Photos credit by Nathan Meyer

August 26, 2023

MITCHELL, S.D. – Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) raced to a 21-0 lead over Dakota State (S.D.) in the annual football kick-off Chamber of Commerce Traveling Cup Saturday evening at Joe Quintal Field.  The Tigers withdrew the Trojans' late comeback, holding on to a 23-13 victory in season opener for both teams.

DWU ended DSU's six-game winning streak in the series meeting (last DSU setback to Dakota Wesleyan was on Aug. 29, 2015, at Trojan Field in Madison).  The Tigers improved to 40-36-1 all-time series record after the 77^th meeting with the Trojans.

Dakota State plays its home opener Thursday evening as they welcome NCAA Division III Wisconsin-La Crosse.  This game will be part of the 8^th annual Ag Bowl Game at the newly field, The Dan Beacom Track Complex.  The tailgate supper begins at 5 p.m., followed by the naming ceremony at 6:45 p.m., and kick-off at 7:05 p.m.

FIRST QUARTER
Dakota Wesleyan stormed to an opening 14 plays for 65 yards in seven minutes and fifteen seconds for the first score of the game.  The highlight of the opening drive saw the Tigers converting all four third-down conversions as Jamin Arend rushed for a 1-yard touchdown.

DWU made it 7-0 after a successful PAT extra-point kick by Jaxon Patrick with 7:39 to go in the first quarter.

Dakota State was unable to convert their opening drive, recording a three-yard loss as Dakota Wesleyan regained possession with 5:35 to go in the quarter.

The Tigers struck with a 72-yard touchdown pass from Austin Lee to Cole Holden with 5:19 left in the first.  Patrick followed up with a successful PAT extra-point kick to balloon DWU's lead to 14-0.

Dakota State was held to minus 4 yards in total offense in the first quarter.  DWU ended the first quarter with their ball on DSU's 37-yard line.

SECOND QUARTER
Three plays into the second quarter, Dakota Wesleyan widened their lead to 20-0 as Lee connected to Kiel Nelson for a 22-yard touchdown with 14:08 on the clock.  Patrick hit the PAT extra-point kick to make it 21-0 in favor of the Tigers.

Dakota State snapped their scoring drought on the ensuing drive.  Facing a third-and-six situation on DWU's 31-yard line, Adin Jungers threw for 29 yards to Michael Hybertson to DWU's two-yard line.  DSU followed up with a 2-yard touchdown run from Tyce Ortman, trimming DWU's lead to 21-6.

Aidan Jahns' PAT extra-point kick was successful as the Trojans trailed 21-7 with 10:09 remaining before halftime.

Both teams committed turnovers on the next three drives in the second quarter.  The Trojans halted the Tigers' fourth down conversion on DWU's 30-yard line as the Trojans regained possession with less than eight minutes to go.

Dakota State committed a fumble and was returned by DWU's Grayson Hanson to DSU's 23-yard line with 7:02 on the clock.

DSU's Jay Skogerboe intercepted Lee's pass in the end zone as the Tigers opened their drive with a turnover, regaining possession with 6:54 left.

Dakota State was forced to punt on the next drive.  The Trojans were unable to convert a punt opportunity as it resulted in a safety, extending Dakota Wesleyan's lead to 23-6 with 4:46 left before halftime.

DSU was unable to convert their scoring opportunity at the end of the second quarter e as they committed a turnover on DWU's 2-yard line.

THIRD QUARTER
Dakota State marched down the field to kick off third quarter for a scoring drive.  The Trojans used 11 plays for 73 yards in 7:02 to trim DWU's lead down to ten points.

Jungers highlighted an 11-yard pass to Cole Sylliaasen to convert a third-and-12 situation to DSU's 36-yard line and converted a fourth-and-1 situation as Jungers connected to Sylliaasen for 17 yards to DWU's 47-yard line.

DSU converted another fourth-and-1 situation on DWU's 38-yard line as Jungers rushed for 1-yard to DWU's 37-yard line.  Facing third-and-5 situation, Austin Lake threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Nathan Cook with 7:51 to go in the third.

Dakota State was unable to convert their 2-point PAT attempt as Jungers' pass was incomplete to Sylliaasen.

DSU forced DWU to punt on the ensuing possession.  The Trojans were unable convert a 43-yard field goal with 2:12 remaining in the third quarter.

The Tigers ended the third quarter with a punt as DSU maintained possession to start the fourth quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER
Dakota State used another fast quarter start as they registered 12 plays for 67 yards in 6:41. However, the Trojans committed a turnover as Adam DeJong intercepted DSU's Jungers' pass in the end zone and returned it for 10 yards to DWU's 10-yard line with 5:15 left.

Dakota Wesleyan went on to record nine plays for 53 yards in 4:06 and was unable to score.  The Trojans regained possession with 1:09 remaining in the game.

DSU was unable to score on the next drive as they turned the ball on downs with four seconds to go on DWU's 23-yard line.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Dakota State's Jungers completed 21 passes in 38 attempts for 236 yards.  He also rushed 13 times for 43 yards.  Lake and Zach Brooks also completed a pass.  Lake had a 32-yard touchdown reception and caught six passes for 57 yards.

Ortman ran seven times for 31 yards for DSU.  Sylliaasen caught nine passes for 91 yards and recorded a game-long 58-yard punt.  Hybertson had two receptions for 56 yards.  Cook had a 32-yard touchdown reception. 

Skogerboe registered an interception and tallied seven tackles for DSU.  Chris Guipi-Bopala led the defense with nine tackles.  Tamareon Foster, Jeremiah 'JJ' Beck, and Devonte Murphy each added seven tackles.

Lee was 14-of-23 for 243 yards with two touchdowns and an interception for Dakota Wesleyan.  Arend rushed 26 times for 73 yards with a touchdown and caught two passes for 47 yards.  Holden caught three passes for 86 yards and a touchdown. 

DeJong and Joseph VanOverSchelde each registered an interception for the Tigers.  Victor Kniesche led the defense with eight tackles and a quarterback sack.  Landon Ruesink added eight tackles.  Kale Stevenson, Jaden Walton, and Ethan Engen each had seven tackles.

TEAM COMPARISONS
Dakota State outgained Dakota Wesleyan 344-319 in total offensive yards.  DSU passed 270 yards to DWU 243 yards.  The Tigers outrushed the Trojans by two yards, 76-74.

The Trojans produced 19 first downs to Tigers 15 first downs.  DWU converted 7-of-13 on third-down situations (54 percent), while DSU was 3-of-13 on third downs.  The Trojans were 4-of-5 on fourth-down conversions.

Dakota State recorded 30 minutes, 26 seconds in time possession.  Dakota Wesleyan had the ball for 29 minutes, 34 seconds.