October 5, 2024

MADISON, S.D. – Mayville State (N.D.) took advantage of Dakota State's (S.D.) miscues on a windy, gusty Saturday afternoon, earning a 13-12 North Star Athletic Association football nail-biter at Brian Kern Family Stadium on Blankley Field.  The Comets handed the Trojans their first defeat of the season.

Dakota State fell to 4-1 overall record and 2-1 NSAA conference record.  Mayville State extended their winning streak to three games, lifting their overall record to 4-2 and concluding their first half of the conference schedule with a 3-1 record.

Both teams will play their second North Star conference meeting on Nov. 9 in Mayville, N.D. 

FIRST QUARTER
Both teams struggled to move the ball in the opening quarter, with the Trojans recording 10 total yards in the first two possessions, while the Comets recorded 14 total yards on their first possession.

DSU was forced to punt on the second possession of the game, MSU's Hudson Stone blocked Tyce Ortman's punt.  Mayville State began their second drive of the game on DSU's 30-yard line with less than six minutes to go.

The Comets paved the way for the first score of the game, caught by Javeion Davison with his one foot near the out of bounds' end zone as he tried to maintained possession while bobbling the catch.  He recorded a 13-yard touchdown pass from Dylan LaMont to give Mayville State a 6-0 lead.  Kaden Johnson hit the PAT extra point kick to extend MSU a 7-0 lead with 3:06 left in the first quarter.

Dakota State highlighted a 17-yard reception by Austin Lake from AJ Donovan, converting their third down conversion on DSU's 42-yard line for a first down on MSU's 41-yard line.  Ortman followed up with a 6-yard rush to MSU's 35-yard line to close the first quarter.

Mayville State led 7-0 after fifteen minutes of the game.

SECOND QUARTER
Dakota State continued their drive in the early second quarter as they recorded 14 plays for 74 yards in 7:16 for their first score.  Ortman rushed for a 7-yard touchdown as the Trojans trailed 7-6 with 10:42 on the clock.  Carson Sauseda's PAT extra point kick was no good.

Mayville State marched down the field on the ensuing possession with 10 plays for 63 yards in 6:29 but committed a turnover.  Edward Norton fumbled the ball and was recovered by DSU's Caleb Dwyer on DSU's 12-yard line with 4:13 remaining before halftime.

Dakota State then used eight plays for 60 yards in 3:38 in the next possession, thanks to a game-long 51-yard reception by Lake (from DSU's 26-yard line to MSU's 23-yard line.  The Trojans could not overtake the lead as Sauseda missed a 45-yard field goal with 39 seconds left before halftime.

The Comets led 7-6 by halftime. 

THIRD QUARTER
Mayville State was forced to put on the first drive of the second half after using three plays. 

Ortman kicked off the DSU's ensuing possession with back-to-back 16-yard runs from DSU's 28-yard line to MSU's 40-yard line.  Facing a third-and-six situation, Donovan connected to Ortman for a 33-yard reception to MSU's 3-yard line.  A penalty committed by the Comets moved the ball to MSU's 1-yard line for the Trojans.

After a pair of no rushing gains at the goal line, Ortman rushed for a 1-yard touchdown as Dakota State overtook the lead at 12-7 with 8:45 remaining. 

Mayville State used the final 8:40 of the third quarter for possession, thanks to a 4^th-and-10 situation on MSU's 30-yard line that resulted a first down after a penalty committed by the Trojans. 

The Comets moved the ball to DSU's 2-yard line when the quarter ended.

Dakota State led 12-7 after three quarters.

FOURTH QUARTER
Mayville State kicked off the fourth quarter with an incomplete pass from Norton to Davison.  The Comets then scored a touchdown on the fourth down situation as LaMont connected to Maalik Flowers for a 2-yard reception.  MSU could not convert their 2-point PAT attempt as they held on to a 13-12 lead with 14:54 remaining.

Both teams traded punts on the ensuing possession.  DSU committed a turnover on the next possession as Anthony Johnson intercepted DSU's pass to DSU's 25-yard line, despite starting their drive on DSU's 40-yard line after MSU's penalty with less than ten minutes remaining.

The Comets were forced to punt on the next possession.  Johnson recorded a 41-yard punt and was downed on DSU's 1-yard line with 8:06 remaining.

DSU and MSU then traded punts before the Trojans attempt to comeback to regain their lead.  With first-and-ten situation on DSU's 43-yard line, MSU's Danzele Navy intercepted DSU's pass on MSU's 32-yard line with two minutes to go.

As the Comets run out the clock, Johnson recorded a 31-yard punt to DSU's 33-yard line.  Lake returned it for 14 yards to DSU's 47-yard line with 15 seconds remaining.

Mayville State secured the victory as Jordan Richardson intercepted DSU's pass with no time remaining on MSU's 9-yard line.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Donovan was 10-of-21 for 186 yards for Dakota State.  Lake had three receptions for 81 yards.  Maddox Kihne had a 24-yard reception.  Melek Ford added two catches for 20 yards.  Tysen Grinde had a 12-yard reception, while JerQon Conners had an 11-yard catch.

Ortman finished the game with 22 rushes for 75 yards and two touchdowns for DSU.  He had two receptions for 38 yards. 

Dwyer tallied 11 tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss of 12 yards, a pass break up, and a fumble recovery for the Trojans.  Jay Skogerboe had nine tackles.  Brooks Jansen added seven tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss of six yards and a quarterback sack.  Collin Brueggeman and Joey Hoeschen each had six tackles.  Chris Guipi-Bopala registered two tackles-for-loss and a quarterback sack.

LaMont completed 10 passes in 13 attempts for 44 total passing yards for the Comets.  Davison had two catches for 11 yards with a touchdown.

Mason Ollman ran 16 times for 56 yards for MSU.  He added two catches for 12 yards.  Norton had seven rushes for 52 yards.  Jack Simmers rushed eight times for 39 yards.

Andrew Roberts led Mayville State with 10 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.  Devon Woods, Johnson, Will Femons, and Richard Shelton each added six tackles.  Jonson, Richardson, and Navy each had an interception. 

TEAM COMPARISONS
Dakota State outgained Mayville State 264-179 in total offensive yards in the game.  The Comets rushed 41 times for 135 yards to the Trojans 33 rushes for 78 yards.  DSU threw for 186 yards and held MSU to 44 passing yards.

Mayville State recorded 17 first downs to Dakota State 13 first downs.  The Trojans converted 8-of-16 on third down situations, while the Comets recorded 4-of-13 on third downs. 

MSU had the ball for 35 minutes, 20 seconds in the game.  DSU maintained ball control for 24 minutes, 40 seconds.

UP NEXT
Dakota State looks to swing back in the winning column as they host the North Star's conference leader No. 22 ranked Dickinson State (N.D.).  Kick-off is set for 12 p.m. at Brian Kern Family Stadium on Blankley Field.