September 19, 2024
Week 4 Preview
MADISON, S.D.—The Dakota State University (S.D.) Trojan football team (3-0 overall record, 1-0 North Star Athletic Association record) continues their North Star conference action Saturday afternoon. The Trojans journey north to take on Valley City State (N.D.) (1-1 overall record, 0-0 NSAA conference record). Kick-off is set for 4 p.m. at Shelly Ellig Field at Lokken Stadium (1047 Viking Drive) in Valley City, N.D.
Dakota State is coming off with their 16-6 defensive battle victory over Jamestown (N.D.) in the North Star Athletic Association season opener on Sept. 14 at Brian Kern Family Stadium at Blankley Field. The Trojans posted its best 3-0 start for the first time since the 1993 season and first time since the 2022 season that DSU had won three straight games. Dakota State is 2-0 record at the new Brian Kern Family Stadium this season.
Valley City State is coming off from a bye week and did not play since Sept. 6 as they defeated NCAA Division III Augsburg (Minn.) 24-14. The Vikings dropped a 38-7 road setback in their season opener at NCAA Division II Minot State (N.D.) on Aug. 29.
Dakota State and Valley City State will be meeting for the 36th time in their all-time series meeting on Saturday. Both teams will meet for the second NSAA meeting in late October at Brian Kern Family Stadium in Madison.
Next Up: Dakota State takes the first North Star's conference bye week on Sept. 28 and returns home on Oct. 5. The Trojans welcome Mayville State (N.D.) in the conference action at Brian Kern Family Stadium. The annual Rushin' for a Cure game is set for a 4 p.m. kick-off.
Week 4 Quick Hits
+ Dakota State (S.D.) is 1-0 record on the road this season. The Trojans are seeking for their first two-game winning streak on the road since 2022 season when DSU won three straight road games, starting at Valley City State (N.D.), followed by victories at Mayville State (N.D.) and Iowa Wesleyan.
+ DSU and No. 22 ranked Dickinson State (N.D.) are tied for first place in the North Star football conference standings with a 1-0 record each. VCSU have not played their first North Star conference game until this Saturday. Mayville State and Jamestown (N.D.) are 0-1 record in the conference prior to Saturday's game for both teams in Jamestown, N.D.
+ Dakota State is second in the North Star conference in points scored per game with 30.3 points average. Valley City State is tied for third with 15.5 points per game this season.
+ The Trojans leads the NSAA conference in points allowed, allowing the opponents to 11.3 points per game. The Vikings are fifth in the conference with 26.0 points allowed this season.
+ Valley City State swept the season series meetings last season, most recently winning the previous meeting in Valley City, N.D. The Vikings held on to a 21-14 victory over the Trojans on Oct. 21, 2023.
+ The last time DSU earned a victory in Valley City, N.D., was on Oct. 8, 2022, by the score of 31-17, thanks to their 22-7 outburst in the fourth quarter.
+ DSU developmental football team ended their season with a 20-0 home defeat to Mount Marty (S.D.) on Sept. 15.
The Series (36th meeting - VCSU leads series 30-5)
Last Meeting—Oct. 21, 2023, Lokken Stadium, Valley City, N.D.—Dakota State (S.D.) made a late comeback in the fourth quarter in the final North Star Athletic Association road contest at Valley City State (N.D.). The Vikings held off their comeback as they maintained the final possession for a 21-14 victor over the Trojans.
The Vikings jumped to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and never trailed for the rest of the game. Dakota State got on the scoreboard in the third quarter as
Tray Hettick threw a 48-yard touchdown pass, trailing 14-7 with 11:55 remaining in the third. VCSU answered on the ensuing possession to extend their lead to 21-7 in the third.
Preston Iverson added an 8-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to cut DSU's deficit to 21-14, but the Vikings used the final 8:37 of the game to secure the victory.
Hettick finished the game by going 18-of-31 for 252 yards with a touchdown for DSU.
Austin Lake had two catches for 25 yards, while
Nathan Cook added three catches for 24 yards. Iverson ran 12 times for 58 yards and a touchdown for DSU.
Collin Brueggeman had nine tackles and a quarterback sack of nine yards loss.
Blake Duran tallied eight tackles.
Taron Serr added six tackles. Dakota State produced 347 total offensive yards compared to Valley City State 292 total offensive yards.
Dakota State-Valley City Sate all-time series began in 1986 when the Vikings won the first four meetings. DSU earned their first win over VCSU on Sept. 5, 1998, at the Trojan Field by the score of 27-7. Both teams were former members of the Dakota Athletic Conference during the 2000's decade, and original members of the North Star Athletic Association.
Trojans win NSAA opener over Jimmies
Madison, S.D. (Sept. 14, 2024)—Dakota State (S.D.) won the defensive battle with Jamestown (N.D.), earning a 16-6 North Star Athletic Association victory at Brian Kern Family Stadium on Blankley Field. The Trojans scored all their points from their defensive unit in the game. It was the third straight victory for DSU.
