September 7, 2023
Week 3 Preview
MADISON, S.D.—The Dakota State University (S.D.) Trojan football team (0-2 overall record, 0-0 North Star Athletic Association record) opens their eight-game North Star conference schedule Saturday afternoon. The Trojans travel to Bolstorff Field (John K Hanson Drive) in Forest City, Iowa, to take on Waldorf (Iowa) (1-1 overall record, 0-0 NSAA conference record) in the NSAA opener. Kick-off is set for 4 p.m.
Dakota State dropped their home opener at the newly Dan Beacom Track Complex, the temporary home football site for the 2023 season, on Aug. 31. NCAA Division III Wisconsin-La Crosse opened with a 17-0 halftime lead and defeated the Trojans by the score of 31-6.
Waldorf suffered their first defeat of the season after being rolled by St. Francis (Ill.) on the road. The Fighting Saints stormed to a 42-0 halftime lead and never trailed in the game (scored 56 straight points through the early fourth quarter), defeating the Warriors by the score of 63-7. USF outgained WU 507-193 in total offensive yards.
Saturday's meeting will be 16th meeting between Dakota State and Waldorf. The Trojans snapped their seven-game losing skid in the series meeting after shutting down the Warriors 13-0 in the Last Game held at the Trojan Field on Nov. 12, 2022.
Next Up: Dakota State returns home next Saturday (Sept. 16) as they host Valley City State (N.D.) in the North Star action. The Trojan Day homecoming game and Senior Day activities are scheduled, with a kick-off at 4 p.m.
Week 3 Quick Hits
+ All North Star Athletic Association football members will be playing each other twice during the conference season.
+ Dakota State (S.D.) and Waldorf (Iowa) are playing each other twice for the second consecutive year, splitting their two meetings last season with each team winning on their own home field.
+ The Warriors won the first meeting on Sept. 17, 2022, as a non-conference contest in Forest City, Iowa. The Trojans won the most recent meeting in the North Star conference action at Trojan Field on Nov. 12, 2022, by the score of 13-0.
+ Dakota State ended their seven-game losing skid in the series meeting in the last meeting with Waldorf, earning a 13-0 victory at the Last Game at the Trojan Field.
+ The Trojans are seeking for their first win on Waldorf's home field, Bolstorff Field, since Oct. 7, 2017 (DSU won by the score of 37-13).
+ The Trojan football developmental team begins their three-game home stand on Monday as they host Dordt (Iowa) with a kick-off at 6 p.m. They will play their home games at the Dan Beacom Track Complex.
+ DSU had played three straight games on Bolstorff Field in Forest City, Iowa in the series meeting with Waldorf (Nov. 7, 2020, Oct. 2, 2021, and Sept. 17, 2022).
+ Dakota State and Waldorf will be the second North Star Athletic Association contest as of this Saturday. Dickinson State (N.D.) defeated Mayville State (N.D.) 41-18 in the first NSAA contest of the season on Sept. 2 in Dickinson, N.D.
The Series-16th meeting (Waldorf leads series 8-7)
Last Meeting—Nov. 12, 2022, Trojan Field, Madison, S.D.—Dakota State (S.D.) closed out the Trojan Field era in a winter weather conditions with cold temperatures, shutting down Waldorf (Iowa) 13-0 to earn their second straight winning season. It was the first shutout victory at the Trojan Field since Oct. 23, 2004, while the Trojans stormed past Mayville State (N.D.) in the former Dakota Athletic Conference.
DSU set up the first scoring drive of the game on the ensuing possession after Waldorf turned the ball on downs.
Gavin Holland rushed for a 3-yard touchdown and added the PAT extra point kick to make it 7-0 in favor of Dakota State with 7:34 to go in the first quarter. The Trojans then had to settle for a 27-yard field goal to balloon their lead to 10-0 with 1:26 remaining in the first. DSU added another 27-yard field goal in the second quarter to make it 13-0 and held the Warriors scoreless for the rest of the game.
Holland ran 19 times for a season-high 130 yards with a touchdown for the Trojans.
Zach Brooks added 23 rushes for 91 yards. He was 6-of-13 for 67 yards passing.
Austin Lake had a reception.
Caleb Dwyer tallied eight tackles.
Mason Lloyd,
Jeremiah 'JJ' Beck,
Devonte Murphy each added six tackles.
Jay Skogerboe caught an interception and returned it for 14 yards.
DSU outgained WU 279-202 in total offensive yards (212-93 in rushing yards).
The all-time series began on Aug. 27, 2005, in Forest City, Iowa, won by the Trojans 16-2. WU became a member of the North Star Athletic Association in 2014. WU owns an 8-7 all-time record with DSU.
