November 1, 2025
MAYVILLE, N.D. – Dakota State (S.D.), receiving votes (RV) in the latest NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 national poll, controlled the line of scrimmage and executed a balanced offensive attack to roll past Mayville State (N.D.) 44–14 on Saturday late afternoon in a Frontier East matchup at Jerome Berg Field.
The highlight of the game was when Dakota State's defense held Mayville State to zero passing yards, which set a new single game team record for passing defense. The previous record was four yards passing versus Sioux Falls (S.D.) College in 1974 (51 years ago).
The Trojans earned their third straight victory and their sixth win in the last seven games to raise their overall record to 6-2. DSU is also 3-1 record in the Frontier East Division. Dakota State's 44 points is the highest points scored since Sept. 16, 2017, where the Trojans scored 48 points at the former Trojan Field.
Mayville State fell to 5-5 overall record and 2-3 Frontier East Division record.
DSU finished their road regular season schedule with a 3-2 record. The Trojans collected their sixth victory for the fourth time in the past five years.
How it Happened
Dakota State opened the scoring with a steady opening drive capped by a short field goal from
Adrian Villanueva before quarterback
Tray Hettick took command through the air. Hettick found
Maddox Kihne for a 24-yard touchdown late in the first quarter to make it 10–0, and DSU expanded the margin in the second with a one-yard scoring plunge from
Preston Iverson.
Mayville State answered once on a short red-zone drive to make it 17–7, but the Trojans responded immediately. Hettick connected on back-to-back first-half touchdown passes — including a deep 49-yard strike to Iverson — to push DSU's lead to 31–7 at halftime.
The defensive unit clamped down out of the break, forcing punts and a turnover that set up excellent field position.
Samuel Livingston added a third-quarter rushing touchdown, and
Raesean Eaton capped the day with a 40-yard breakaway score to seal the 30-point victory.
Team Statistics Comparison
| Stat Category |
Dakota State |
Mayville State |
| Total Offense |
425 yards |
255 yards |
| Passing Yards |
250 yards |
0 yards |
| Rushing Yards |
175 yards |
255 yards |
| Yards per Play |
8.9 |
3.8 |
| First Downs |
22 |
17 |
| Red-Zone Efficiency |
5/5 |
2/3 |
| Turnovers Forced |
1 INT |
0 |
Dakota State Offensive Leaders
| Player |
Stat Line |
| Tray Hettick |
16-of-25 passing, 250 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT |
| Preston Iverson |
8 carries, 54 yards, 1 Rush TD, 79 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD |
| Samuel Livingston |
33 rushing yards, 1 Rush TD |
| Melek Ford |
6 receptions, 93 yards |
| Maddox Kihne |
1 receiving TD (24-yard touchdown reception); 5 catches, 55 yards |
| Raesean Eaton |
40-yard TD rush in 4th quarter |
Mayville State Offensive Leaders
| Player |
Stat Line |
| Edward Norton |
22 carries, 103 yards, 2 TDs |
| Passing Game |
Held to 0 passing yards (0-of-4 passing) |
Defensive Leaders – Dakota State
Up Next
Dakota State returns home for their final two home Frontier East Division contests. The Trojans host Rocky Mountain (Mont.) in both teams' first-ever meeting next Saturday (Nov. 8). Kick-off is set for 12 p.m. at Brian Kern Family Stadium on Blankley Field in Madison, S.D.
