August 30, 2023
Week 2 Preview
MADISON, S.D.—The Dakota State University (S.D.) Trojan football team (0-1 overall record) concludes their non-conference schedule Thursday evening as they host NCAA Division III Wisconsin-La Crosse (9-2 overall record and No. 12 in the final NCAA Division III national poll in 2022). The 8th annual Ag Bowl festivities begin with the tailgate supper at 5:15 p.m. (gates open at 4:45 p.m.), followed by the naming ceremony of The Dan Beacom Track Complex at 6:45 p.m., and a kick-off at 7:05 p.m.
Dakota State fell short in the 2023 season opener at rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.), despite falling 21-0 to start the game. The Trojans rallied back to trim the Tigers' lead to 10 points and could not complete their comeback as they fell short by the score of 23-13 at Joe Quintal Field in Mitchell, S.D., on Aug. 26.
Thursday's game will be Wisconsin-La Crosse's season opener. The Eagles are coming off from a 9-2 overall record and 6-1 record in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletics Conference and shared the regular-season title (34th overall title in school history). UWL earned one of the five at-large bids to the NCAA Division III Championships and fell on the road to Wartburg (Iowa) by the score of 14-6.
DSU and UWL will be meeting for the third time in all-time series meeting on Thursday evening.
Next Up: Dakota State opens their eight-game North Star Athletic Association football schedule on Saturday, Sept. 9 as they visit Waldorf (Iowa). The game is set for 4 p.m. at Bolstorff Field in Forest City, Iowa.
Week 2 Quick Hits
+ Dakota State (S.D.) will play five home football games this season on the newly The Dan Beacom Track Complex in 2023.
+ The Trojans are 0-1 record this season on their non-conference schedule. Thursday's game will be the final non-conference contest before opening their North Star Athletic Association action.
+ Wisconsin-La Crosse is picked to finish second in the NCAA Division III's conference, the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) behind Wisconsin-Whitewater.
+ The Eagles finished 12th in the final 2022 D3football.com Poll and 11th in the American Football Coaches' Association.
+ Wisconsin-La Crosse won the first all-time meeting with Dakota State on the old Trojan Field on Sept. 4, 2021. Thursday's game will be the first game to be played on The Dan Beacom Field.
+ Dakota State's developmental football team's scheduled season opener on Sunday at Mount Marty (S.D.) has been postponed due to heat (forecast of 100 degrees). The Trojans await their season opener until Monday, Sept. 11 versus Dordt (Iowa) with a kick-off at 6 p.m., starting their three-game home stand at The Dan Beacom Field (vs. Dakota Wesleyan, S.D. on Sept. 17, and Minnesota State Community & Tech. on Sept. 24).
+ The Trojans are seeking for their first win over NCAA Division III team at home since Sept. 21, 2019, defeating UWL's conference foe Wisconsin-Stevens Point 38-21 in the Trojan Days homecoming football game.
+ DSU faces an opponent from NCAA Division III for the fifth time in the last six years (2020—COVID year).
The Series (3rd meeting - Wisconsin-La Crosse leads series 2-0)
Last Meeting—Sept. 3, 2022, Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex, La Crosse, Wis.—After being scoreless in the first fifteen minutes of the game, Wisconsin-La Crosse exploded for 35 points in the second quarter and paved to a 42-7 victory over Dakota State (S.D.).
The Trojans started the second half with 10 plays for 35 yards in nearly five minutes. DSU was unable to score after being turned by downs on UWL's 30-yard line with 10:08 on the clock in the third quarter. The Eagles ballooned their lead to 42-0 with 21 seconds remaining in the third. Dakota State snapped their scoring drought with a touchdown in the fourth quarter, registering 13 plays for 88 yards. DSU outgained UWL 89-38 in the final 15 minutes of the game.
Tyce Ortman finished the game by rushing 13 times for 58 yards and a touchdown for Dakota State.
Austin Lake had three catches for 16 yards.
Blake Duran caught an interception.
Jeremiah 'JJ' Beck led the Trojans' defense with 15 tackles.
Jay Skogerboe added seven tackles and a fumble recovery.
Tamareon Foster tallied seven tackles.
Mason Lloyd and
Collin Brueggeman each had five tackles.
Wisconsin-La Crosse outgained Dakota State 498-136. The Eagles produced 23 first downs to the Trojans nine first downs. UWL had the ball for 31 minutes, 50 seconds compared to DSU 28 minutes, 10 seconds.
The all-time series meeting began on Sept. 3, 2022 at the Trojan Field. The Eagles won by the score of 42-21 and returned the series on Sept. 3, 2022 in La Crosse, Wis., won by UWL 42-7.
Trojans fall to rival Tigers in season opener
Mitchell, S.D. (Aug. 26, 2023)—Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) stormed to a 14-0 first quarter opening lead and ballooned their lead to 21-0 early in the second quarter in the season opener with Dakota State (S.D.) at Joe Quintal Field.