Dakota State falls in home opener to Eagles
Madison, S.D. (Aug. 31, 2023)—NCAA Division III Wisconsin-La Crosse, who was ranked No. 12 in the final d3football.com Top 25 national rankings last season, limited Dakota State (S.D.) to 171 total offensive yards for a 31-6 victory on the newly Dan Beacom Track Complex, which serves as the temporary home field for the Trojan football team this season. The game was also the 8th annual Ag Bowl game, in a way of saying thank you to all local ag producers and businesses in their drive of economic growth.
After a defensive battle early in the game, the Eagles scored the first points of the game after the Trojans' special teams miscues. UWL was able to recover a blocked punt from DSU and had to settled for a 24-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead with 4:12 to go in the first quarter.
The Eagles ballooned their lead to 17-0 after a pair of touchdowns in the second quarter. Both teams were unable to score in the third quarter. UWL added a pair of touchdowns early in the fourth quarter to make it 31-0 with 8:09 to go. DSU snapped their scoring drought on the ensuing possession with eight plays for 83 yards, highlighted by a 38-yard reception by
Austin Lake.
Brady Dannenbring threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to
Shaun Crawford, Jr., with 4:58 left, trailing 31-6.
Dannenbring finished the game by going 19-of-36 for 171 yards and a touchdown for Dakota State. Lake had eight catches for 99 yards.
Cole Sylliaasen added three receptions for 26 yards and recorded a 48-yard punt in the fourth quarter.
Cooper Maras led the defense with nine tackles and 1.5 tackles-for-loss of four yards.
Collin Brueggeman added eight tackles.
UWL produced 21 first-downs in the game compared to the Trojans nine first downs. The Eagles were held to 2-of-12 on third down situations, while DSU was 2-of-12 on third-down plays.
Looking ahead to Trojan Days homecoming game
Madison, S.D. (Sept. 7, 2023)—Dakota State (S.D.) will be hosting Valley City State (N.D.) in the annual Trojan Day homecoming football game at the Dan Beacom Track Complex next Saturday, Sept. 16. There will be a tailgate meal area, starting at 12 noon.
The Trojans will be honoring their seniors prior to the game, at least half hour before kick-off.
Valley City State will be the 11th different opponent that Dakota State will be hosting in the annual Trojan Day homecoming game since 2011. Next Saturday will be the first homecoming game to be held at the Dan Beacom Track Complex before heading to the new football stadium next season.
Dakota State had won three homecoming games in the past four seasons, including a 24-7 victory over Iowa Wesleyan on Sept. 24, 2022. The Trojans had won two straight homecoming games, rallying back to defeat Mayville State (N.D.) 20-16 during 2021 homecoming game at Trojan Field.
2023 North Star Athletic Association overview
Madison, S.D. (Sept. 7, 2023)—Saturday's game will be the second North Star Athletic Association contest this season. Both Dakota State (S.D.) and Waldorf (Iowa) open their eight-game conference schedule in Forest City, Iowa.
Dickinson State (N.D.) began the 2023 NSAA football season on Sept. 1, rolling past Mayville State (N.D.) 41-18.
Each North Star Athletic Association members will be playing a total of eight conference games—four home games and four away games—during the season and each team will receive two bye weeks.
Dakota State is seeking for their first North Star conference season opening victory since Sept. 18, 2021, when the Trojans rolled past Presentation (S.D.) 40-13, at the Trojan Field. It is the first time since Sept. 28, 2019, when the Trojans played their NSAA conference opener on the road, falling short at Valley City State (N.D.) 10-6.
DSU is seeking for their first North Star season opening road victory since its inception in 2013-14 season.
Sylliaasen is a nominee for Campbell Trophy
Madison, S.D. (Sept. 5, 2023)—According to the National Football Foundation's X (twitter). Dakota State's (S.D.) senior wide receiver
Cole Sylliaasen was nominated for the 2023 William Campbell Trophy.
The semifinals list will be announced later this month. The William V. Campbell Trophy is the college football's premier scholar-athlete award.
Sylliaasen is the NAIA Football and North Star Athletic Association Scholar Athlete for his academic excellence in the classrooms during his career at Dakota State University. He is an elementary education major.
Trojans in the North Star Athletic Association ranks
Madison, S.D. (Sept. 7, 2023)—According to the NAIA-PrestoStats of Thursday, two Dakota State (S.D.) wide receivers are in the top five in the North Star Athletic Association in receiving yards per game.
Austin Lake is second in the league with 78.0 yards per game in receiving for the Trojans.
Cole Sylliaasen is fourth in the conference with 58.5 receiving yards per game.
Shaun Crawford, Jr., is tied for third in the NSAA with one receiving touchdown.
Chris Guipi-Bopala is fifth in the North Star conference with 7.0 tackles per game for DSU.
Dakota State is fourth as a team in the NSAA conference with 262.0 total offensive yards. DSU is second in the league with 220.5 passing yards per game. The Trojans are ranked fourth in the NAIA with 146 total tackles, as well as fourth down conversions (4-of-5). DSU is leading the North Star in fourth down plays, converting 80 percent.
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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