October 10, 2025

Game 6:  DAKOTA STATE (S.D.) (3-2, 0-1 FC EAST) at DICKINSON STATE (N.D.) (2-3, 0-1 FC EAST)
OCT. 5 I BIESIOT ACTIVITIES CENTER/SANFORD SPORTS COMPLEX I DICKINSON, N.D. I KICKOFF:  2 PM (CENTRAL TIME)/1 PM (MOUNTAIN TIME)
FRONTIER CONFERENCE EAST DIVISION GAME #2

THE SERIES
Series Overall: 29th meeting all-time (DiSU leads 27-2)
Series Notes: Dakota State is making their second straight meeting trip to Biesiot Activities Center on Saturday.  Dickinson State won the last 14 games in the series with the Trojans.  DSU is seeking their first win in Dickinson, N.D.  DSU defeated DiSU twice at former Trojan Field in 2007 and 2015.      
New Conference: Dakota State and Dickinson State had been members of three different athletic conferences since 2000.  Both were former members of the Dakota Athletic Conference and the North Star Athletic Association.  This year is the first year in the Frontier Conference for DSU, while Dickinson State was once a member of the Frontier Conference in early 2010's.

25.4	Scoring Offense	24.6
122.0	Rushing Offense	110.6
250.8	Passing Offense	195.4
372.8	Total Offense	306.0
21.8	Scoring Defense	28.2
108.6	Rushing Defense	128.4
178.6	Passing Defense	231.0
287.2	Total Defense	359.4
4	Interceptions	6
26/35.7	Punts/Avg.	27/36.7
7-56	Sacks-Yards Lost	8-43

LAST GAME
Dakota State (S.D.) opened the Frontier Conference East Division schedule on Oct. 4 at Alumni Coliseum in Butte, Mont., against nationally ranked No. 5 Montana Tech.  The Trojans could not overcome the Orediggers' 21-0 fast start, falling 49-21.

The Trojans scored early in the second quarter as a defensive lineman Kaucy Cauley scored a 1-yard rushing touchdown.  MT led 28-7 by halftime.  

DSU could get no closer than two possessions in the early fourth quarter, trailing 35-21 after Melk Ford's 18-yard touchdown reception followed by Adrian Villanueva's PAT extra point kick.

Montana Tech outgained Dakota State 555-388 in total offensive yards.  Tray Hettick threw 288 yards with two touchdowns.  Maddox Kihne caught seven passes for 108 yards and a touchdown.  Brooks Jansen had nine tackles.  

ABOUT DICKINSON STATE (N.D.)
Dickinson State (N.D.), located in Dickinson, N.D,, began their season at No. 13 in the NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 preseason poll, thanks their 10 consecutive conference regular season titles in the North Star Athletic Association. 

The Blue Hawks earned their second straight victory, defeating MSU-Northern to move two spots in the first edition of the NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 national poll.  DiSU then dropped out of the NAIA's Top 25 poll after suffering three consecutives setbacks, including going 0-2 in the Frontier Conference crossover.

Dickinson State fell to nationally ranked Carroll (Mont.) 35-7 at home, followed by 41-21 road loss to another nationally ranked Montana Western.  The Blue Hawks opened their Frontier Conference East Division with a 34-32 triple overtime setback at Mayville State (N.D.).

The Blue Hawks are fourth in the FC East Division in scoring offense with 24.6 points and fifth in scoring defense with 28.2 points per game.  

Pete Stanton is entering his 12th season at the helm and 26th overall with the program. He currently ranks second all-time in career wins at Dickinson State, collecting 97 career wins prior to Saturday's contest.  He had led the Blue Hawks to 10 straight NAIA Football Championships Series playoff appearance.

FRONTIER DIVISIONAL OPENER RECAP
The Frontier Conference East and West Divisional opener was completed on Saturday, Oct. 4, with two teams receiving a bye.

In the East Division, Rocky Mountain (Mont.) earned their first victory of the season by defeating Valley City State (N.D.) 31-21 on the road in Valley City, N.D.  Mayville State (N.D.) highlighted with a 34-32 triple overtime victory at home versus Dickinson State (N.D.) at Jerome Berg Field, ending Comets' 19-game losing streak with the Blue Hawks.

Also in the FC East Division opening game, No. 5 ranked Montana Tech used their fast start to defeat Dakota State (S.D.) 49-21 in Butte, Mont.  MSU-Northern was idle last Saturday and will play their first home East Division contest versus the Orediggers this Saturday.

