October 16, 2026

GAME 8 AT A GLANCE

Date: Saturday, October 17 at Valley City State (N.D.)  Location: Shelly Ellig at Lokken Stadium - Valley City, N.D.
Kick-off: 4 p.m

THIS WEEK
Dakota State (S.D.) (4-3 overall record, 0-2 Frontier East, receiving votes - RV - in NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 Poll) seeks for their first Frontier East Division victory this season as they head on the road Saturday late afternoon.  The Trojans visit Valley City State (N.D.) (1-5 overall record, 0-2 Frontier East) at Shelly Ellig at Lokken Stadium in Valley CIty, N.D.  Kick-off is set for 4 p.m.

THE SERIES
Series Overall: Valley City State leads all-time series 30-8.
Series Notes: Dakota State has won the previous three meetings with Valley City State, including the prior two meetings held at Brian Kern Family Stadium.  The streak began on Sept. 21, 2024, when the Trojans defeated the Vikings 19-8 at Lokken Stadium in Valley City, N.D.  Dakota State has held VCSU to less than eight points in the previous three meetings, holding the Vikings to 21 total points in three meetings combined (DSU outscored VCSU 72-21 in the last three meetings).
Seeking for first divisional win:  Both teams are seeing for their first Frontier East Division victory this season after dropping the first two games of the six-game divisional schedule. 

2026 STATS COMPARISON
 

32.7	Scoring Offense	29.3
110.0	Rushing Offense	156.2
338.1	Passing Offense	254.7
448.1	Total Offense	410.8
23.7	Scoring Defense	33.0
125.4	Rushing Defense	197.7
213.1	Passing Defense	225.5
338.6	Total Defense	423.2
7	Interceptions	4
30/37.3	Punts/Avg.	22/37.9
13-79	Sacks-Yards Lost	6-34

SATURDAY'S FRONTIER DIVISIONAL SLATE
In the East Division, Dakota State travels to Valley City State (N.D.) with both teams searching for their first divisional victory. Dickinson State (N.D.) hosts Rocky Mountain (Mont.) in a matchup between two teams currently undefeated in East Division play, while Mayville State (N.D.) travels to MSU-Northern. No. 5 Montana Tech has a divisional bye after opening conference play with consecutive victories.

The West Division feature No. 1 College of Idaho traveling to Montana Western, while No. 11 Carroll (Mont.) visits Simpson (Calif.). Southern Oregon travels to Eastern Oregon in another divisional matchup. Arizona Christian hosts Ottawa (Ariz.) in non-conference action.

Montana Tech and Dickinson State enter the week tied atop the East Division at 2-0, followed by Rocky Mountain at 1-0 and Mayville State at 1-1. Dakota State and Valley City State are both 0-2 in divisional play. College of Idaho and Carroll remain undefeated in the West Division as the conference schedule approaches the midway point.

ABOUT VALLEY CITY STATE
Valley City State (N.D.) enters Saturday's Frontier Conference East Division contest with a 1-5 overall record and a 0-2 mark in divisional play. The Vikings opened the season with a 10-7 loss at NCAA Division II Southwest Minnesota State before earning a 28-25 victory over Dickinson State (N.D.). Valley City State has dropped four consecutive games, including divisional setbacks against Rocky Mountain (Mont.) and Mayville State (N.D.).

Dennis McCulloch is in his 30th season as Valley City State's head coach and 33rd season overall with the program. McCulloch entered the season with a 169-121 career record at VCSU, six conference championships and four NAIA Football Championship Series appearances. He is the longest-tenured and winningest head coach in Viking football history.

The Vikings are coming off a 36-33 road loss at Mayville State. Valley City State has been involved in several close contests this season, with four of its first six games decided by seven points or fewer. VCSU also dropped a 31-24 decision at Rocky Mountain (Mont.) in its East Division opener on Oct. 3.

Dakota State earned a 40-7 victory over Valley City State in last season's meeting at Brian Kern Family Stadium. The Trojans built a 19-0 halftime advantage and held the Vikings scoreless until the fourth quarter. Dakota State rushed for four touchdowns and held Valley City State to seven points in the victory.

