November 15, 2024
Week 10 Preview
MADISON, S.D.—The Dakota State University (S.D.) Trojan football team (6-3 overall record, 4-3 North Star Athletic Association record) looks to finish their 2024 season on a high note as they remain on the road. The Trojans return to North Dakota as they visit the North Star Athletic Association's 10-time defending champion Dickinson State (N.D.) (8-1 overall record, 7-0 NSAA conference record, No. 15 in the latest NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 national poll). Kick-off is set for 1 p.m. (Central Time)/12 p.m. (Mountain Time). The game is being played at Biesiot Activities Center (398 State Ave. N) in Dickinson, N.D.
Dakota State kicked off their two-game road trip with a 7-0 victory at Mayville State (N.D.) on Nov. 9, clinching their third winning record in the past four seasons. The Trojans earned the North Star Athletic Association season series split with the Comets.
Dickinson State extended their winning streak to six games after rolling past Valley City State (N.D.) on the road. Despite falling behind 3-0 in the early second quarter, the Blue Hawks exploded for 28 points in the second quarter and never trailed for a 42-24 victory.
Dickinson State won the first North Star conference meeting at Brian Kern Family Stadium on Oct. 12 by the score of 38-21 in Madison, S.D.
Next Up: Stay tuned to the DSU Athletics website on dsuathletics.com for the 2025 football schedule. Dakota State will make their transition to the new athletic conference, the Frontier Conference.
Week 10 Quick Hits
+ Dakota State (S.D.) and Dickinson State (N.D.) will be meeting for 28th time in the all-time meeting on Saturday. It will be the final ever North Star Athletic Association contest as both teams make transition to the Frontier Conference next season.
+ The Blue Hawks had secured their 10th consecutive North Star Athletic Association regular-season football title and was the first team to earn the NAIA Football Championship Series (FCS) playoffs automatic bid. The Trojans had already secured a second place finish outright in the NSAA conference.
+ The Trojans are seeking for their first victory in Dickinson, N.D., in the all-time series meeting. The Blue Hawks had won the previous 13 meetings with DaSU, with the most recent victory in Madison, S.D., on Oct. 12.
+ Dakota State is looking for their first win over Dickinson State since Oct. 17, 2015, when the Trojans defeated No. 24 Blue Hawks' squad at Trojan Field by the score of 54-21.
+ This will be the second straight year that both teams will be facing each other twice, the third time in the past five seasons that both teams faced each other.
+ The first ever North Star conference meeting between the Trojans and the Blue Hawks were on Nov. 8, 2014 in Dickinson, N.D. Dakota State fell by the score of 20-17 in overtime thriller.
+ Dakota State had held the North Star conference opponents less than 13 points for the fifth time this season after their 7-0 shut out victory at Mayville State (N.D.) on Nov. 9.
The Series (28th meeting--DiSU leads series 25-2)
Last Meeting—Oct. 12, 2024, Brian Kern Family Stadium on Blankley Field, Madison, S.D.—A total of nine turnovers combined by both teams—six by Dakota State (S.D.) and three by No. 21 ranked Dickinson State (N.D.). The Blue Hawks held on to a 38-21 victory, despite being outgained 337-329 in total offensive yards.
The Blue Hawks opened with a 10-0 lead in the first quarter and ballooned their lead to 17-7 by the end of the first quarter. The Trojans trimmed their deficit to 17-14 in the early second quarter, while the Blue Hawks scored the next 14 points and never trailed in the game for a 17-point victory.
AJ Donovan was 28-of-49 for 272 passing yards with two touchdowns for the Trojans.
Tyce Ortman rushed 17 times for 58 yards and a touchdown. He also had four receptions for 45 yards.
Melek Ford had five catches for 98 yards and a touchdown.
Collin Brueggeman led Dakota State with seven tackles and a forced fumble.
Caleb Dwyer had five tackles and two quarterback sack of 12 yards loss.
Jay Skogerboe and
Deveon Moses each registered an interception for DaSU.
Dakota State and Dickinson State were original members of the Dakota Athletic Conference. The all-time series meeting began when the DAC conference was formed in 2000. The Blue Hawks had won the last 13 meetings with the Trojans in the North Star Athletic Association.
When the DAC conference dissolved after the 2010-11 season, DiSU joined the Frontier Conference, while DaSU competed as NAIA independent. The NSAA was formed in 2013, where Dickinson State later then joined in 2014-15 with the former remaining DAC schools (along with Presentation, S.D.).
Trojans shut down Comets in NSAA football action
Mayville, N.D. (Nov. 9, 2024)—Dakota State's (S.D.) defense produced their season-best 106 offensive yards allowed, shutting down Mayville State (N.D.) 7-0 in the North Star Athletic Association action at Jerome Berg Field. The Trojans avenged their first NSAA conference meet setback at Brian Kern Family Stadium (13-12) on Oct. 5, earning the season series split with the Comets. The Trojans won their second straight game.
Dakota State recorded 73 total offensive yards in the first 15 minutes of the game and held Mayville State to 29 total offensive yards, ending the first quarter scoreless. The second quarter featured four interceptions, with two by each team. The game was still scoreless by halftime.
Jovi Wolf returned a kick-off of 32 yards to start the third quarter, sparking the Trojans to their first scoring drive of the game.
