September 21, 2024

Photo by Sadie Lindeman

VALLEY CITY, N.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) continued its dominance defense performance coupled with Tyce Ortman's season-high in rushing yards Saturday afternoon, remaining undefeated this season with a 19-8 North Star Athletic Association road victory over Valley City State (N.D.) at Shelly Ellig Field at Lokken Stadium.  It was the Trojans' second victory in the last three road meetings at VCSU since 2022.

Dakota State produced its best start at 4-0 overall record for the first time since the 1992 season.  The Trojans also remained undefeated in North Star conference play at 2-0 record, the first time since 2021 season when DSU started the conference season with a 2-0 record.  Valley City State, who were playing their homecoming game and their home opener Saturday, fell to 1-2 overall record and 0-1 NSAA conference record. 

The Trojans' defense had not allowed more than six points through the first three quarters this season, the third time this season that DSU's defense shut down the opponents through the first three quarters.  In addition, it was the third time this year that Dakota State held its opponents to less than ten points.

DSU earned their sixth win over VCSU in the all-time series (Vikings owns all-time series record of 30-6).

FIRST QUARTER
Both teams struggled offensively in the first fifteen minutes of the game.  The Trojans had 30 more offensive yards than the Vikings (58-28) in the first quarter.

The quarter ended with the Trojans having the ball on VCSU's 30-yard line after starting the drive on their own DSU's 39-yard line with 3:54 on the clock.  The highlights of the drive through the end of the first quarter included a 15-yard penalty committed by VCSU, while AJ Donovan connected to Austin Lake for 14 yards on thrd-and-9 situation on VCSU's 40-yard line.

SECOND QUARTER
Dakota State committed a turnover to start the second quarter.  VCSU's Gavin Gerhardt intercepted DSU's pass on VCSU's 8-yard line and returned it for 27 yards to VCSU's 35-yard line with 14:44 on the clock.

The Vikings used five plays for 24 yards in 1:44 on the ensuing possession.  After VCSU was forced the punt with a 26-yard by Avery Thorsgard, DSU's Jay Skogerboe returned the punt for 14 yards to DSU's 29-yard line with 13 minutes to go in the second.

Dakota State set up their first scoring drive of the game as they registered 12 plays for 71 yards in 7 minutes, 11 seconds.  Ortman rushed for an 11-yard touchdown to give the Trojans a 6-0 lead with 5:49 to go before halftime.   Carson Sauseda followed up with a PAT extra point kick to extend DSU's lead to 7-0.

VCSU marched down the field with seven plays for 59 yards in 3:30 on the next possession.  Facing fourth-and-2 situation on DSU's 22-yard line, the Trojans' defense halted the Vikings as Laggarius Marshell rushed for 1 yard.  The Vikings turned the ball on downs as DSU retained possession with 2:14 to go on DSU's 21-yard line.

Dakota State quickly answered, coupled with two-minute warning, as they added another score before halftime.  The Trojans used 12 plays for 79 yards in 2:06 as Donovan threw his first career collegiate touchdown pass to Melek Ford for eight yards.  Sauseda followed up with a successful PAT extra-point kick to balloon DSU's lead to 14-0 with eight seconds left.

Dakota State led 14-0 by halftime.

THIRD QUARTER
Dakota State was forced to punt on their first possession of the second half.  Ortman recorded a 35-yard as Valley City State starts their second-half's first possession on their own 16-yard line with 9:26 on the clock.

The Vikings were forced to punt after going three-and-out.  Valley City State failed their punt attempt as they lost 28 yards on fourth-and-10 situation on their own 28-yard line, resulting in defensive safety for DSU.  The Trojans' lead grew to 16-0 with 7:19 to go in the third quarter.

Both teams traded punts for the rest of the third quarter.  The quarter ended with Dakota State with the ball on VCSU's 40-yard line, leading 16-0.

FOURTH QUARTER
Facing fourth-and-3 situation on DSU's 43-yard line, Valley City State turned the ball on down as Oscar Kooistra recorded a 13-yard tackle-for-loss on Noah Chambers.  DSU regained possession on VCSU's 44-yard line with 8:40 remaining in the game.

The Trojans settled for a 43-yard field goal by Sauseda on the ensuing possession, ballooning their lead to 19-0 with 5:27 left in the game.

Valley City State broke their scoring drought on the next possession as they used 10 plays for 75 yards in 3:36. Chambers threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Dominic Stomay with 1:51 remaining to cut DSU's lead to 19-6.

The Vikings converted a successful 2-point PAT attempt as Chambers connected to Exavian Westbrook (VCSU trailed 19-8).

VCSU's Yzan Lorenzo failed an onside attempt as they committed a penalty as DSU retained possession with 1:47 left.  The Trojans secured the victory by converting a first down after a 17-yard rush by Ortman on the second play of the drive.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Donovan went 16-of-27 for 148 yards with a touchdown and an interception in his first career start at Dakota State.  Ford caught two passes for 29 yards with a touchdown.  Lake had three receptions for 27 yards.  JerQon Conners had three catches for 23 yards.  Maddox Kihne had two receptions for 18 yards.

Ortman ran 30 times for 162 yards with a touchdown for the Trojans.  He also had five punts for 208 total yards, averaging 41.6 yards per punt.  Four of his punts landed inside the VCSU's 20-yard line and one punt as a touchback.  Preston Iverson added 13 rushes for 27 yards.

Collin Brueggeman paced the Trojans' defense with eight tackles.  Kaden Eng and Taron Serr each added five tackles.  Caleb Dwyer and Kooistra each had a quarterback sack.  Kooistra had two tackles-for-loss of 22 yards.

Sauseda was 3-for-3 on his kicking game, converting a pair of PAT extra-point kicks and hitting a 43-yard field goal.  He had four kick-offs for 217 yards (54.3 yards per kick-offs) with two touchbacks. 

Chambers was 19-of-28 for 170 yards with a touchdown for Valley City State.  Westbrook had seven receptions for 86 yards.  Jake Deutsch added four catches for 30 yards.

Ka'Ua Nishigaya ran two times for 39 yards for the Vikings.  Marshell added five rushes for 20 yards.

Gerhardt led VCSU's defense with nine tackles and an interception return of 27 yards.  Loke Iese, Levi Olson, and Georgia Mageo each tallied seven tackles.

TEAM COMPARISONS
Dakota State racked up 332 total offensive yards and held Valley City State to 187 total offensive yards.  The Vikings threw for 181 yards compared to the Trojans 148 passing yards. 

DSU rushed 184 yards in the game and held the Vikings to just six rushing yards (67 rushing yards loss). 

Dakota State converted 21 first downs compared to the Vikings 12 first downs.  The Trojans converted 7-of-17 on third downs compared to the Vikings 2-of-12 third down situations. 

UP NEXT
Dakota State takes their first North Star's conference bye week next Saturday and returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 5.  The Trojans host Mayville State (N.D.) in the annual Rushin' for a Cure football game at Brian Kern Family Stadium on Blankley Field.  Kick-off is set for 4 p.m. in the NSAA football contest.

Valley City State visits Mayville State in the North Star conference action next Saturday in Mayville, N.D.