October 12, 2024

Photos credits by Michael Brown, Mike Nowka

MADISON, S.D. – A total of nine turnovers combined were committed by both teams Saturday afternoon – six by Dakota State (S.D.) and three by nationally ranked Dickinson State (N.D.) – in the North Star Athletic Association football action at Brian Kern Family Stadium on Blankley Field.  The Blue Hawks held on to a 38-21 victory, despite being outgained 337-329 in total offensive yards by the Trojans.

Dakota State fell to 4-2 overall record and 2-2 record in the North Star Athletic Association.  Dickinson State, ranked No. 21 in the latest NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 national poll, lifted their overall record to 5-1.  The Blue Hawks remained undefeated in the league play with a 4-0 record, extending their North Star's winning streak to 37 games.

Both teams will meet for the second NSAA meeting on Nov. 16 in their regular season finale in Dickinson, N.D.

FIRST QUARTER
Dickinson State kicked off the game by recording 14 plays, which their quarterback Will Madler was part of 12 plays during the drive, for 39 yards in six minutes and sixteen seconds.  The Blue Hawks had to settle for a 43-yard field goal from Chase Miller for a 3-0 lead with 8:44 on the clock.

Dakota State committed a turnover on their third play of the first drive as Matt Anderson intercepted AJ Donovon's pass on DSU's 29-yard line.  He returned it for six yards to DSU's 23-yard line to start the next drive with 7:09 to go in the first quarter.

Madler quickly connected to Semaj Clark for a 23-yard touchdown with 7:04 on the clock to balloon DiSU's lead to 9-0.  Miller added a successful PAT extra-point kick to make it 10-0 in favor of Dickinson State.

After trading punts on the next two drives, Dakota State got on the scoreboard.  Donovan threw a 40-yard pass to Melek Ford to kick off their first scoring drive from DSU's 45-yard line to DiSU's 15-yard line.  After JerQon Conners' 4-yard rush on the next play, Donovan threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Austin Lake with 2:26 to go in the first quarter.

Carson Sauseda followed up with a successful PAT extra point kick as the Trojans trailed 10-7.

The first quarter closed with a 26-yard 'Pick Six' by Jayden Heartwell with no time left, extending DiSU's lead to 16-7.  Miller added the PAT extra point kick to make it 17-7 Blue Hawks by the end of the first quarter.

SECOND QUARTER
Dakota State began the second quarter with a scoring drive, highlighted by Tyce Ortman's 29-yard rush on a third-and-one situation from DSU's 26-yard line to DiSU's 45-yard line.  Ortman added an 18-yard rush from DiSU's 35-yard line to DiSU's 17-yard line. 

Donovan connected to Ford for the second time, hitting an 18-yard touchdown with 10:26 to go in the second quarter.  Sauseda made the PAT extra-point kick as the Trojans trimmed the Blue Hawks' lead to 17-14.

Dickinson State answered with a touchdown on the ensuing possession.  Madler threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Clark at 7:12 on the clock.  The Blue Hawks made it 24-14 after Miller's PAT extra-point kick.

Both teams were unable to score for the rest of the second quarter.  The Trojans halted the Blue Hawks to score as Deveon Moses intercepted Madler's pass on DSU's 29-yard line with 1:36 remaining.

Dickinson State led 24-14 by halftime.

THIRD QUARTER
Conners kicked off the second half as he returned the kick-off of 43 yards to DSU's 47-yard line for Dakota State.  The Blue Hawks committed a 15-yard penalty that resulted in Trojans' first down to DiSU's 38-yard line.  DSU was unable to convert their scoring opportuning as Riley Waters intercepted Donovan's pass on DiSU's 17-yard line, regaining possession for the Blue Hawks with 12:50 to go in the third quarter.

The Blue Hawks were forced to punt on the next possession, but regained possession as the Trojans fumbled during the punt return on DSU's 28-yard line.  Then, DSU's Jay Skogerboe intercepted Madler's pass on DSU's 1-yard line with 10:38 to go in the third quarter.

Dakota State was forced to punt in the next possession.  Ortman registered a 58-yard punt to DiSU's 40-yard line with 9:17 on the clock (Blue Hawks recorded a one-yard loss on the punt return to DiSU's 39-yard line).

