November 8, 2024
This Week's Preview
MADISON, S.D.—The Dakota State University (S.D.) Trojan football team (5-3 overall record, 3-3 North Star Athletic Association record) begins their two-game North Star Athletic Association road trip Saturday late afternoon. The Trojans make their first trip to Jerome Berg Field (330 3rd Street NE) in Mayville, N.D., taking on Mayville State (N.D.) (4-5 overall record, 3-4 NSAA conference record). Kick-off is set for 4 p.m.
Dakota State snapped their three-game losing skid as they conclude their home schedule with a 13-6 victory over Valley City State (N.D.) on Oct. 26. The Trojans finished their first year at the newly Brian Kern Family Stadium on Blankley Field with a 3-2 home record, holding their opponents to 13.2 points per game. It was the first home field winning record since the 2022 season (3-2 record at the former Trojan Field).
Mayville State dropped their third straight North Star conference game after falling at Valley City State on Nov. 2. The Vikings won by the score of 10-6. The Comets had fell to No. 22 Dickinson State (N.D.) 49-14 on Oct. 19 and at home versus Jamestown (N.D.) on Oct. 26 by the score of 21-14. Mayville State is play their final 2024 football regular-season contest on Saturday.
Mayville State edged Dakota State in the first North Star conference meeting on Oct. 5 at Brian Kern Family Stadium 13-12, despite facing strong wind conditions.
Next Up: Dakota State wraps up their 2024 season next Saturday as they take on the current 10-time North Star conference champion No. 17 ranked Dickinson State (N.D.). The game is set for 1 p.m. (Central Time).
Week 9 Quick Hits
+ Dakota State (S.D.) and Mayville State (N.D.) will be meeting for 39th time in the all-time meeting on Saturday. Both teams had meet for two meetings for the second straight year and their third time in the past five seasons.
+ The Comets are playing their final game of the 2024 season on Saturday. The Trojans have two North Star conference games remaining on their 2024 schedule, including at MSU and at No. 17 ranked Dickinson State (N.D.) next Saturday.
+ Dakota State is seeking for the first road victory since Sept. 21 when they defeated at Valley City State (N.D.) 19-8. The Trojans are 2-1 record on the road this season. Mayville State is 2-3 record at home in 2024.
+ DSU is looking for their first victory at MSU since Oct. 22, 2022, when the Trojans earned a 38-24 victory. The Trojans are 8-2 record in the last ten meetings with the Comets.
+ Dakota State had won six times in the last seven meetings over Mayville State held at Jerome Berg Field since Oct. 24, 2015.
+ The Trojans currently have a half-game lead for second place in the North Star football conference standings with a 3-3 record. The Comets are third with 3-4 NSAA conference record, followed by Valley City State (N.D.) fourth with 2-4 league record and Jamestown (N.D.) fifth with 2-5 conference record.
+ Dakota State had held the North Star conference opponents less than 13 points for the fourth time this season after their 13-6 home victory over VCSU on Oct. 26. It was the fifth time this season DSU had held their opponents less than 13 points.
The Series (39th meeting - DSU leads series 22-16)
Last Meeting—Oct. 5, 2024, Brian Kern Family Stadium on Blankley Field, Madison, S.D.—Strong wind, gusty conditions were featured during the first North Star Athletic Association meeting between Dakota State (S.D.) and Mayville State (N.D.). The Comets took advantage of the Trojans' miscues, holding on to a 13-12 victory, ending DSU's four-game winning streak to start the 2024 season.
Mayville State took the first lead of the game late in the first quarter at 7-0. Dakota State answered with a 7-yard touchdown run by
Tyce Ortman to trim MSU's lead to 7-6 in the second quarter. The Trojans overtook the lead at 12-6 after another touchdown run by Ortman (1-yard). Mayville State kicked off the fourth quarter with a touchdown and held on to 13-12 victory.
AJ Donovan finished the game with 186 yards.
Austin Lake caught three passes for 81 yards. Ortman rushed 22 times for 75 yards and a touchdown.
Caleb Dwyer tallied 11 tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss of 12 yards, a pass break up, and a fumble recovery. DSU outgained MSU 264-179 in total offensive yards.
Dakota State and Mayville State met in 1986 for their first all-time series meeting. The Comets won the first nine meetings, followed by 11 consecutive wins by the Trojans before it ended in 2010.
DSU and MSU were former members of the Dakota Athletic Conference and then became NAIA independent. Both teams were the original members of the North Star Athletic Association with the Trojans leading the series with an 11-4 record since its inception in 2013-14 season. Saturday's contest will mark the final North Star conference meeting before making the transition to the Frontier conference.
DSU closes home schedule with victory over VCSU
Madison, S.D. (Oct. 26, 2024)—Dakota State (S.D.) prevented Valley City State (N.D.) from scoring twice in the red zones, thanks to a pair of interceptions, holding on to 13-6 North Star Athletic Association football victory. The Trojans closed the first year at the Brian Kern Family Stadium on Blankley Field with a winning record (3-2).
