November 11, 2023

MADISON, S.D. – The current nine-time North Star Athletic Association football defending champion and NAIA's nationally ranked No. 20 Dickinson State (N.D.) shut down Dakota State (S.D.) 52-0 Saturday afternoon in the football regular-season finale at the Dan Beacom Track Complex.  The Blue Hawks completed the NSAA season series sweep of the Trojans.

Dakota State closed out their 2023 football season with an overall record of 1-9 and 1-7 record in the league.  Dickinson State ballooned their winning streak to nine with an overall record of 9-1.  The Blue Hawks finished with a perfect 8-0 record in the North Star contests and will represent the North Star Athletic Association in the upcoming NAIA Football Championship Series (FCS) next Saturday.

FIRST QUARTER
Dakota State highlighted the opening drive with 14 plays for 54 yards in eight minutes and three seconds and was unable to score.  The Trojans converted three straight third down situations for first downs. 

Dickinson State halted DSU on fourth down situation on DiSU's 30-yard line with 6:57 on the clock.  The Blue Hawks moved the ball to DSU's 38-yard line with seven plays for 37 yards in 2:37 and turned the ball on downs as Dakota State regained possession with 4:20 to go in the first quarter.

Joey DeMarco intercepted Tray Hettick's pass on DiSU's 48-yard line and returned it for 17 yards to DSU's 35-yard line with 3:14 on the clock.

Dickinson State quickly scored on the next play with a 35-yard touchdown pass from Will Madler to Cameron Sheppard for 6-0 DiSU lead with 3:05 to go in the first quarter.  Chase Miller hit a successful PAT extra point kick for a 7-0 lead.

Dakota State produced two first downs to close the first quarter, ending with a 5-yard pass from Hettick to Nathan Cook on a third down that resulted in a first down on DSU's 45-yard line.

SECOND QUARTER
Dakota State was unable to convert a first down to kick off the second quarter, forcing the Trojans to punt.  Cole Sylliaasen recorded a 47-yard punt to DiSU's 10-yard line as Jayden Heartwell returned the punt for 43 yards to DSU's 47-yard line with 13:20 on the clock.

The Blue Hawks used four plays for 47 yards in 2:10 on the ensuing possession, highlighted by Madler's 32-yard pass to Sheppard.  Braden Zuroff followed up with an 8-yard rush for a touchdown, extending their lead to 13-0 with 11:10 remaining in the second quarter.  Miller added the PAT extra-point kick to make it 14-0 in favor of the Blue Hawks.

Dakota State was forced to punt on the next drive as Sylliaasen hit a game-long 63 yards punt from DSU's 22-yard line to DiSU's 15-yard line with 9:18 to go in the second.

DiSU paved the way with another scoring drive with six plays for 85 yards in 2:50 as Madler threw a 29-yard pass to Noah Sickler with 6:28 left before halftime.  Miller added the PAT extra point kick as their lead grew to 21-0.

Dakota State failed to convert a fourth down play on the next possession as Dickinson State returned possession with 4:24 on the clock.  The Blue Hawks opened the next drive with a 40-yard pass from Madler to Noah Sickler to DSU's 2-yard line.  Zuroff followed up with 2-yard rushing touchdown, while Miller added the PAT extra point kick to make it 28-0 Dickinson State with 3:34 to go before halftime.

The Trojans committed a turnover on the ensuing possession on their own 30-yard line, paving the way for another scoring drive for Dickinson State.  Zuroff rushed for a 9-yard touchdown while Miller made the PAT extra point kick for 35-0 DiSU lead with 1:38 left in the second.

Dickinson State outscored Dakota State 28-0 in the second quarter.

THIRD QUARTER
Dickinson State widened their lead to 42-0 to kick off the third quarter with a 9-yard rushing touchdown by Bridger Grovom and Miller's PAT extra point kick.

After Sylliaasen 48-yard punt on the ensuing possession, the Blue Hawks committed a turnover, as Heartwell fumbled the ball (forced by DSU's Tristen Perry) and was recovered by Gabriel Chambliss on DiSU's 8-yard line.

Dakota State committed a turnover in the end zone as Tel Lunde caught an interception with 10:28 to go in the third quarter.

Dickinson State led 42-0 by the end of the third quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER
Darion Brown rushed for a 41-yard touchdown with 13:32 remaining to balloon DiSU's lead to 48-0.  Miller's PAT extra point kick made it 49-0 Blue Hawks.

Miller hit a 19-yard field goal for 52-0 Dickinson State lead with 5:36 to go in the game.

Gavin Holland rushed for five straight plays for the Trojans on the ensuing drive, highlighting a 42-yard rush from DSU's 18-yard line to DiSU's 39-yard line.  The Trojans were unable to convert their scoring opportunity as they turned the ball on downs with less than a minute to go.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Hettick was 14-of-30 for 85 passing yards for Dakota State.  Michael Hybertson had three catches for 32 yards.  Roger Moore had four receptions for 18 yards.  Owen Heath caught a 14-yard pass. 

Holland rushed six times for 66 yards for the Trojans.  Sylliaasen recorded seven punts for 297 total yards and averaged 42.4 yards per punt.  Three of his punts landed inside the opponent's 20-yard line.

Jeremiah 'JJ' Beck led DSU's defense with eight tackles.  Michael Foster added seven tackles.  Taron Serr had five tackles.  Blake Duran registered two pass break-ups. 

Madler was 13-of-16 for 241 yards and two touchdowns for Dickinson State.  Grovom and Carson Hunter each had 27 yards passing.  Sheppard caught five passes for 103 yards and a touchdown.  Sickler had four receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown.

Brown rushed seven times for 60 yards with a touchdown for DiSU.  Zuroff had nine rushes for 59 yards with three touchdowns. 

DeMarco led the Blue Hawks' defense with six tackles and an interception return of 17 yards.  Nelson Crisaful and Dylan Dahlgren each added six tackles.  Dahlgren, Jasper LaDue, and Krew Mathern each recorded a quarterback sack.

Miller was perfect 7-of-7 on PAT extra point kicks, along with his 19-yard field goal for Dickinson State.

TEAM COMPARISONS
Dickinson State racked up 463 total offensive yards compared to Dakota State 175 total offensive yards.  The Blue Hawks threw for 295 yards to the Trojans 85 yards.  DiSU rushed 168 yards.  DaSU had 90 rushing yards.

The Blue Hawks produced 25 first downs compared to the Trojans eight first downs.  Dakota State was 6-of-18 on third down situations, while Dickinson State was 2-of-7 third downs conversions.

DSU maintained the ball control for 31 minutes, 40 seconds.  DiSU registered a time possession of 28 minutes, 20 seconds.