Dickinson State marched down the field with nine plays for 61 yards in 4:17 as Braden Zuroff rushed for a 7-yard touchdown with five minutes to go in the third.  He highlighted the drive with an opening 23 yards rush to DSU's 38-yard line.  Miller converted the PAT extra-point kick as DiSU's lead grew to 31-14.

The Blue Hawks led 31-14 after three quarters.

FOURTH QUARTER
After the continuation of Dakota State's by the end of the third quarter, the Trojans continued their drive in the early fourth quarter for a score.  Facing third-and-four on DiSU's 42-yard line, Donovan threw a 29-yard pass to Ortman to DiSU's 13-yard line for a first down. 

Ortman rushed for a 2-yard touchdown as the Trojans reduced their deficit to 31-20 with 12:03 remaining.  Sauseda hit a successful PAT extra-point kick as DSU trailed 31-21.

Both teams traded turnovers on the ensuing possession.  Madler threw a 17-yard pass to Clark, while DSU's Collin Brueggeman forced the fumble on Clark and was received by Michael Foster as the Trojans maintained possession with 11:16 left on DiSU's 42-yard line.

The Trojans opened the drive with a turnover as Jack Hartman intercepted Donovan's pass on DiSU's 30-yard line.  Hartman returned for 15 yards to DiSU's 45-yard line with 11:08 remaining.

Both teams were unable to score throughout the fourth quarter until the Blue Hawks rounded up the final score near the end of the game.

Madler threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Gage Gilbert with 1:56 left to secure the victory.  Miller hit the PAT extra point kick to balloon Dickinson State's lead to 38-21.

Heartwell recorded his second interception of the game with less than a minute to go in the game for Dickinson State.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Donovan was 28-of-49 for 272 passing yards with two touchdowns for Dakota State.  Ortman rushed 17 times for 58 yards and a touchdown.  He also caught four passes for 45 yards and registered four punts for 200 total yards (50.0 yards per punt).  He is fourth in the Trojan football record for single-game punting average.

Ford led DSU with five receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown.  Conners added four catches for 34 yards.  Tysen Grinde caught six passes for 30 yards.  Maddox Kihne had three catches for 25 yards.

Brueggeman led the Trojans' defense with seven tackles and a forced fumble.  Joey Hoeschen added six tackles.  Caleb Dwyer recorded five tackles and two quarterback sacks of 12 yards loss.  Chris Guipi-Bopala had four tackles, two tackles-for-loss of seven yards, and a quarterback sack of six yards loss.  Kaden Eng had two pass break-ups.  Skogerboe and Moses each registered an interception. 

Conners had seven kick-off returns of 162 yards for Dakota State.  Sauseda made all three PAT extra-point kicks.

Madler was 14-of-29 for 174 yards with three touchdowns for Dickinson State.  Zuroff rushed 20 times for 108 yards and a touchdown. 

Clark led the Blue Hawks with seven receptions for 121 yards and two touchdowns.  CJ Stinson added two catches for 23 yards.

Hartman paced DiSU's defense with seven tackles, two tackles-for-loss, and an interception return of 15 yards.  Anderson added seven tackles, two tackles-for-loss, a quarterback sack, forced fumble, and an interception.  Heartwell had six tackles and two interceptions.  Waters tallied six tackles and an interception.

Ty Nelson recorded six punts for 211 yards (35.2 yards per punt) for Dickinson State.  Miller was 6-for-6 on kicks, making all five PAT extra point kicks and a field goal.

TEAM COMPARISONS
Dakota State had eight more offensive yards than Dickinson State (337-329).  The Blue Hawks rushed 155 yards compared to the Trojans 65 yards.  DSU threw for 272 yards to DiSU 174 yards.

Dakota State produced 22 first downs compared to Dickinson State 19 first downs.  The Trojans converted 7-of-17 third downs to the Blue Hawks 5-of-13 third downs. 

DSU maintained possession for 31 minutes and 21 seconds.  DiSU had the ball control for 28 minutes and 39 seconds.

UP NEXT
Dakota State kicks off the second half portion of the North Star Athletic Association on the road next Saturday (Oct. 19).  The Trojans travel to Jamestown (N.D.) for 4 p.m. kick-off at Hansen Stadium/Rollie Greeno Stadium. 

Dickinson State returns home as they host Mayville State (N.D.) in the NSAA action in Dickinson, N.D.