September 6, 2024
Week 2 Preview
MADISON, S.D.—The Dakota State University (S.D.) Trojan football team (1-0 overall record) wraps up their non-conference schedule Saturday evening. The Trojans travel to Abel Stadium (North 56th Street and Huntington Ave.) in Lincoln, Neb., to take on NCAA Division III Nebraska Wesleyan (4-6 overall record, 2-6 American Rivers Conference record in 2023). Kick-off is set for 7 p.m. in both teams' first-ever meeting.
Dakota State is coming off from their 34-3 home victory over rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) in their first-ever game held at the new football stadium, the Brian Kern Family Stadium on Blankley Field at the Beacom PREMIER Athletics Complex. The Trojans shut down the Tigers through the first three quarters, opening with a 13-0 halftime lead and never trailed in the game.
Nebraska Wesleyan finished their 2023 season with an overall record of 4-6 and 2-6 record in the American Rivers Conference. The Prairie Wolves earned a home victory over North Star's conference foe Mayville State (N.D.) last season by the score of 33-30. Nebraska Wesleyan will be facing two teams from the NSAA conference this season against Dakota State and Mayville State.
Saturday's game will be the first road contest for Dakota State this season.
Next Up: Dakota State returns home next Saturday (Sept. 14) as they host Jamestown (N.D.) in the annual Trojan Days homecoming football game. Kick-off is set for 4 p.m. The Trojans will be honoring their seniors at least approximately 30 minutes prior to kick-off. There will be tailgate after the homecoming parade at 1 p.m.
Week 2 Quick Hits
+ Dakota State (S.D.) is seeking for their first road victory since Oct. 29, 2022, when they defeated Iowa Wesleyan in the North Star Athletic Association conference action in Mount Pleasant, Iowa.
+ The last time DSU earned a road non-conference victory was on Aug. 28, 2021, when they defeated rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 6-0 in a defensive battle at Joe Quintal Field in Mitchell, S.D.
+ Dakota State will be facing a team from NCAA Division III for the sixth time in the last seven years (none in 2020 due to COVID). The Trojans' last victory over NCAA Division III was in 2019 when they defeated Wisconsin-Stevens Point during Trojan Days homecoming football game at the Trojan Field.
+ DSU have five road contests scheduled this season, with four road games in the North Star Athletic Association (teams from North Dakota—Dickinson State, Jamestown, Mayville State, and Valley City State).
+ The Trojan developmental team earned their first win of the season on Aug. 31 on the road. Dakota State edged rival Dakota Wesleyan by the score of 23-20. The Trojans host Mount Marty (S.D.) at home on Sunday, Sept. 15, at the Dan Beacom Track & Field with a 3 p.m. kick-off.
+ Dakota State plays two road contests during the month of September, including Saturday's game at Nebraska Wesleyan. The Trojans will make a trip to Valley City State (N.D.) on Sept. 21 to conclude the month of September contests.
+ DSU will be playing their second consecutive night contests (vs. DWU on Aug. 29 and at NWU on Saturday).
The Series (1st meeting - Series tied 0-0)
1st Meeting—Sept. 7, 2024, Abel Stadium, Lincoln, Neb.—Saturday will be the first all-time meeting between NAIA's Dakota State (S.D.) and NCAA Division III member Nebraska Wesleyan at Abel Stadium.
Nebraska Wesleyan's history include a mascot of the Coyotes in the early 1900's. Their nickname was changed to the Plainsmen in 1933 and changed to Prairie Wolves in 2000.
The Prairie Wolves have competed in several conferences over the years, including the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC), the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC), and currently a member of the American Rivers Conference (ARC).
Nebraska Wesleyan had made five NAIA Football National Playoffs appearance in 1946, 1988, 1989, 1991, and 2000. They had captured 22 conference championships in program history, with the last conference title coming in 2000.
The ARC conference schools include schools in Iowa (Buena Vista, Central, Coe, Dubuque, Loras, Luther, Simpson, and Wartburg) and one school in Nebraska (Nebraska Wesleyan).
Dakota State is in their final year with the North Star Athletic Association member and will be making a transition to the Frontier Conference in 2025-26. The Frontier Conference will have a total of 14 members in the football conference, including the current North Star football members.
Trojans rout rival Tigers in new stadium debut
Madison, S.D. (Aug. 29, 2024)—Dakota State (S.D.) shut down rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.), thanks to the Trojans forcing the Tigers to five turnovers (three interceptions and two fumbles) in 34-3 rout victory at the new Brian Kern Family Stadium.
It was the largest margin of victory for DSU since 1980 when the Trojans won by the score of 36-6.
Carson Sauseda hit a 52-yard field goal to give DSU a 3-0 lead with 3:38 on the clock, one-yard shy of tying the school record of 53-yard field goal by Caleb Nielsen in 2020 at Waldorf (Iowa).
