August 29, 2024

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) shut down Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) Thursday evening, thanks to the Trojans forcing the Tigers into five turnovers (three interceptions and two fumbles lost) in 34-3 rout victory in a new stadium.  It was the debut at the Brian Kern Family Stadium on Blankley Field at Beacom PREMIER Complex in both teams' season football opener in the NAIA.

Thursday's contest was also the 9th annual Ag Bowl contest, where the Trojans improved to 6-3 record since their inception in 2016.  The Chamber of Commerce traveling cup returned to Madison, as the Trojans won for the seventh time in the last eight meetings.  DSU also improved to 4-0 record all-time in Ag Bowl contests versus DWU at home.

It was the largest margin of victory for Dakota State since 1980 when the Trojans won by the score of 36-6.

The ribbon cutting of the new stadium was held during halftime.

FIRST QUARTER
Both teams were unable to score in the first possession of the game.  The Tigers committed a fumble as Gabriel Chambliss forced the fumble and recovered the fumble by DWU's Cole Holden, starting the drive on DSU's 45-yard line with six minutes, thirty-one seconds on the clock in the first quarter.

DSU then went on to use six plays for 20 yards in 2:53 as they settled for a 52-yard field goal from Carson Sauseda, earning the first lead of the game at 3-0 with 3:38 on the clock.

The Tigers were held to 52 total offensive yards in the first quarter as the Trojans led 3-0.

SECOND QUARTER
Dakota State registered 17 plays for 59 yards from the end of the first quarter through the second quarter.  The Trojans were unable to extend their lead as Sauseda missed a 33-yard field goal with 9:29 to go in the second.
DSU's defense held the Tigers to four yards on the ensuing possession, forcing them to punt. 

Preston Iverson ignited Dakota State's next possession with an 11-yard rush from DSU's 38-yard line to 49-yard line.  Tray Hettick added a 13-yard pass to JerQon Conners for another first-down.  The Trojans scored their first touchdown as Tyce Ortman rushed for a 1-yard touchdown with 4:05 remaining before halftime.

Sauseda hit a successful PAT extra-point kick to extend Dakota State's lead to 10-0.

Chris Guipi-Bopala forced a fumble on DWU's Carter Robinson's rushing on the next possession.  Guipi-Bopala recovered the ball on DWU's 42-yard line as DSU regained possession with 2:29 left in the second.  DSU was unable to score on the next possession, forcing them to punt with less than two minutes to go before halftime.

After the Tigers failed to convert a first down and were forced to punt, the Trojans started their drive on the 50-yard line with 1:41 on the clock.  DSU went on to record seven plays for 32 yards in the final 1:41, settling for a 35-yard field goal from Sauseda for a 13-0 halftime advantage.

THIRD QUARTER
Dakota State took advantage of Dakota Wesleyan's miscue in DWU's first drive of the second half.  Samuel Welch lost the ball while attempting for a punt as Taron Serr and Jay Skogerboe made a tackle-for-loss of 9-yards, giving the Trojans to start their drive on DWU's 23-yard line with 10:30 left on the clock.

The Trojans were unable to score on the ensuing possession as Ortman's 25-yard touchdown run was neglected and moved back due to a penalty.  DSU's could not extend their lead as Sauseda's 32-yard field goal was missed with 8:09 left.

DWU committed the second turnover in the third quarter as Carter Robinson's pass was intercepted by DSU's Serr at DWU's 49-yard line with 6:40 on the clock.  The Trojans were forced to punt, thanks to Ortman's punt of 43-yards that rolled to DWU's 1-yard line by the out-of-bound line with 5:32 on the clock.

The Tigers were unable to convert a first down on the next drive.  The Trojans took advantage of DWU's poor punt of 16 yards to DWU's 25-yard line with 3:22 to go in the third.

Ortman opened the next drive, racing with a 25-yard touchdown run to widen DSU's lead to 19-0 with 3:14 left.  Sauseda hit the PAT extra point kick to extend their lead to 20-0.

Robinson ended the third quarter with a 23-yard rush from DSU's 35-yard line to DSU's 12-yard line.

FOURTH QUARTER
Dakota Wesleyan snapped their scoring drought to start the fourth quarter.  They settled for a 30-yard field goal by Jaxon Patrick as DSU maintained their 20-3 lead with less than 14 minutes to go in the game.

Dakota State marched down the field on the ensuing possession, highlighted by a 47-yard touchdown pass from Hettick to Melek Ford.  Sauseda hit the PAT extra point to balloon DSU's lead to 27-3 with 9:46 left.  The Trojans used eight plays for 71 yards in 4:03 on the scoring drive.

Kaden Eng intercepted DWU's Robinson pass on DWU's 45-yard line, regaining possession for the Trojans with 8:53 left.

The Tigers committed another turnover later in the fourth quarter as they opened their drive with 7:01 left on their own 15-yard line.  Deveon Moses intercepted Robinson's pass on DWU's 30-yard line with less than seven minutes left.

Hettick kicked off the drive with an 18-yard pass to Austin Lake, followed by an 8-yard rush by Hettick.  Ortman then went to rush for a 4-yard touchdown to widen DSU's lead to 33-3 with 5:24 left.  Sauseda added the PAT extra-point kick to make it 34-4 in favor of the Trojans.

The Tigers failed to convert their scoring chance on their final possession as they turned the ball on downs on DSU's 3-yard line with 2:14 left.  DWU used nine plays for 55 yards in 3:01.

TEAM LEADERS
Hettick led the Trojans by completing 19 passes in 34 attempts for 194 yards.  He threw a touchdown and rushed nine times for 24 yards.  Conners caught nine passes for 91 yards.  Ford had two catches for 48 yards and a touchdown. 

Ortman ran 15 times for 89 yards with three touchdowns for Dakota State.  He also registered five punts for 200 total yards, averaging 40.0 yards per punt.  Five of his punts landed inside the 20-yard line, including a 55-yard punt in the game.  Iverson added nine rushes for 49 yards.

Serr paced DSU's defense with eight tackles and an interception.  Guipi-Bopala added six tackles, three tackles-for-loss of 11 yards, a quarterback sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.  Skogerboe tallied five tackles.  Moses and Eng each had an interception. 

Robinson was 9-of-21 for 66 yards with three interceptions for Dakota Wesleyan.  He also ran 14 times for 103 yards.  Koby Kayser had 12 rushes for 57 yards.  Cole Holden had five receptions for 31 yards.

Kalen Stevenson led the Tigers with nine tackles.  Joseph VanOverschelde added nine tackles and a quarterback sack. 

TEAM COMPARISONS
Dakota State outgained Dakota Wesleyan 365-227 in total offensive yards.  The Trojans rushed 171 yards compared to the Tigers 155 yards.  DSU passed for 194 yards to DWU 72 passing yards.

The Trojans recorded 22 first downs compared to the Tigers 10 first downs.  DSU was 5-of-16 on third downs, while DWU was 4-of-12 third downs.

Dakota State maintained possession for 33 minutes and 55 seconds.  Dakota Wesleyan recorded a time possession of 26 minutes, 5 seconds.

UP NEXT
Dakota State plays their final non-conference game of the season next Saturday as they visit NCAA Division III Nebraska Wesleyan.  Kick-off is set for 7 p.m. at Abel Stadium in Lincoln, Neb.