College of Idaho, who is currently ranked No. 22 in the NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25, kicked off the West Division play with a 48-7 rout at Simpson (Calif.).  No. 8 ranked Montana Western defeated Southern Oregon by the score of 40-20 in Ashland, Ore.

Carroll (Mont.), who moved up three spots from No. 17 to No. 14, pulled away past Arizona Christian in Glendale, Ariz.  The Fighting Saints used a 20-6 fourth quarter outburst to earn a 34-12 victory.  Eastern Oregon received a bye week and open their divisional play at home versus the Firestorm.

RUSHIN' FOR A CRE GAME SET ON OCT. 18
The Dakota State University Trojan football team will be holding their annual Rushin' for a Cure football game next Saturday.  The Trojans host Valley City State (N.D.) at Brian Kern Family Stadium on Blankley Field, with a kick-off starting at 4 p.m.    

Fans are encouraged to wear pink clothing to the game to help raise cancer awareness.

The Trojans take a week off on Oct. 25 before returning to action on Nov. 1 for their final three regular season football games.  DSU plays their final road contest at Mayville State (N.D.) before returning home for their final two games of the season at Brian Kern Family Stadium.

Dakota State hosts Rocky Mountain (Mont.) on Nov. 8 and closes their regular season versus Montana State-Northern on Nov. 15.

FRONTIER CONFERENCE WEEK 2 SCHEDULE
The Frontier Conference football league is entering their second week of divisional play in the East and West divisions.

The West Division highlights the NAIA Top 25 battle between No. 14 ranked Carroll (Mont.) and No. 8 ranked Montana Western in Dillon, Mont.  Also in the West Division, Arizona Christian travels to Eastern Oregon for Mountie's divisional season opener.  The schedule wraps up with Southern Oregon visiting Simpson (Calif.) in the nightcap.

No. 7 ranked Montana Tech, who dropped two spots in the national football rankings despite their victory over Dakota State (S.D.), will travel to Montana State-Northern on Saturday in the East DIvision.  It will be the Lights' East Division season opener.

Also in the Easdt Division, Mayville State (N.D.) heads on the road to take on Valley City State (N.D.) and wrapping up   Saturday's East Division schedule with Dickinson State (N.D.) returning home against Dakota State (S.D.).

No. 22 ranked College of Idaho and Rocky Mountain (Mont.) are idle this Saturday and return to action next Saturday.

TROJANS IN THE FC EAST CONFERENCE RANKS
According to the NAIA-PrestoStats website as of Friday, Dakota State (S.D.) ranks second in the Frontier Conference East Division in scoring offense with 25.4 points.

DSU ranks second the FC East Division in offensive yards per game with an average of 372.8 offensive yards, Dakota State also leads the FC East Division in scoring defense with 21.8 points per game allowed, as well as second in total yards allowed with 287.2 yards per game.

Tray Hettick is tied for second in the division with seven passing touchdowns for DSU.  Preston Iverson ranks second in rushing yards per game with 56.6 yards.   Taron Serr is eighth in the Frontier Conference East with 7.2 tackles per game.

2025 DAKOTA STATE FOOTBALL TEAM LEADERS

• Rushing:  Preston Iverson - 61 rushes, 283 yards, 2 touchdowns
• Passing:  Tray Hettick - 60-of-102 (58.8 completion rate), 888 yards, 7 touchdowns
• Receiving:  Maddox Kihne - 15 catches, 306 yards, 3 touchdowns
• Scoring:  Adrian Villanueva - 21 points, 3 field goals, 12 PAT extra point kicks
• Punting:  Xander Sheehan - 26 punts, 927 yards, 35.7 yards per punt
• Field Goals:  Adrian Villanueva - 3 field goals
• Kick-offs:  Adrian Villanueva - 22 kick-offs, 1,070 yards (48.6 average)
• Returns:  Jovi Wolf - 10 returns, 80 yards
• Tackles:  Taron Serr - 35 tackles (14 solos, 21 assists)
• Tackles-for-loss:  Jordan Cooper - 4 tackles-for-loss, 18.0 yards loss
• Sacks:  Jordan Cooper - 1.5 sacks, 12.0 yards loss
• Interceptions:  Cole Paulson - 1 interception, 60 yards return, 1 touchdown