November 16, 2024

DICKINSON, N.D. – The North Star Athletic Association football has officially closed their era Saturday afternoon.  Dakota State (S.D.) was unable to overcome the nationally ranked Dickinson State (N.D.) 24-0 scoring run Saturday afternoon, as the Blue Hawks secured a 38-7 victory at Biesiot Activities Center.  Both teams faced wet and windy conditions, including the first sight of snow during the game.

Dakota State finished their 2024 season at 6-4 overall record, their third winning record in the past four seasons.  The Trojans also earned second place outright in the NSAA conference standings with a 4-4 league record.  Dickinson State won their seventh straight game to raise their overall record to 9-1 and finished undefeated in the NSAA conference with an 8-0 record. 

The Blue Hawks will find out on Sunday who will play first in the NAIA Football Championships Series (FCS) playoffs, representing the North Star Athletic Association's automatic bid.

FIRST QUARTER
Dakota State's defense halted Dickinson State to score on the first drive of the game, turning the ball on downs on DaSU's 21-yard line with ten minutes, eighteen seconds on the clock.  The Blue Hawks recorded nine plays for 47 yards in 4:37, highlighted a 23-yard reception by Gage Gilbert and a 25-yard rush by Braden Zuroff.

The Trojans committed a turnover on the ensuing possession as DiSU's Dylan Dahlgren recovered the fumble on DaSU's 40-yard line with 6:21 to go in the first quarter.

Both teams traded punts on their next possession until Dickinson State scored first.  Starting on their own 25-yard line with 1:34 left in the first quarter, Jackson Simonson ran for 55 yards to DaSU's 20-yard line.  Will Madler followed up with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Gilbert for a 6-0 lead with 34 seconds left.  Chase Miller hit a successful PAT extra point kick to put Blue Hawks up 7-0.

DiSU led 7-0 after the first quarter.

SECOND QUARTER
After the Trojans were forced to punt to start the second quarter, the Blue Hawks extended their lead.  Four plays later, Zuroff rushed for 41-yard touchdown with 12:52 on the clock.  Miller added the PAT extra point kick to balloon Dickinson State's lead to 14-0.

Dakota State answered on the next possession with 10 plays for 75 yards in six minutes and thirteen seconds, highlighted by a 40-yard reception by Eddie Merrell III plus a 15-yard penalty committed by the Blue Hawks to move the ball to DiSU's 2-yard line.  AJ Donovan connected to Melek Ford for a 1-yard touchdown with 6:39 remaining before halftime.  Carson Sauseda added the PAT extra point to trim DiSU's lead to 14-7.

The Blue Hawks added a touchdown on the ensuing possession as Zuroff rushed for a 3-yard touchdown for a 20-7 lead.  Miller made the PAT extra point kick to make it 21-7 in favor of Dickinson State.  DiSU registered 12 plays for 59 yards in 5:29 in the scoring drive.

DaSU was forced to punt on the next possession, regaining ball control for DiSU with 46 seconds left.  The Blue Hawks quickly answered with five plays for 60 yards in 35 seconds, thanks to a 41-yard reception by Semaj Clark to DaSU's 3-yard line.  Madler followed up with a 3-yard rushing touchdown to make it 27-7 with 11 seconds left.

Dickinson State led 28-7 at halftime after Miller's successful PAT extra point kick.

THIRD QUARTER
Both teams did not score in the third quarter.  Tyce Ortman recorded a game-long 51-yard punt in the third quarter with 8:12 on the clock.

The Blue Hawks hit a poor punt of 19 yards, giving a head start for DaSU's starting drive on DiSU 33-yard line with 6:48 to go in the third quarter.  The Trojans were unable to move the ball as they turned the ball on downs on DiSU's 26-yard line with less than six minutes left.

The quarter ended with a 4-yard rush by DiSU's Caleb Rist to DaSU's 20-yard line.

Dickinson State maintained their 28-7 lead after three quarters.

FOURTH QUARTER
The Blue Hawks continued their drive from the late third quarter through the early fourth quarter, scoring another touchdown.  Madler threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Clark with 13:26 remaining.  Alex Wegner hit a successful PAT extra point kick to make it 35-7 DiSU.

Miller hit a 53-yard field goal with 9:12 remaining to round up the final score at 38-7.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Donovan finished the game with 65 passing yards and a touchdown for Dakota State.  Merrell added 40-yard reception.  Ortman rushed 18 times for 66 yards. 

Collin Brueggeman tallied 12 tackles for the Trojans.  He also had two tackles-for-loss of 15 yards and two quarterback sacks of 15 yards.  Brooks Jansen added five tackles.  Griffin Reiner, Chris Guipi-Bopala, Caleb Dwyer, and Jack Hemmen each had a quarterback sack.

Ortman registered six punts for 197 yards, averaging 32.8 yards per punt for DaSU.

Madler led the Blue Hawks with 143 passing yards with two touchdowns.  Clark had four catches for 78 yards and a touchdown.  Gilbert added two receptions for 43 yards and a touchdown. 

Simonson rushed nine times for 126 yards for the Blue Hawks.  Zuroff added 10 rushes for 78 yards and two touchdowns. 
Jackson Willems and Matt Anderson each registered six tackles for DiSU.  Dahlgren had an interception and a quarterback sack.

TEAM COMPARISONS
Dickinson State outgained Dakota State 399-128 in total offensive yards.  The Blue Hawks rushed 256 yards to the Trojans 58 rushing yards.  DiSU threw 143 yards to DaSU 70 passing yards.

Dickinson State collected 22 first downs to Dakota State eight first downs.  The Blue Hawks converted 8-of-15 on third down situations, while DaSU made 4-of-16 on third downs.

TROJANS SENIORS
Saturday's game marked the final contest for the following Dakota State's seniors:  Tyce Ortman, Blake Duran, Austin Lake, Jay Skogerboe, Trey Ortman, JerQon Conners, Chris Guipi-Bopala, Cooper Vincent, Joseph Taylor, Collin Brueggeman, Joey Hoeschen, and Nathan Cook.

UP NEXT
Stay tuned to the Dakota State athletics' website on dsuathletics.com or download the free Trojan Nation fan app for the 2025 football schedule.