Dakota State scored the first points of the game near the end of the first quarter.
Kaden Eng recovered UJ's fumble on UJ's 10-yard line and returned it for a touchdown to give DSU a 7-0 lead after
Carson Sauseda's PAT extra-point kick.
Both teams did not score in the second quarter as the Trojans maintained a 7-0 lead by halftime.
Deveon Moses intercepted Jimmies' pass in the end zone with less than 30 seconds remaining in the second. DSU and UJ could not score in the third quarter as DSU held on to a 7-0 lead.
The Trojans committed a turnover early in the fourth quarter, paving the way for Jimmies to their first score of the game. UJ scored a touchdown to trail 7-6, however, DSU's
Caleb Dwyer blocked the PAT extra point kick as
Kaden Eng returned a 97-yard defensive PAT score to give DSU a 9-6 lead with 13:29 remaining. The Trojans secured the victory as Moses returned a 60-yard 'pick six' for a touchdown with less than three minutes remaining in the game.
Tray Hettick finished the game with 38 passing yards for DSU.
Joseph Cole added 30 passing yards.
JerQon Conners and
Austin Lake each had two receptions for 27 yards.
Tyce Ortman ran 25 times for 84 yards.
Preston Iverson had seven rushes for 22 yards.
Collin Brueggeman tallied 12 tackles. Eng added six tackles, a fumble recovery return of 10 yards for a touchdown, and 2-point PAT defensive score.
Jamestown outgained Dakota State 257-182 in total offensive yards. DSU had the ball control for 34 minutes, and six seconds. UJ had the ball for 25 minutes, 54 seconds.
DSU in the NAIA, NSAA conference ranks
Madison, S.D. (Sept. 19, 2024)—According to the NAIA-PrestoStats as of Thursday, Dakota State ranks 10th in the NAIA in scoring defense. Prior to Saturday's game, the Trojans allowed its opponents to 11.3 points per game. The Trojans also leads the NSAA conference in overall scoring defense.
Tyce Ortman leads the North Star conference in rushing yards per game with an average of 87.3 yards per game. He also leads the conference with four rushing touchdowns.
Preston Iverson ranks third with 48.3 rushing yards per game.
JerQon Conners ranks fourth with 49.7 receiving yards in the NSAA.
Melek Ford is tied for second most receiving touchdowns in the North Star with two.
Deveon Moses leads the NSAA conference with three interceptions for Dakota State.
Kaden Eng is tied for second in the NSAA with two interceptions.
Collin Brueggeman and
Taron Serr each registered one interception for the Trojans this season.
Moses collects two awards; Eng honored by NSAA
Madison, S.D. (Sept. 16, 2024)—Dakota State (S.D.) had two players named to the North Star Athletic Association Football Players-of-the-Week for the second straight week, with one athlete adding the national recognition after DSU's 16-6 home victory over Jamestown (N.D.) on Sept. 14.
Deveon Moses was named to the NAIA Football Defensive Player-of-the-Week, as well as the NSAA Football Defensive Player-of-the-Week. He caught two interceptions in the game for the Trojans. Leading 9-6, Moses secured DSU's victory as he returned a 'Pick Six' for a touchdown with less than three minutes remaining in the game. He returned the interception of 60 yards for a touchdown. Moses also had an interception in the end zone near halftime.
Kaden Eng was named to NSAA Football Special Teams Player-of-the-Week. He returned a 97-yard PAT defensive score which energized the Trojans' momentum to secure the victory. Eng also had a fumble recovery in the game and returned for a touchdown of 10 yards to give DSU a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Eng scored eight points in the game for the Trojans.
Upcoming DSU football schedule and events
Madison, S.D. (Sept. 11, 2024)—Dakota State (S.D.) have two football games remaining during the month of September, including the Trojan Days homecoming football game on Saturday versus Jamestown (N.D.).
The Trojans continue their North Star Athletic Association next Saturday at Valley City State (N.D.) before taking the first NSAA's bye week on Sept. 28.
Dakota State returns home for their two-game home stand, hosting Mayville State (N.D.) in the Rushin' for a Cure football game to raise cancer awareness. Kick-off is set for 4 p.m. There is also a volleyball match on the same day versus Mayville State at 1 p.m. in the DSU Fieldhouse, where the annual Dig Pink volleyball match will take place.
The Trojans host the nationally-ranked Dickinson State (N.D.) on Oct. 12. The game is set for 12 p.m. to conclude the first half portion of the North Star conference schedule. The second-half of the conference schedule will flip-flop the home and away contests on the first half of the conference schedule.
DSU football tickets available online
Madison, S.D. (Aug. 24, 2024)—The Dakota State University Athletics are going digital with tickets to home sporting events.
Tickets to Dakota State's home football games are now online. There are options to purchase tickets for the following categories: general admission, all sports season pass, DSU student season pass, DSU staff/faculty season pass, and season ticket reserved seats.
Make sure to check out on DSU Athletics website on dsuathletics.com or download the Trojan Nation fan app to purchase the tickets DSU home sporting events.
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