September 5, 2025
Game 2: NEBRASKA WESLEYAN (S.D.) (0-0, 0-0 ARC) at DAKOTA STATE (S.D.) (0-1, 0-0 FC EAST)
SEPT. 6 I BRIAN KERN FAMILY STADIUM ON BLANKLEY FIELD (610 N. 11TH STREET) I MADISON, S.D. I 10TH ANNUAL AG BOWL GAME I KICKOFF: 7 PM
THE SERIES
Series Overall: Dakota State (S.D.) leads series 1-0.
Series Notes: Saturday's contest will be the second all-time meeting with DSU and NCAA Division III Nebraska Wesleyan. The first meeting was held at Abel Stadium in Lincoln, Neb., where the Trojans lead 38-6 after three quarters and held on to a 41-25 road victory.
Ag Bowl Record: The contest will be the 10th annual Ag Bowl at Dakota State. The Trojans rolled past rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) in last year's Ag Bowl, with DSU going 4-0 record against DWU in the Ag Bowl game. The Ag Bowl began on Sept. 17, 2016, where DSU defeated Waldorf (Iowa) 36-14. Dakota State is 6-3 all-time record in Ag Bowl games.
2025 STATS COMPARISON
|
*denotes 2024 season
|
|
|
| 17.6* |
Scoring Offense |
14.0 |
| 115.1* |
Rushing Offense |
188.0 |
| 201.8* |
Passing Offense |
149.0 |
| 316.9* |
Total Offense |
337.0 |
| 32.1* |
Scoring Defense |
16.0 |
| 179.1* |
Rushing Defense |
-2.0 |
| 207.0* |
Passing Defense |
66.0 |
| 386.1* |
Total Defense |
64.0 |
| 7* |
Interceptions |
0 |
| 43/37.0* |
Punts/Avg. |
4/30.0 |
| 10-55* |
Sacks-Yards Lost |
2-10 |
LAST GAME
Dakota State kicked off their 2025 season in the annual rivalry game with Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.). This year returned to Joe Quintal Field in Mitchell, S.D.
Despite the early kick-off return for touchdown allowed and an early turnover that gave the Tigers a 13-7 lead, the Trojans overtook the lead at 14-13 in the third quarter.
DWU rallied back with a field goal with less than nine minutes remaining in the game to overtake a 16-14 lead. The Trojans answered on the ensuing possession with 18 plays for 74 yards in 8:15, but fell short after missing the potential game-winning field goal.
The league have six teams listed in the NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 national poll, with five teams inside the Top 25, including a pair of East division teams Montana Tech and Dickinson State.
ABOUT NEBRASKA WESLEYAN
Nebraska Wesleyan was once a member of the NAIA and the Great Plains Athletic Conference. After a long tenure in the GPAC of the NAIA, NWU shifted its athletic affiliation to NCAA Division III since 2016, where it now competes in the American Rivers Conference.
The Prairie Wolves are playing their football season opener on Saturday against the Trojans. It marked the second straight year that NWU will open their season against DSU (Trojans won 41-25 in last year's meeting).
Nebraska Wesleyan finished their 2024 season with an overall record of 3-7 and 2-6 record in the American Rivers Conference. The Prairie Wolves defeated Mayville State (N.D.) last season after falling to Dakota State. NWU also got victories over Buena Vista (Iowa) and Luther (Iowa).
Brian Keller enters his 30th season as NWU's head football coach, continuing his legendary tenure as the winningest coach in Prairie Wolves history with 132-150 overall record.
Nebraska Wesleyan will face two opponents from the Frontier East Conference on their non-conference schedule before playing eight conference games in the ARC. The Prairie Wolves play their home opener next Saturday (Sept. 13) as they host Mayville State.
STELLAR DEFENSE IN THE RECORD BOOK
The Dakota State University Trojan football team broke two defensive single-game team records that were held for more than 30 years, despite their 16-14 setback at rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) on Aug. 30 in Mitchell.
The Trojans held the Tigers' rushing to a negative two yards in the game. The previous school record was one total rushing yards versus Mount Senario (Wis.) in 1991, 34 years ago when the single game school record was set by Dakota State.
DSU also established a new team single game defense record of 64 total offensive yards allowed. The 1993 Trojan football squad held Trinity Bible (N.D.) to 65 total offensive yards in the game, 32 years ago when the previous record was held.
BYE WEEK NEXT, FC CONFERENCE CROSS-OVER COMING UP
Dakota State will be taking their first bye of the 2025 season next Saturday. The Trojans have two bye weeks this season, with the second one on Saturday, Oct. 25 after hosting Valley City State (N.D.) on Oct. 18 and before traveling to Mayville State (N.D.) on Nov. 1.
The Frontier Conference will have a cross-over season on Sept. 20 and 27, with the East division teams facing teams from the West division.
DSU travels to Arizona Christian on Sept. 20 and returns home for their annual Trojan Day homecoming football game versus Southern Oregon on Sept. 27 at 2 p.m.
TROJANS IN THE NAIA & FC EAST ranks
According to the NAIA-PrestoStats as of Friday, Dakota State ranks second nationally in total yards allowed with 64 yards in their season opener at rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.).
The Trojans are also third in the NAIA in rushing defense allowed with negative two yards. Defiance (Ohio) currently lead the nation with minus 50 rushing yards after the season opening weekend.
Rasean Easton ranks second in the Frontier Conference East Division in passing yards per game with 169 yards. He also ranks fifth in the division with 73 rushing yards.
Melek Ford is second in the FC East with 74 receiving yards, followed by
Victor Boggs, Jr. with 52 receiving yards.
Taron Serr leads the Trojans with eight tackles, which is fifth in the Frontier East division.
Kaden Van Otterloo ranks third with 1.5 quarterback sacks.
AG BOWL QUICK FACTS
Saturday's game will mark the 10th annual Ag Bowl contest at Dakota State, the second year that will be held at the Brian Kern Family Stadium. DSU's Ag Bowl serves to celebrate and say thank you to the agriculture community for their economic and social impact of the Madison areas.
The event is a partnership between DSU Athletics and local businesses, offering free admission and a meal to farmers and producers.
The DSU's Ag Bowl began in 2016 with the Trojans defeating Waldorf (Iowa) 36-14 at the former Trojan Field. Dakota State is 6-3 record all-time in Ag Bowl games, with other opponents including rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.), Presentation (S.D.), Briar Cliff (Iowa), Dickinson State (N.D.) and Wisconsin-La Crosse.
The Trojans won three times in the last four Ag Bowl contests, including a 34-3 rout over DWU in the debut of the Brian Kern Family Stadium last season. Nebraska Wesleyan will be a new opponent to the DSU's Ag Bowl this Saturday.
DAKOTA STATE 2025 HOME SCHEDULE
Dakota State's 2025 home slate features five contests at Brian Kern Family Stadium on Blankey Field. The Trojans finished last year with a 3-2 home run in their debut at the new stadium.
DSU plays two home games during the month of September, including Saturday's game versus Nebraska Wesleyan in the Ag Bowl game and Sept. 27 in Trojan Day homecoming football game versus Southern Oregon.
Dakota State plays one home game in October versus Valley City State (N.D.) on Oct. 18. The Trojans close out their home schedule with back-to-back games at Brian Kern Family Stadium versus Rocky Mountain (Mont.) on Nov. 8 and MSU-Northern on Nov. 15.
