November 4, 2023

Photos credits by Cody Welu and Mike Black

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) shut down Mayville State (N.D.) in the second half, earning their first North Star Athletic Association football victory by the score of 19-14 at Dan Beacom Track Complex Saturday afternoon.  The Trojans ended their eight-game losing streak and earned their fourth straight home victory over the Comets in Madison.

Dakota State is 1-8 overall record and 1-6 record in the North Star contests.  Mayville State fell to 2-8 and closed their North Star conference schedule with a 2-6 record.  The Comets conclude their regular season schedule next Saturday at home versus NCAA Division III Martin Luther (Minn.).

The Trojans stay home next Saturday as they wrap up their 2023 schedule against the NSAA regular season champion and nationally ranked No. 18 Dickinson State (N.D.) (defeated Valley City State, N.D. Saturday to secure the conference title outright).  Kick-off from the Dan Beacom Track Complex is set for 12 p.m.

FIRST QUARTER
Dakota State was forced to punt on the opening possession of the game.  Mayville State marched down the field from their own 18-yard and used 10 plays for 82 yards in five minutes, fifty-five seconds for the first score of the game.

Tim Salmon highlighted MSU's opening drive with a 37-yard rush from DSU's 41-yard line to DSU's 4-yard line on a third down situation.  Two plays later, he connected to Mason Ollman for a 6-yard touchdown pass with 6:48 on the clock.  Braeden Lacombe added the PAT extra point kick to put the Comets up 7-0.

Mayville State outgained Dakota State 113-15 in total offensive yards in the first 15 minutes of the game.

SECOND QUARTER
Robert Cage intercepted MSU's Salmon pass on DSU's 11-yard line as the Trojans regained possession with 8:07 to go in the second quarter.

Dakota State paved the way for their first score of the game on the ensuing possession.  Tray Hettick threw a 72-yard pass to Roger Moore before Moore fumbled the ball on MSU's five-yard line.  Austin Lake received the ball in the end zone, giving DSU a touchdown with 6:29 on the clock.

The PAT extra point was no good as Dakota State trailed 7-6.

Mayville State answered on the next possession in three plays for the next score.  Salmon threw a 76-yard touchdown pass to Ethan Schnerch to balloon their lead to 13-6 with 4:43 remaining.  Lacombe hit a successful PAT extra point kick to extend MSU's lead to 14-6.

DSU used 16 plays for 69 yards on the next possession, securing their second straight scoring drive.  The Trojans were able to convert two straight third down conversions for first downs.  Facing fourth-and-seven situation on MSU's 21-yard line with 44 seconds on the clock, the Comets committed a penalty that resulted in first down for the Trojans on MSU's 7-yard line.

DSU's Hettick connected to Michael Hybertson for a 7-yard touchdown with 27 seconds to go before halftime, trimming MSU's lead to 14-12.  The Trojans were unable to convert their 2-point try to tie the game.

THIRD QUARTER
Dakota State's defense forced Mayville State to punt on the first drive of the third quarter after recording three plays for six yards in nearly two minutes.

The Trojans produced their third consecutive scoring drive on the next possession, highlighted by a 31-yard pass from Hettick to Lake (from DSU's 34-yard line to MSU's 33-yard line). 

Hettick connected to Hybertson for a 27-yard touchdown pass with 9:55 on the clock in the third quarter.  Aidan Jahns added the PAT extra point kick to earn the first lead of the game at 19-14.

Both teams traded punts on the next two possessions.  The quarter ended with the Comets' ball on DSU's 29-yard line, as the Trojans maintained a 19-14 lead.

FOURTH QUARTER
Mayville State failed to convert their third- and fourth-downs situations as the Trojans regained possession with 14:46 remaining.

After Dakota State was forced to punt on the next drive, Michael Foster intercepted Mayville State Salmon's pass on DSU's 26-yard line.  The Trojans maintained possession with 11:45 to go in the game on DSU's 22-yard line.

The Trojans earned their third interception of the game as Jay Skogerboe caught Salmon's pass on DSU's 33-yard line with 6:41 left.

Dakota State used up their time with nine plays for 46 yards in 4:27. DSU was unable to extend their lead as Jahns' 38-yard field goal was missed with 2:14.

Mayville State had no timeouts remaining for the final possession of the game.  The Comets were able to convert a fourth down play to extend their drive with less than a minute to go.

Comet Salmon attempted a 'Hail Mary' pass at the end of the game, as Kaden Eng broke up the pass to secure the victory for Dakota State.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
DSU's Hettick finished the game by going 21-of-37 for 296 yards with two touchdowns.  Moore had two receptions for 87 yards.  Lake added six catches for 81 yards.  Preston Iverson recorded five receptions for 66 yards.  Hybertson had three receptions for 39 yards with two touchdowns.

Tyce Ortman ran eight times for 41 yards for Dakota State.  Iverson added five rushes for 14 yards.

Taron Serr led the Trojans' defense with eight tackles.  Collin Brueggeman added seven tackles.  Cage tallied six tackles, two pass break-ups and an interception.  Marcis Hausman and Caleb Dwyer each had six tackles.  Dwyer had a quarterback sack of five yards loss.  Skogerboe and Foster each registered an interception.  Eng tallied three pass break-ups.

Salmon was 10-of-27 for 196 passing yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions for the Comets.  He also rushed 10 times for 50 yards.  Ollman had 11 rushes for 44 yards.

Schnerch had a 76-yard touchdown reception for Mayville State.  Javeion Davison added two catches for 60 yards. 

Devon Woods led MSU's defense with seven tackles, two tackles-for-loss of 12 yards, and a quarterback sack of 10 yards loss.  Richard Shelton and Marcellus Moore each had five tackles. 

TEAM COMPARISONS
Dakota State outgained Mayville State 340-325 in total offensive yards.  The Trojans threw 296 passing yards compared to the Comets 196 passing yards. 

DSU collected 17 first downs compared to MSU 12 first downs.  Mayville State was 5-of-13 on third downs, while Dakota State was 4-of-14 third downs.

The Trojans had a time possession of 31 minutes, 39 seconds.  The Comets maintained possession for 28 minutes, 21 seconds.