November 9, 2024

MAYVILLE, N.D. – Dakota State's (S.D.) defense produced their season-best 106 offensive yards allowed Saturday late afternoon, shutting down Mayville State (N.D.) 7-0 in the North Star Athletic Association action at Jerome Berg Field.  The Trojans avenged from their first NSAA conference setback at Brian Kern Family Stadium (13-12), earning a season series split with the Comets.

With the victory, Dakota State clinched a sole possession for second place finish in the North Star Athletic Association conference standings.  DSU also secured a winning record season for the third time in the last four seasons. 

The Trojans won their second straight game, raising their overall record to 6-3 and 4-3 record in the league.  DSU sent Mayville State to their fourth consecutive loss, completing their 2024 season with an overall record of 4-6 and 3-5 NSAA conference record.

FIRST QUARTER
Both teams traded punts after the first three possessions of the game (MSU with two punts and DSU with one put).  With Dakota State's ball on their own 41-yard line, the Trojans registered nine plays for 45 yards in four minutes, forty-five seconds, thanks to Tyce Ortman's 20-yard rush to start the drive.

DSU was unable to take the first lead of the game as Carson Sauseda's 31-yard field goal attempt was no good with five minutes to go in the first quarter.

Dakota State recorded 73 total offensive yards in the first 15 minutes of the game and held Mayville State to 29 total offensive yards.

SECOND QUARTER
DSU kicked off the second quarter on MSU's 38-yard line on third and 1 situation.  The Trojans converted for a first down after a 4-yard rush by Ortman.  Dakota State was unable to convert their fourth down situation on MSU's 32-yard line, turning the ball on downs on MSU's 29-yard line with 11:40 to go in the second.

The next four possessions featured four interceptions, with two interceptions from each team.

Deveon Moses intercepted MSU's Aiden Marcussen's pass as Dakota State regained possession on DSU's 35-yard line with 11:32 on the clock.

After moving the ball to MSU's 41-yard line after Ortman's 9-yard rush along with a 15-yard penalty by the Comets, Kaden Johnson intercepted DSU's pass at MSU's 5-yard line.  The Comets retained possession with 11:06 to go in the second quarter.

Trey Ortman intercepted Marcussen's pass on the ensuing possession on MSU's 48-yard line with 9:53 on the clock.

As Dakota State moved the ball to MSU's 32-yard line, Anthony Johnson caught an interception on MSU's 30-yard line and returned it for 18 yards to MSU's 48-yard line with less than eight minutes to go before halftime.

Both teams traded punts for the remainder of the second quarter.  The Trojans were unable to convert their scoring chance near the end of the first half, despite a 55-yard reception by Tysen Grinde from AJ Donovan from DSU's 22-yard line to MSU's 23-yard line.

The game was knotted 0-0 at halftime.

THIRD QUARTER
Jovi Wolf returned a kick-off of 32 yards from DSU's 20-yard line to MSU's 48-yard line, sparking the Trojans to their first scoring drive of the game.  Facing fourth-and-5 situation on MSU's 43-yard line, Donovan connected to Austin Lake for 39 yards to MSU's 4-yard line for a first down.

Ty. Ortman followed up with a 4-yard rushing touchdown to give DSU a 6-0 lead with 11:16 on the clock.  Sauseda hit a successful PAT extra point kick to extend the Trojans' lead to 7-0.

The third quarter ended with Mayville State's ball on DSU's 41-yard line after Dylan LaMont's five yards rush.

Dakota State led 7-0 after three quarters.

FOURTH QUARTER
Mayville State was forced to punt to start the fourth quarter.  The Trojans marched down the field with 13 plays for 69 yards in 5:31 but were unable to score despite turning the ball on downs on fourth-and-goal situation on MSU's 16-yard line with 8:49 to go in the game.

Dakota State secured the victory as Moses caught his second interception of the game.  He intercepted MSU Dylan LaMont's pass on DSU's 46-yard line as DSU maintained possession with 2:21 left in the game.

With fourth-and-four situation on MSU's 33-yard line, the Trojans converted a first down after Donovan's nine yards rush to MSU's 24-yard line to secure the victory.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Ty. Ortman rushed 26 times for 126 yards with one touchdown for Dakota State.  He also had four punts for 157 total yards (39.3 yards per punt), with one punt landing inside the 20-yard line.  Preston Iverson rushed 11 times for 82 yards, including the game-long 45 yards rush during DSU's drive in the early fourth quarter from MSU's 47-yard line to MSU 2-yard line.

Donovan was 11-for-23 with 168 passing yards for the Trojans.  Grinde caught three passes for 85 total yards.  Lake added a 39-yard reception.  Melek Ford had three catches for 29 yards. 

Taron Serr led DSU's defense with six tackles and a tackle-for-loss of three yards.  Jay Skogerboe and Collin Brueggeman each added five tackles.  Caleb Dwyer collected four tackles, three tackles-for-loss of 30 yards, and a quarterback sack of 11 yards loss.  Joey Hoeschen and Kacey Cauley each had a quarterback sack.  Moses caught two interceptions.  Tr. Ortman added an interception.

Mason Ollman ran 17 times for 46 yards for Mayville State.  Johnson added a 24-yard rush.  LaMont was 7-for-15 with 29 passing yards.  Marcussen also went 3-for-5 for 11 yards. 

No MSU receivers had recorded more than eight yards reception in a play (longest reception was 8 yards by Isaiah Smith).  Ollman had four catches for 17 total yards.  Smith added two catches for 13 yards.

Devon Woolds led the Comets' defense with nine tackles, two tackles-for-loss of 14 yards, and a quarterback sack of 10 yards loss.  Xyler Carlson added eight tackles.  Johnson had seven tackles, a tackle-for-loss of 11 yards and an interception return of 18 yards.

Johnson registered eight punts for 275 yards (34.4 yards per punt) for Mayville State.

TEAM COMPARISONS
Dakota State racked up 362 total offensive yards in 68 plays (5.3 yards per play).  Mayville State held 106 total offensive yards in 50 plays (2.1 yards per play). 

The Trojans rushed for a season-high 194 yards to the Comets 66 rushing yards.  DSU threw 168 yards to MSU 40 passing yards.

DSU collected 18 first downs in the game to MSU nine first downs.  The Trojans were 5-of-15 on third downs to the Comets 3-of-13 third downs. 

Dakota State had ball control for 35 minutes, 55 seconds.  Mayville State recorded a time possession of 24 minutes, 5 seconds.

UP NEXT
Dakota State wraps up their 2024 season as they stay on the road next Saturday (Nov. 16).  The Trojans visit No. 17 ranked Dickinson State (N.D.) in the battle of top two teams in the North Star conference.  Kick-off is set for 1 p.m. (Central Time)/12 p.m. (Mountain Time) at Biesiot Activities Center in Dickinson, N.D.