Valley City State took the first lead of the game after a 35-yard field goal with 2:37 left for a 3-0 lead. Dakota State answered on the ensuing possession as they settled for a 26-yard field goal from
Carson Sauseda. The game was tied at halftime (3-3). The Trojans then scored 10 straight points, thanks to a 5-yard touchdown run by
Tyce Ortman in the third quarter and a 19-yard field goal by Sauseda in the fourth quarter. VCSU trimmed DSU's lead to 13-6 with 2:28 left.
AJ Donovan was 10-for-19 with 83 yards passing for Dakota State.
Preston Iverson rushed 15 times for 68 yards.
Tyce Ortman added 13 rushes for 40 yards and a touchdown.
Tysen Grinde finished the game with two catches for 33 yards.
Melek Ford added three receptions for 24 yards.
Taron Serr led the DSU's defense with nine tackles.
Caleb Dwyer added eight tackles and a quarterback sack.
Cole Paulson had seven tackles, two tackles-for-loss, and a fumble recovery.
Jay Skogerboe,
Trey Ortman, and
Kacey Cauley each caught an interception. Both Skogerboe and Tr. Ortman interceptions occurred in the end zone, while Cauley caught an interception to end the game.
Valley City State outgained Dakota State 328-189 in total offensive yards. The Vikings rushed for 213 yards to the Trojans 106 rushing yards. VCSU threw 115 yards to DSU 83 passing yards.
VCSU committed four turnovers in the game (three interceptions, one fumble) to the Trojans zero turnovers. The Vikings were 7-of-16 on third downs to the Trojans 4-of-11 third downs.
Sauseda earns second NSAA Special Teams Player-of-the-Week
Madison, S.D. (Oct. 28, 2024)—
Carson Sauseda of Dakota State (S.D.) earned his second North Star Athletic Association Football Special Player-of-the-Week after the ninth edition was announced by the conference office.
Sauseda went 3-for-3 on his kicking game in Trojans 13-6 home finale over Valley City State (N.D.) at Brian Kern Family Stadium on Oct. 26. It was the first time that the Trojans earned a season series sweep of the Vikings, as well as the first home victory over VCSU since 1998.
He hit a clutch 19-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter to pull away for the Trojans. DSU's lead ballooned to 13-3 after his field goal with four minutes and eighteen seconds left to go in the game.
Sauseda also hit a 26-yard field goal in the second quarter as DSU tied the game at 3-3 with 11:15 on the clock. He added the PAT extra point kick after
Tyce Ortman's 5-yard touchdown in the third quarter. He recorded five kick-offs for 242 total yards (48.2 yards per kick-off) with two touchbacks.
Dakota State in the NSAA conference ranks
Madison, S.D. (Nov. 8, 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 21.1 points per game. The Trojans are second in the league in total touchdowns (20) and extra point kicks (18).
Dakota State averages 294.6 offensive yards per game, which is second in the North Star conference. The Trojans are third in the league with 1,010 rushing yards and 1,347 passing yards.
Defensively, DSU is holding their opponents to 16.3 points per game which is best scoring defense in the league. The Trojans also rank second in the conference in total defense allowed with 270.3 yards per game.
Dakota State leads the North Star in interceptions with 15 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 at Brian Kern Family Stadium
Madison, S.D. (Oct. 26, 2024)—Dakota State (S.D.) finished their first year at Brian Kern Family Stadium on Blankley Field with a 13-6 victory over Valley City State (N.D.), completing their home schedule with a winning record (3-2 record).
Dakota State held their rival Dakota Wesleyan to three points in the season home opener on Aug. 29, followed by six points by Jamestown (N.D.) during Trojans' homecoming football game on Sept. 14. DSU averaged 19.2 points per game at home.
Trojans leaders in the North Star conference
Madison, S.D. (Nov. 8, 2024)—
Tyce Ortman leads the North Star Athletic Association in rushing categories for Dakota State. He averages 83.6 yards per game and leads the conference with nine rushing touchdowns.
Melek Ford averages 38.6 receiving yards per game, which is fourth best in the North Star conference. He is tied for second most receiving touchdowns in the league with four
Austin Lakes follows with the fifth best receiving yards in the league, averaging 38.4 yards per game. He also ranks fifth in the NSAA conference with three touchdown receptions.
Collin Brueggeman ranks fourth in the North Star conference with 6.3 tackles per game for Dakota State.
Caleb Dwyer ranks second in the conference with 5.0 quarterback sacks, while his teammate
Chris Guipi-Bopala is fifth most sacks in the league with three sacks.
Carson Sauseda leads the North Star conference in kicking with 45 points for the Trojans. He leads the league in field goals made with nine field goals and contributed 18 PAT extra-point kicks this season.
2024 DSU Football Team Leaders
