September 30, 2023

MAYVILLE, N.D. – Both Dakota State (S.D.) and Mayville State (N.D.) struggled offensively in the North Star Athletic Association football contest at Jerome Berg Field Saturday afternoon, recording less than 200 total offensive yards each.  The Comets scored 10 points in the second quarter and held off the Trojans by the score of 13-0.

Dakota State fell to 0-5 overall record and 0-3 NSAA conference record.  Mayville State improved to 1-5 overall record and 1-3 league record.

DSU and MSU will meet for their second North Star conference meeting at Dan Beacom Track Complex on Nov. 4.  The Comets snapped the Trojans' eight-game winning streak in the series meeting, where DSU holds the all-time record of 21-15.

The Trojans stay on the road next week as they close their first half portion of the North Star football schedule, visiting the league's defending champion No. 23 ranked Dickinson State (N.D.).  Kick-off from the Biesiot Activities Center is set for 2 p.m. (Central Time)/1 p.m. (Mountain Time) in Dickinson, N.D.

FIRST QUARTER
Mayville State opened the game with nine plays for 59 yards in five minutes, seven seconds.  Dakota State's defense halted the Comets from marching in the red zone, turning the ball on downs on DSU's 21-yard line with 9:45 on the clock.

Dakota State was forced to punt on the ensuing possession, while the Trojans' defense recorded a pair of quarterback sacks from Devonte Murphy and Caleb Dwyer on the next drive.  The Comets registered 21 yards loss on their second drive of the game and forced to punt as DSU regained possession on MSU's 48-yard line with 5:11 to go in the first.

The highlights of DSU's second drive of the game included a 44-yard pass from Joseph Cole to Austin Lake to MSU's 14-yard line.  Gus Sanford followed with 3- and 10-yard rushes to MSU's 1-yard line for another first down.

The Comets' defense halted the Trojans to score as they turned the ball on downs with 1:36 remaining in the first quarter.

The game was tied at 0-0 by the end of the first quarter.

SECOND QUARTER
Facing third-and-three situation on MSU's 19-yard line, Tim Salmon threw an 81-yard touchdown pass to Javeion Davison for the first score of the game.  Braeden Lacombe followed with the PAT extra-point kick to put Comets up 7-0 with 13:15 on the clock in the second quarter.

Both teams were forced to punt on each drive in the second quarter until the Comets extended their score near halftime.  As Mayville State regained possession on DSU's 46-yardline with 1:54 remaining, the Comets used six plays for 41 yards, highlighted by a 20-yard reception by Mason Ollman (from Salmon) to DSU's 26-yard line.

Dakota State prevented Mayville State from a touchdown as they settled for a 22-yard field goal by Lacombe with two seconds remaining.

MSU led 10-0 by halftime.

THIRD QUARTER
Both teams struggled offensively in the third quarter, featuring six total punts combined by DSU and MSU.

The highlight of the third quarter came when Dakota State's defense forced a fumble and regained possession.  With MSU's ball on DSU's 43-yard line, Murphy forced a fumble on Comet Daniel Nevil and was recovered by Murphy on DSU's 46-yard line with 6:18 on the clock in the third quarter.

Mayville State held a 10-0 lead by the end of the third quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER
Mayville State extended their lead to 13-0 in the early fourth quarter as they settled for a 33-yard field goal by Lacombe with 12:43 remaining.

Dakota State was unable to score in the middle of the fourth quarter.  The Trojans converted a third-and-one situation on MSU's 45-yard line as Lake threw a 30-yard pass to Michael Hybertson to MSU's 15-yard line.

DSU could not convert their fourth-and-four situation on MSU's 9-yard line as Tray Hettick threw a 3-yard pass to Sanford, turning the ball on downs on MSU's 6-yard line with 6:32 left.

The Trojans committed a turnover with 4:14 remaining as the Comets caught an interception by Marcellus Moore on MSU's 28-yard line and returned it for 12 yards to MSU's 40-yard line.

Both teams could not score for the rest of the quarter as the Comets secured the victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Hettick was 10-of-23 for 72 yards for Dakota State.  Joseph Cole was 3-for-6 for 49 yards.  Lake had a 30-yard pass and caught two passes for 51 yards.

Sanford rushed seven times for 26 yards for DSU.  Hybertson had three receptions for 61 yards.  Cole Sylliaasen added two catches for 13 yards. 

Murphy paced the Trojans' defense with 12 tackles, including five tackles-for-loss of 10 yards.  He had a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.  Jeremiah 'JJ' Beck added 11 tackles.  Dwyer tallied eight tackles, two tackles-for-loss of 13 yards and 1.5 quarterback sacks of 12 yards loss.  Jay Skogerboe had two pass break-ups.  Chris Guipi-Bopala had a sack of nine yards loss.

Salmon was 8-of-19 for 16 yards with a touchdown for Mayville State.  Ollman ran 19 times for 42 yards.  Davison caught three passes for 109 yards and a touchdown. 

Richard Shelton led the Comets' defense with 12 tackles and 3.0 tackles-for-loss of nine yards.  He had a sack of six yards loss.  Bailey Mullenberg had six tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss of 14 yards and 1.5 sacks of 11 yards loss.  Moore had an interception and returned it for 12 yards.

TEAM COMPARISONS
Mayville State outgained Dakota State 193-182 in total offensive yards.  The Comets threw for 156 yards to the Trojans 151 yards.  MSU rushed 37 yards to DSU 31 rushing yards.

Mayville State produced ten first downs compared to Dakota State nine first downs.  MSU was 4-of-17 on third down situation, while DSU was 3-of-16 third downs.