The Trojans scored 10 points in the second quarter, including a 35-yard field goal by Sauseda to extend their lead to 13-0 by halftime. Dakota State forced DWU to two turnovers in the third quarter. The Trojans' lead grew to 20-0 after
Tyce Ortman's 25-yard touchdown and Sauseda's PAT extra point kick.
DWU trimmed DSU's lead to 20-3 in the early fourth quarter before the Trojans scored the next 14 points to seal the victory.
Melek Ford caught a 47-yard touchdown reception, while Ortman added a 4-yard touchdown run.
Tray Hettick finished the game by completing 19 passes in 34 attempts for 194 yards with a touchdown.
JerQon 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.
Taron Serr paced the Trojans' defense with eight tackles and an interception.
Chris Guipi-Bopala added six tackles, three tackles-for-loss of 11 yards, a quarterback sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.
Jay Skogerboe had five tackles.
Deveon Moses and
Kaden Eng each had an interception.
DSU outgained DWU 365-227 in total offensive yards. The Trojans had 22 first-downs to Tigers 10 first-downs. Dakota State had a time possession of 33 minutes, 55 seconds to DWU 26:05.
Chamber of Commerce Traveling Cup returns to Madison
Madison, S.D. (Aug. 29, 2024)—The Chamber of Commerce Traveling Cup returns to Madison after Dakota State's 34-3 rout over rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) at the new Brian Kern Family Stadium on Blankley Field.
Dakota State improved to 6-1 record all-time in Chamber of Commerce Traveling Cup, which was started in 2017 at the former Trojan Field. The Trojans won in a high scoring offense attack in the first traveling cup by the score of 56-39.
The Trojans won five straight traveling cup contest until the Tigers snapped their losing skid in 2023. Dakota Wesleyan defeated Dakota State by the score of 23-13 at Joe Quntial Field in Mitchell, S.D.
Both Dakota State and Dakota Wesleyan were former members of the South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference. The series began in 1908 and played until their final conference contest in 1999. The series briefly returned during 2000's and then again in 2011 where they had played since, except the 2020 season due to COVID pandemic.
Ty. Ortman selects to NSAA Football Offensive Player-of-the-Week
Madison, S.D. (Sept. 2, 2024)—The North Star Athletic Association has selected Dakota State's (S.D.) senior running back
Tyce Ortman as their Offensive Player-of-the-Week, the first edition of the conference weekly honors were announced.
Ortman, 5-foot-11 and 195 lbs., rushed 15 times for 89 yards with three touchdowns in fueling the Trojans to their 34-3 home rout over rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) at the new Brian Kern Family Stadium. He rushed for a 1-yard touchdown late in the second quarter to extend DSU's lead to 10-0.
He added a 25-yard touchdown run on the first play after DWU's poor punt of 16 yards late in the third quarter, ballooning DSU's lead to 20-0. DSU sealed the final score as Ortman ran for a 4-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Ortman also registered five punts for 200 yards, averaging 40.0 yards per punt. He recorded a game-long 55-yard punt in the third quarter. All of his five punts landed on the DWU's inside 20-yard line.
2024 Trojan Days Homecoming Schedule set
Madison, S.D. (Sept. 6, 2024)—The 2024 Trojan Days homecoming schedule is set for next weekend. The schedule kicks off next Friday with a picnic for all alumni at the Beacom PREMIER Complex South Lawn area at 12 noon, followed by the campus history tours at 1 p.m. at the East Hall.
The DSU football team practices at 3:30 p.m. next Friday, where the football alumni are invited to attend. At 4 p.m., the Trojans Together Social is set at the Beacom PREMIER Complex Champions Lounge. The DSU Athletics Hall of Fame is set for 6:30 p.m.
The Trojan Days homecoming parade is set for 10 a.m. on Egan Avenue. There will be a campus tours at the Trojan Zone at 11:30 a.m., while the tailgate will start at 1 p.m. at the Beacom PREMIER Complex South Lawn.
The Trojan football homecoming game kicks off at 4 p.m. versus Jamestown (N.D.) in the North Star Athletic Association season opener. Seniors will be honored at least half hour prior to kick-off.
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.
DSU Football games on KJAM Radio
Madison, S.D. (Sept. 6, 2025)—KJAM Radio will broadcast the Dakota State's (S.D.) homecoming football game next Saturday.
The Trojan football games can be heard live on Jammin' Country 103.1 FM. You can also go to the following link to list to the game on
https://www.amazingmadison.com/dsu-sports/.
Matt Groce will be the 'Voice of the Trojans' on Thursday evening. The audio link to the KJAM radio is also available on DSU athletics' website on dsuathletics.com.
2024 DSU Football Team Leaders
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