ninth straight league title with a 48-13 home victory over Valley City State (N.D.) in the title clinching game on Nov. 4. The Blue Hawks extended their winning streak to eight games and secured an automatic bid to the NAIA Football Championship Series, which is set to kick off the opening round on Nov. 18. DiSU fell two spot in the latest NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 national poll, despite an undefeated home field record after their victory over VCSU.
Dickinson State defeated Dakota State 40-14 in the first North Star Athletic Association meeting earlier this season in Dickinson, N.D.
Next Up: Stay tuned to the DSU Athletics website on dsuathletics.com for the upcoming 2024 schedule.
Week 10 Quick Hits
+ Saturday's game will be the 26th all-time meeting in the series between Dakota State (S.D.) and Dickinson State (N.D.).
+ The Trojans earned their first win this season for the first time since Nov. 12, 2022, when DaSU defeated Waldorf (Iowa) on the former Trojan Field.
+ Dakota State is seeking for their first win over Dickinson State since Oct. 17, 2015, where the Trojans won in a high scoring with 54 points (defeated the Blue Hawks 54-21).
+ This is the second straight year that the Trojans close out their regular season schedule at home (2022—versus Waldorf).
+ The Trojans are 1-3 record at home this season at the Dan Beacom Track Complex. Dickinson State is 4-1 record on the road this season, despite a 20-19 heartbreaker at Rocky Mountain (Mont.) in the season opener on Aug. 26.
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Jeremiah 'JJ' Beck leads the Trojans in defense with 63 tackles (22 solo, 41 assists).
Devonte Murphy leads the team with 10 tackles-for-loss of 28 yards loss.
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Tray Hettick produced a season-high 296 passing yards in DSU's 19-14 victory over Mayville State (N.D.). Dakota State also had a season-high three interceptions in the game by three different players (
Robert Cage,
Jay Skogerboe, and
Michael Foster).
+ Dakota State posted a season-high 424 total offensive yards in their last game on Nov. 4
+ DSU is playing their third home game on their second half portion of the NSAA football schedule.
The Series (26th meeting - DiSU leads series 23-2)
Last Meeting—Oct. 7, 2023, Biesiot Activites Center, Dickinson, N.D.—No. 22 ranked Dickinson State (N.D.) stayed undefeated in the North Star Athletic Association play after defeating Dakota State (S.D.) by the score of 40-14 at Biesiot Activities Center. The Blue Hawks opened the game with 21 straight points and never trailed in the 60 minutes football game.
Dakota State snapped their scoring drought in the second quarter with a 10-yard touchdown pass from
Tray Hettick to
Roger Moore. The Blue Hawks then extended their lead to 27-7 by halftime. Dickinson State widen their lead to 40-7 in the third quarter, while
Michael Hybertson caught a 21-yard pass from Hettick late in the third quarter. Both teams did not score in the final quarter.
Hettick finished the game by completing 21 passes in 34 attempts for 223 total passing yards for Dakota State.
Preston Iverson rushed for 24 yards and caught three passes for 39 yards.
Michael Hybertson caught seven passes for 124 yards with a touchdown.
Austin Lake had five receptions for 26 yards.
Jeremiah 'JJ' Beck led the Trojans defense with eight tackles and 2.5 tackles-for-loss of seven yards. He had a quarterback sack.
Blake Duran caught 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 had won the last 11 meetings with the Trojans. DiSU joined the North Star Athletic Association in 2014-15.
DSU wins first football game at Dan Beacom Track Complex
Madison, S.D. (Nov. 4, 2023)—Dakota State (S.D.) used a 19-7 scoring run in the second and third quarters, shutting down Mayville State (N.D.) in the second half to secure their first win of the season at the Dan Beacom Track Complex. The Trojans won by the score fo 19-14, defeating the Comets for their fourth straight home victory.
Dakota State was forced to punt on the first possession, while Mayville State started their first possession with 10 plays for 82 yards with a touchdown (MSU led 7-0). DSU scored a touchdown in the second quarter, despite a fumble on MSU's five yard line after a 70-plus reception by
Roger Moore and was recovered by
Austin Lake as the Trojans trailed 7-6 with 6:29 on the clock. MSU scored on the next possession to extend their lead to 14-6, while the Trojans closed the first half with 16 plays for 69 yards.
Tray Hettick threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to
Michael Hybertson as DSU trailed 14-12.
Dakota State produced their third consecutive scoring drive in the third quarter. Hettick connected to Hybertson for a 27-yard touchdown, followed by
Aidan Jahns' PAT extra-point kick as the Trojans earned a 19-14 lead with 9:55 on the clock. Both teams did not score in the final quarter.
Hettick finished the game by going 21-of-37 for 296 passing yards with two touchdowns for DSU. Moore had two receptions for 87 yards. Lake had six catches for 81 yards. Hybertson had two touchdowns.
Tyce Ortman ran eight times for 41 yards.
Taron Serr led the defense with eight tackles.
Caleb Dwyer tallied a quarterback sack.
Dakota State had a time possession of 31 minutes, 39 seconds. The Comets maintained possession for 28 minutes, 21 seconds.
A look back to Trojans' last victory over Dickinson State
Madison, S.D. (Nov. 10, 2023)—Dakota State (S.D.) is seeking for their first win over Dickinson State (N.D.) since Oct. 17, 2015, at the former Trojan Field. The Trojans took advantage of Dickinson State's three interceptions, two fumbles, and two blocked kicks for a 54-21 rout over the Blue Hawks.
Dickinson State was ranked No. 24 prior to entering the game versus the Trojans that day. It was the second victory in the all-time series with the Blue Hawks, with the first victory coming on Sept. 15, 2007, also at the Trojan Field.
Dakota State grabbed a 33-14 halftime lead over Dickinson State in the game. The Trojans led 33-7 with 5:26 left in the second quarter and never trailed in the game.
The Trojans outgained the Blue Hawks 452-331 in the game. Dakota State produced 26 first downs and held Dickinson State to 15 first downs.
Dakota State in the North Star conference ranks
Madison, S.D. (Nov. 10, 2023)—According to the NAIA/PrestoStats as of Friday,
Jeremiah 'JJ' Beck of Dakota State (S.D.) is fifth for tackles per game overall in the North Star conference. He averages 7.0 tackles per game prior to the game on Saturday.
Austin Lake is fourth in the league with 54.6 receiving yards per game for the Trojans.
Michael Hybertson also averages 50.1 receiving yards per game, which is sixth best in the North Star conference.
Tray Hettick is fourth in the league with 989 passing yards during conference season.
Cole Sylliaasen is second in the NSAA in putting average, averaging 33.4 yards per punt. He recorded 33 punts for 1,101 yards this season for Dakota State.
The Trojans are second in the league with 195.4 passing yards per game during the North Star Athletic Association season. DSU leads the North Star with 121 completions in seven North Star contests.
2023 DSU Football Team Leaders
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