TROJANS IN THE NAIA NATIONAL RANKS
Dakota State quarterback Tray Hettick continues to lead the NAIA in passing yards and touchdowns, tallying 2,273 yards and 22 passing touchdowns through 7 games this year. He is averaging 324.7 passing yards per game.

Dakota State has totaled 2,367 passing yards, averaging 338.1 yards per game as a team. Maddox Kihne leads the Trojan receiving corps with 666 receiving yards on 33 receptions, averaging 20.2 yards per catch with five touchdowns. Kihne ranks seventh nationally in receiving yards.

Linebacker Kaden Van Otterloo has recorded a team-high 66 tackles through seven games, averaging 9.4 tackles per contest. He ranks sixth in the NAIA in total tackles. Tamareon 'Frosty' Foster remains tied among the national leaders with four interceptions this season (tied third with four interceptions).  He also ranks second in forced fumbles.

LAST TIME OUT
No. 23 Dakota State suffered a heartbreaking 20-19 setback to Dickinson State (N.D.) Saturday afternoon in the annual Trojan Day homecoming game at Brian Kern Family Stadium. The Trojans held a five-point lead late in the fourth quarter before the Blue Hawks drove 64 yards for the game-winning touchdown with 53 seconds remaining. Dakota State dropped to 4-3 overall and 0-2 in Frontier Conference East Division play.

Dakota State opened the scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run by Trajan Davis late in the first quarter. Dickinson State responded with two touchdowns in the second quarter to take a 14-7 halftime advantage. Davis scored again in the third quarter on a 29-yard run, but a missed extra point left the Trojans trailing 14-13.

Freshman kicker Malte Hamann connected on field goals of 40 and 25 yards during the fourth quarter to give Dakota State a 19-14 lead. Dickinson State answered on its final possession, marching 64 yards before Markiel Cockrell scored the go-ahead touchdown with 53 seconds remaining. The Blue Hawks intercepted Dakota State on the ensuing possession to seal the 20-19 victory.

Dakota State outgained Dickinson State 363-238 and held the football for more than 33 minutes. Hettick completed 17-of-39 passes for 233 yards, while Davis rushed for 75 yards and two touchdowns. Terik Streets led the receiving corps with five catches for 76 yards, while Thonye Charles added five receptions for 53 yards and Kihne finished with three catches for 51 yards. Van Otterloo led the Trojan defense with 11 tackles.

DSU IN FRONTIER EAST RANKS
Dakota State's Josiah Perez leads Frontier East Division with 9.5 tackles-for-loss.  Tamareon 'Frosty' Foster leads the East Division with four forced fumbles and tied for first in interceptions with four.  Michael Foster ties for second in the East Division with seven pass break-ups.

Malte Hamann ties for second most field goals made in Frontier East Division with five field goals.  He also ranks second in East Division with 41 points scored in kicking.  

Sam Marcus averages 37.3 yards per punt for the Trojans, which leads the Frontier East Division.  

2026 DAKOTA STATE FOOTBALL TEAM LEADERS

• Rushing:  Trajan Davis - 61 rushes, 339 yards
• Passing:  Tray Hettick - 141-of-245 (57.6 completion rate), 2,273 yards, 22 touchdowns
• Receiving:  Maddox Kihne - 33 catches, 666 yards, 5 touchdowns
• Scoring:  Melek Ford - 54 points - 9 touchdowns
• Punting:  Sam Marcus - 30 punts, 1,119 yards - 37.3 yards per punt
• Field Goals:  Malte Hamann - 5 field goals
• Kick-offs:  Malte Hamann - 31 kickoffs, 1,620 yards - 52.3 yards per kickoff
• Returns:  Jovi Wolf - 21 returns, 260 yards
• Tackles:   Kaden Van Otterloo - 66 tackles (29 solos, 37 assists)
• Tackles-for-loss:  Josiah Perez - 9.5 tackles-for-loss of 38 yards 
• Sacks:  Josiah Perez - 3.0 sacks, 23.0 yards loss
• Interceptions:  Tamareon 'Frosty' Foster - 4 interceptions, 42 yards return, 1 pick six (return for touchdown), 4 pass break-ups