The Trojans snapped their scoring drought on the ensuing possession, thanks to
Tyce Ortman's 2-yard touchdown run followed by Aidan Jahn's PAT extra point kick. DSU trailed 21-7 with 21-7 with 10:09 to go in the second, highlighted by a 29-yard pass from
Adin Jungers to
Michael Hybertson.
DWU led 23-7 by halftime, halting the Trojans to convert their scoring opportunity at the near end of the second quarter. DSU began the second half by marching down the field for the final scoring drive of the game, racking up 11 plays for 73 yards in 7:02.
Austin Lake connected to
Nathan Cook for a 32-yard touchdown pass as the Trojans trailed 23-13 with 7:51 to go in the third quarter. Both teams were unable to score in the final quarter as DWU snapped their six-game losing skid in the series meeting with DSU.
Jungers was 21-of-38 for 236 yards for Dakota State. He also rushed 13 times for 43 yards. Lake and Brooks each also completed a pass. Lake had a 32-yard touchdown pass and caught six passes for 57 yards. Ortman ran seven times for 31 yards. Cole Sylliassen caught nine passes for 91 yards and recorded a game-long 56 yards.
Jay Skogerboe had an interception and seven tackles for DSU.
Chris Guipi-Bopala led the defense with nine tackles.
Tamareon Foster,
Jeremiah 'JJ' Beck, and
Devonte Murphy each had seven tackles.
DSU outgained DWU 344-319 in total offensive yards. The Trojans threw 270 yards to DWU 243 yards. The Tigers had two more rushing yards than DSU (76-74). DSU converted 4-of-5 on fourth-downs.
Ag Bowl history and facts
Madison, S.D. (Aug. 30, 2023)—The Ag Bowl football game continues its tradition into their eighth year with the Dakota State Athletics department, extending thank you to the local farmers and agriculture businesses in their drive of the economic development in the community of Madison.
The Ag Bowl on Sept. 17, 2016 as the Trojans rolled past Waldorf (Iowa). DSU followed up with a 56-39 victory over nationally ranked Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) in the first ever televised football game on Midco Sports Network in the 2017 Ag Bowl game, setting attendance records.
Dakota State is 5-2 record during their Ag Bowl games, including 3-0 record against Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.). The Trojans won the most recent Ag Bowl game against the Tigers last season by the score of 29-19.
DSU suffered its two setbacks to Briar Cliff (Iowa) in 2018 and Dickinson State (N.D.) in 2022 Ag Bowl games. Saturday's game will be the first Ag Bowl game to be played at The Dan Beacom Track Complex.
Trojans in the NAIA national and North Star ranks
Madison, S.D. (Aug. 30, 2023)—According to the PrestoStats-NAIA statistical website as of Wednesday, Dakota State (S.D.) leads the NAIA in fourth down conversions. The Trojans converted 4-of-5 on fourth downs, despite a 23-13 setback at Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) on Aug. 26.
DSU also ranks 9th in the nation in passing first downs with 13 and fourth down percentage (80 percent). The Trojans rank 19th in the nation with one interception and 28th in total tackles with 63 tackles.
Adin Jungers is second in the North Star Athletic Association with 236 passing yards for DSU.
Cole Sylliaasen is also second in the conference with 91 receiving yards.
Tyce Ortman is tied for third for rushing touchdown with one touchdown.
Dakota State ranks third as a team in the North Star conference with 344 total offensive yards. The Trojans lead the league with 270 passing yards and yards per completion with 11.7 yards per completion. DSU's defense is third in the league, allowing 76 rushing yards per game.
Event parking for the Dan Beacom Track Complex
Madison, S.D. (Aug. 30, 2023)—Contact the Dakota State University Athletics Department at 605-256-5229 if you have any questions in regards with the event parking for The Dan Beacom Track Complex.
The blue shaded area is for the sponsor/Trojan Athletics Club Tailgating area. Make sure to check out the TAC page on how to become a member of the club and take advantage of the TAC's benefits. There is a cost to the red-color shaded area by the Paulsen Center for $10. The parking area to the west of the DSU Fieldhouse is free and will need to walk through the path toward to the Paulsen Center and through the tailgate area.
NSAA football season opens Saturday
Madison, S.D. (Aug. 30, 2023)—The North Star Athletic Association football season officially begins on Saturday with the eight-time defending champion Dickinson State (N.D.) welcoming Mayville State (N.D.).
Dakota State (S.D.) will not begin until Sept. 9 as they travel to Waldorf (Iowa) for the North Star conference opener. The Trojans return home on Sept. 16 for a league action and Trojan Days homecoming game against Valley City State (N.D.), who will be playing their first North Star conference contest that day.
Each North Star Athletic Association football member will be playing home-and-away contests with each other during the season, playing a total of eight games (four games at home and four games on the road). Each team will also have two bye weeks during the regular-season conference play.
With the expansion of the NAIA Football Championship Series (FCS) format this season, each conference team winner will receive an automatic bid to the national playoffs with the opening round on Saturday, Nov. 18.
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
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