Tyce Ortman rushed for a 4-yard touchdown, followed by
Carson Sauseda's PAT extra point kick to give DSU a 7-0 lead with 11:16 on the clock.
Deveon Moses intercepted MSU's pass with 2:21 remaining in the game, securing the win for the Trojans.
Ortman rushed 26 times for 126 yards with one touchdown for DSU. He also had four punts for 157 yards (39.3 yards per punt).
Preston Iverson ran 11 times for 82 yards, including the game-long 45 yards rush in DSU's drive in the early fourth quarter.
AJ Donovan threw for 168 yards.
Tysen Grinde caught three passes for 85 yards.
Austin Lake had a 39-yard reception.
Taron Serr led DSU's defense with six tackles and a tackle-for-loss of three years.
Caleb Dwyer had a quarterback sack. Moses caught two interceptions.
Trey Ortman added an interception.
Dakota State racked up 362 total offensive yards in 68 plays (5.3 yards per play). Mayville State averaged 2.1 yards per play. DSU rushed for a season-high 194 yards to MSU 66 rushing yards. The Trojans had 18 first downs in the game compared to the Comets nine first downs.
Moses earns defense Player-of-the-Week, ties second most single season interceptions
Madison, S.D. (Nov. 11, 2024)—
Deveon Moses of Dakota State (S.D.) was honored by the North Star Athletic Association for the second time this season, collecting the Defensive Player-of-the-Week honor after DSU's 7-0 road victory at Mayville State (N.D.) on Nov. 9 in Mayville, N.D.
Moses caught two interceptions in the game to help the Trojans shut down the Comets at Jerome Berg Field. He caught his first interception of the game in the early second quarter.
The Trojans secured the victory as Moses caught his second interception late in the fourth quarter. He intercepted MSU Dylan LaMont's pass on DSU's 46-yard line as DSU regained possession and used the final 2:21 of the game to secure the win. He also had two tackles in the game.
Moses leads the North Star Athletic Association with seven interceptions this season, which is tied for second most interceptions in a single season in the Trojan football school record book.
Dakota State in the NSAA conference ranks
Madison, S.D. (Nov. 15, 2024)—According to the PrestoStats-NAIA statistical website as of Friday, Dakota State ranks second in the North Star Athletic Association in scoring offense with 19.6 points per game. The Trojans are second in the league in total touchdowns (21) and extra point kicks (19).
Dakota State averages 302.1 offensive yards per game, which is second in the North Star conference. The Trojans are third in the league with 1,204 rushing yards and 1,515 passing yards.
Defensively, DSU is holding their opponents to 13.3 points per game which is best scoring defense in the league. The Trojans also rank first in the conference in total defense allowed with 252.0 yards per game.
Dakota State leads the North Star in interceptions with 18 this season. The Trojans also tied for the most fumble recoveries in the conference with seven total with Mayville State (N.D.) and Jamestown (N.D.). DSU leads the North Star conference with nine field goals made.
Trojans leaders in the North Star conference
Madison, S.D. (Nov. 15, 2024)—
Tyce Ortman leads the North Star Athletic Association in rushing categories for Dakota State. He averages 88.3 yards per game and leads the conference with ten rushing touchdowns.
Austin Lake averages 38.4 receiving yards per game, which is fifth best in the North Star conference.
Melek Ford tied for second most touchdown receptions in the league with four touchdowns.
Collin Brueggeman ties for sixth in the North Star conference with 6.1 tackles per game for Dakota State.
Caleb Dwyer ranks second in the conference with 6.0 quarterback sacks, while his teammate
Chris Guipi-Bopala is sixth most sacks in the league with three sacks.
Carson Sauseda leads the North Star conference in kicking with 46 points for the Trojans. He leads the league in field goals made with nine field goals and contributed 19 PAT extra-point kicks this season.
Trojans make transition to Frontier next year
Madison, S.D. (Nov. 15, 2024)—Saturday's game will be the final ever North Star Athletic Association football contest to be held in the 11-year league, which began during the 2013-14 academic year. The NSAA schools will be making their transition to the Frontier Conference next season (check fcsports.org for more information).
Stay tuned to the DSU Athletics website on dsuathletics.com or download the Trojan Nation fan app to stay up to date with 2025 schedule.
2024 DSU Football Team Leaders
- Rushing: Tyce Ortman - 795 yards (180 attempts - 88.3 yards per game)
- Passing: AJ Donovan - 1,019 yards (96-of-173- 55.5 completion rate)
- Receiving Yards: Austin Lake - 346 yards (20 receptions - 38.4 yards per game)
- Tackles: Collin Brueggeman - 55 tackles (26 solos, 29 assists)
- Tackles-for-loss: Caleb Dwyer - 10.5 tackles-for-loss (73.0 yards loss)
- Quarterback sacks: Caleb Dwyer - 6.0 quarterback sacks (44.0 yards loss)
- Interceptions: Deveon Moses - 7 interceptions (60 yards return each)
- Fumble recoveries: Gabriel Chambliss, Deveon Moses, Chris Guipi-Bopala, Kaden Eng, Caleb Dwyer, Michael Foster, Cole Paulson - 1 fumble recovery
- Scoring: Tyce Ortman - 66 points (11 touchdowns)
- Punting: Tyce Ortman - 38.1 yards per punt (43 punts for 1,639 yards)
- Scoring (kicking): Carson Sauseda - 46 points (19 PAT extra-points, 9 field goals)
