September 7, 2024

LINCOLN, Neb. – Dakota State (S.D.) stormed to a 7-0 lead after the first play of the offensive series Saturday evening at Abel Stadium, earning a 41-25 road victory over NCAA Division III Nebraska Wesleyan.  It was the first road victory for the Trojans since Oct. 29, 2022, when they defeated Iowa Wesleyan in the North Star Athletic Association action in Mount Pleasant, Iowa.

Dakota State, who scored a season high 41 points Saturday evening, raised their overall record to 2-0.  It was the first time since 2014 season that DSU started the season with a 2-0 record.  In addition, it was the first win over the NCAA Division III team for the first time since Sept. 21, 2019, when the Trojans defeated Wisconsin-Stevens Point at the Trojan Field during the Trojan Days homecoming football game.

Nebraska Wesleyan was playing their season opener (0-1 overall record).  It was both teams' first meeting.

FIRST QUARTER
Dakota State's JerQon Conners kicked off the game with a 44-yard kick-off return to Nebraska Wesleyan 48-yard line.  The Trojans kicked off the first offensive series as Tray Hettick connected to Austin Lake for a 48-yard touchdown for the first lead of the game.  Carson Sauseda followed up with an extra-point kick to give DSU a 7-0 lead with fourteen minutes, forty-three seconds left in the first quarter.

The Prairie Wolves opened their drive on their own 25-yard line after a touchback from the kickoff.  NWU marched down to the DSU's 24-yard line as the Trojans prevented the Prairie Wolves from their scoring opportunity.  Nebraska Wesleyan turned the ball on downs on DSU's 24-yard line with 9:30 on the clock.

The quarter ended with the Trojans with the ball on NWU's 10-yard line after using 12 plays in the final 6:21. 

SECOND QUARTER
Dakota State had to settle for a 27-yard field goal by Sauseda to extend their lead to 10-0 with 14:47 on the clock.

Nebraska Wesleyan committed a turnover on the ensuing possession as Collin Brueggeman intercepted Connor White's pass at NWU's 41-yard line with 14 minutes left in the second quarter.  Cole Paulson recorded a broken-up pass during the same play.

Hettick connected to Melek Ford on the next play for a 41-yard touchdown.  Sauseda added the PAT extra point kick to balloon the Trojans' lead to 17-0 with 13:53 left in the second.

After the Prairie Wolves were forced to punt on the next possession, the Trojans used nine plays for 72 yards for the next score.  Dakota State highlighted the scoring drive with three 10-plus yards plays.  Hettick threw his third touchdown of the game, throwing a 4-yard pass to Tyce Ortman for a touchdown.  Sauseda hit the PAT extra point kick to extend DSU's lead to 24-0 with 8:11 left before halftime.

Nebraska Wesleyan snapped their scoring drought with a touchdown on the next possession.  Trystin Myers ran for a 5-yard touchdown with 4:32 on the clock.  Henry Walker's PAT extra point kick was no good as the Trojans maintained a 24-6 lead.

Both teams were unable to score in the final minutes of the game.  Walter missed a 38-yard field goal with less than a minute to go before halftime for NWU.

DSU led 24-6 by halftime.

THIRD QUARTER
After the Prairie Wolves were forced to punt on the first offensive series of the third quarter, the Trojans went on to use nine plays for 87 yards to widen their lead.  Ortman highlighted the scoring drive with a 29-yard touchdown rush with 8:21 remaining in the third.  Sauseda added the PAT extra-point kick to give Dakota State a 31-6 lead.

Kaden Eng intercepted NWU White's pass on the next possession as Dakota State regained the ball with 7:20 to go in the third quarter.  The Trojans went on to answer with a 18-yard touchdown reception by Tysen Grinde from Hettick to balloon their score to 37-6 with 5:26 on the clock.  Sauseda added the PAT extra point to put DS up 38-6.

FOURTH QUARTER
Nebraska Wesleyan ended their scoring drought with a touchdown to kick off the fourth quarter.  White threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Tanner Johnson with 14:07 remaining.  The Prairie Wolves' 2-point PAT attempted failed as DSU led 38-12.

NWU added another score after the Trojans were forced to punt on the ensuing possession.  White connected to Cole Siems for a 9-yard touchdown with 9:33 remaining and could not convert their 2-point PAT try as DSU led 38-18.
Dakota State answered with a 32-yard field goal from Sauseda for a 41-18 lead with 5:23 left.

Blake Duran intercepted NWU's White pass with 4:21 remaining on NWU's 35-yard line.  The Trojans committed a turnover on the next possession as the Prairie Wolves regained possession on NWU's 33-yard line. 

Nebraska Wesleyan closed the scoring with a 2-yard touchdown run by Jackson Byers with 1:21 remaining.  Walter added the PAT extra point kick as NWU trimmed DSU's lead to 41-25.

Dakota State secured the victory as Lake caught an onside kick attempt by Nebraska Wesleyan.  He returned for 17 yards to NWU's 31-yard line with 1:16 remaining.

TEAM LEADERS
DSU's Hettick finished the game by completing 18 passes in 26 attempts for 233 yards.  He threw four touchdowns in the game.  Lake caught four passes for 86 yards with a touchdown.  Ford added two receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown.  Conners had four catches for 31 yards.  Grinde collected two catches for 23 yards and a touchdown.

Ortman rushed 18 times for 89 yards and a touchdown for Dakota State.  He also had two catches for 20 yards and a touchdown.  Preston Iverson ran 14 times for 74 yards. 

Deveon Moses led the Trojans' defense with six tackles.  Jay Skogerboe, Chris Guipi-Bopala, Taron Serr, and Brueggman each had four tackles.  Brueggeman, Eng, and Duran each recorded an interception. 

Ortman recorded four punts for 167 total yards, averaging 41.8 yards per punt for DSU.  His two punts landed inside the opponent's 20-yard line.  Conners had four kick-off returns for 109 total yards.  Sauseda was 7-of-7 on his kicking game, making a pair of field goals and made all five PAT extra-point kicks.

White was 30-of-55 for 301 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions for Nebraska Wesleyan.  Siems caught eight catches for 141 yards and a touchdown.  Jaheim Felder added nine receptions for 79 yards.

Jacob Leu led the Prairie Wolves with nine tackles.  Blake Baker added eight tackles. 

TEAM COMPARISONS
Dakota State outgained Nebraska Wesleyan 406-358 in total offensive yards.  The Trojans rushed for 172 yards to the Prairie Wolves 57 yards.  NWU threw for 301 yards to DSU 234 passing yards.

Dakota State collected 25 first downs to Nebraska Wesleyan 21 first downs.   DSU was 3-of-10 on third down conversions while NWU was 6-of-14 on third downs.  The Trojans maintained possession for 34 minutes, 38 seconds.  The Prairie Wolves had a time possession of 25 minutes, 22 seconds.

UP NEXT
Dakota State kicks off their eight-game North Star Athletic Association football schedule next Saturday, hosting Jamestown (N.D.) in the annual Trojan Days homecoming football game.  Kick-off is set for 4 p.m.  Seniors will be honored at least 30 minutes prior to the kick-off.