September 16, 2023

MADISON, S.D. – Valley City State (N.D.) pulled away late in the game, earning a 14-6 low scoring affair victory over Dakota State (S.D.) in the North Star Athletic Association football action at Dan Beacom Track Complex Saturday.  It was the Trojan Day Homecoming football game for Dakota State.

The Trojans kept winless this season, falling to 0-4 overall record and 0-2 North Star conference record.  VCSU was playing their NSAA conference opener and had not played since Sept. 1 at NCAA Division II South Dakota Mines.  The Vikings improved to 2-1 overall record and 1-0 NSAA conference record.

Both teams will be playing their second North Star meeting later this season on Oct. 21 in Valley City, N.D.

Dakota State takes a bye week next week and returns to action on Sept. 30 to kick off their two-game NSAA road trip.  The Trojans make their first stop at Mayville State (N.D.) with a 3 p.m. kick-off at Jerome Berg Field in Mayville, N.D.  Valley City State returns home as they host Mayville State at 2 p.m.

FIRST QUARTER
Both teams were forced to punt on their opening drive of the game.

With Valley City State ball on VCSU's 46-yard line with eight minutes, fifty-six seconds, the Vikings converted a third down play with a 49-yard touchdown pass from Avery Thorsgard to Justice Bice for the first score of the game.  Andrew Nielsen followed up with the PAT extra-point kick to put VCSU up 7-0 with 8:01 to go in the first.

Dakota State answered on the ensuing possession with 12 plays for 43 yards in 6:33. Facing third-and-17 on VCSU's 46-yard line, DSU's Joseph Cole rushed for 15 yards to VCSU's 31-yard line falling two yards shy for a first down.  The Trojans converted the fourth down play with a 5-yard rush by Gus Sanford for a first down on VCSU's 26-yard line.

DSU had to settle for a 36-yard field goal by Aidan Jahns with 1:28 remaining in the first quarter, trailing 7-3.

SECOND QUARTER
Valley City State was forced to punt to start the second quarter.  Dakota State then went on to record seven plays for 19 yards in nearly three minutes.  The Trojans were unable to convert a first down after a fourth-and-10 situation on VCSU's 34-yard line, turning the ball on downs on VCSU's 28-yard line with 10:38 to go in the second.

The Vikings went on to register 15 plays for 49 yards in 8:42 on the next possession.  VCSU failed to score as Nielsen missed a 40-yard field goal as it was missed wide left with 1:56 to go.

VCSU recorded 138 total offensive yards in the first thirty minutes of the game, while DSU recorded 85 total offensive yards.

THIRD QUARTER
Dakota State opened the third quarter with nine plays for 23 yards in 5:31 and was forced to punt.  Cole Sylliaasen hit a game-long punt o f 42 yards with 9:29 to go in the third.

VCSU nearly committed a turnover on a fourth down situation after a pair of penalties committed by both teams on two separate plays.  The Vikings' punter bobbled the ball on the first attempt, where the Trojans committed a penalty on VCSU's 24-yard line and moved to the 29-yard line for another fourth down situation for VCSU.

The Vikings committed a false start penalty on the next play, moving the ball back to VCSU's 29-yard line.  After a 32-yard punt by Masila Sina to DSU's 44-yard line after a fair catch by Jay Skogerboe, the Trojans regained possession with 7:01 on the clock.

Dakota State marched down to the red zone after registering 11 plays for 49 yards in 3:38, highlighted by a 16-yard pass from Cole to Nathan Cook on fourth-and-6 situation on VCSU's 35 yard (play resulted a first down on VCSU's 19-yard line.

Cole added a 12-yard pass to Roger Moore for another first down on VCSU's 7-yard line.  The Trojans were unable to convert their touchdown opportunity as they settled for a 24-yard field goal by Jahns, trimming VCSU's lead to 7-6 with 3:23 to go in the third.

FOURTH QUARTER
Dakota State was forced to punt to start the fourth quarter as Valley City State maintained possession with 14:19 remaining on VCSU's 20-yard line.

The Vikings opened with two straight first downs, thanks to pair of receptions by Austin Young (20- and 13-yards) to DSU's 47-yard line. 

Thorsgard added a 31-yard pass to Justice Bice from DSU's 36-yard line to DSU's 5-yard line.  Bice followed up with a 5-yard rushing touchdown, extending the Vikings' lead to 13-6 with 10:25 left.  Nielsen hit the PAT extra-point kick to make it 14-6 in favor of the Vikings.

DSU was limited to four plays for 10 yards in 2:59 and was forced to punt on the ensuing possession with 7:26 left.

The Vikings used 5:41 on the next possession with nine plays for 29 yards.  Thorsgard recorded a 37-yard punt from DSU's 42-yard line and was downed on DSU's 5-yard line with 1:45 remaining.

Dakota State's comeback attempt fell short as they turned the ball on downs after being two yards shy for a first down after an 11-yard reception by Michael Hybertson with one second left on a fourth-and-13 situation.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Cole was 15-of-27 for 126 passing yards for Dakota State.  He also rushed 17 times for 45 yards.  Gavin Holland ran nine times for 32 yards.  Sanford rushed 10 times for 12 yards.

Austin Lake caught five passes for 40 yards for the Trojans.  Hybertson added three receptions for 23 yards.  Cook had two catches for 21 yards. 

Jeremiah 'JJ' Beck paced DSU's defense with 10 tackles.  Collin Brueggeman added eight tackles.  Brandon Dannenbring and Kani Johnson each tallied five tackles. 

DSU's Sylliaasen recorded five punts for 173 yards (34.6 yards average per punt).  Jahns was perfect 2-of-2 on field goals, making 36- and 24-yard field goals.  He hit three kick-offs for 155 total yards, averaging 51.7 yards per kickoff.

Thorsgard was 14-of-19 for 175 yards and one touchdown for Valley City State.  He also rushed 12 times for 35 yards.  Bice ran 16 times for 48 yards and a touchdown.  Bice had six catches for 88 yards and a touchdown.  Young had four receptions for 54 yards. 

Riley Gerhardt led the Vikings' defense with 11 tackles and three quarterback sacks of 17 yards loss.  Jahidi West added eight tackles.  Emanuel Spiyee and Taquez Chatman each added a sack. 

TEAM COMPARISONS
Valley City State outgained Dakota State 255-215 in total offensive yards.  The Trojans rushed 89 yards to the Vikings 80 yards.  VCSU passed for 175 yards to DSU 126 passing yards.

Both teams had 15 first downs.  Valley City State converted 6-of-14 on third-down plays to Dakota State 4-of-15 third-downs.  The Vikings collected five sacks for 31 yards loss compared to the Trojans one sack of two yards loss.

VCSU maintained possession for 30 minutes, 25 seconds.  DSU recorded ball possession of 29 minutes, 35 seconds.

DSU SENIORS
Prior to the game, the Dakota State University Trojan football team honored their seniors.  The twelve seniors included Mason Lloyd, Robert Cage, Zach Brooks, Cole Sylliaasen, Marcis Hausman, Gavin Holland, Jeremiah 'JJ' Beck, student assistant coach Cade Sortino, Beau Bertram, Brandon Daniels, Michael Hybertson, and Devonte Murphy.
 

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