October 31, 2026
MADISON, S.D. — Dakota State (S.D.) erupted for 21 unanswered points in the second quarter and rolled to a 51-21 Frontier Conference football victory over Mayville State (N.D.) Saturday afternoon at Brian Kern Family Stadium on Blankley Field. It was the final home regular-season game for DSU, which finished their home schedule with a 4-2 record. It marked the third straight season that Dakota State produced at least six wins in a season and earned a home field winning record.
The Trojans improved to 6-3 overall and 2-2 in the Frontier Conference East Division, while the Comets fell to 6-4 overall and 2-4 in conference play.
How it happened
Dakota State struck first with eight minutes, twenty-seven seconds remaining in the opening quarter when
Preston Iverson capped a four-play, 80-yard drive with an 8-yard touchdown run.
Malte Hamann added the extra point to give the Trojans a 7-0 advantage.
The Trojans extended their lead to 10-0 with 3:11 remaining in the first quarter on Hamann's 24-yard field goal, completing a nine-play, 39-yard scoring drive.
Michael Foster intercepted Aiden Marcussen's pass on MSU's 46-yard line and settled for a field goal by Hamann.
Mayville State answered late in the first quarter when Marcussen connected with Jack Simmers for a 25-yard touchdown pass. Harry Cousins converted the PAT extra point, trimming Dakota State's lead to 10-7 with 28 seconds remaining.
Dakota State took control of the contest with three touchdowns in the second quarter.
Hettick opened the scoring in the second period with a 17-yard touchdown run at the 13:28 mark, extending the Trojans' lead to 17-7. The scoring drive covered 75 yards in four plays, which highlighted a 36-yard reception by
Maddox Kihne to end the first quarter.
Hettick added his second rushing touchdown with 2:06 remaining before halftime, breaking free for a 34-yard score to extend DSU's advantage to 24-7 after Hamann's successful PAT kick. The Trojans marched 60 yards in six plays on the scoring possession.
Dakota State continued its offensive momentum late in the half when Hettick connected with
Terik Streets for a 22-yard touchdown pass with 21 seconds remaining. Hamann's extra point gave the Trojans a commanding 31-7 lead.
Mayville State's Cousins attempted a 56-yard field goal with seconds remaining before halftime was blocked by DSU's
Josiah Perez. Perez recovered the ball on MSU's 27-yard line and returned it for 19 yards before fumbling on MSU's 8-yard line. Dakota State held a 31-7 halftime lead.
The Trojans continued to build their lead early in the third quarter. Following a Mayville State turnover on downs, Dakota State capitalized on the short field as Hettick found
Tim Halbur for an 18-yard touchdown reception with 10:08 remaining. The extra-point attempt was unsuccessful, leaving the score at 37-7.
Mayville State responded when Darnell Green broke free for a 54-yard touchdown run with 6:58 remaining in the third quarter, reducing the deficit to 37-14 after Cousins' PAT extra point kick.
Dakota State immediately answered on the ensuing kickoff. Kihne raced 88 yards for a touchdown on the kickoff return, and Hamann converted the extra point to push the Trojans' advantage to 44-14 with 6:44 remaining in the third quarter.
The Comets opened the fourth quarter with a 4-yard touchdown run by Green, completing a 15-play, 75-yard scoring drive that consumed 7:59. The touchdown cut DSU's lead to 44-21 with 13:45 remaining.
Dakota State closed out the scoring with 7:19 remaining when
Trajan Davis powered into the end zone from 2 yards out. Hamann added the extra point for the final 51-21 margin.
Inside the box score
Hettick led Dakota State's passing attack with 260 yards and two touchdowns, completing 16 of 27 passes. He also rushed five times for 49 yards and two touchdowns, including a game-long 34-yard scoring run. Hettick surpassed the second most single season passing with 2,884 yards (Brandon Large with 2,883 yards in 2021) and tied for second most single season touchdown passes with 28 (Jacob Giles in 2016).
Iverson paced Dakota State's rushing attack with 73 yards on 10 carries, averaging 7.3 yards per attempt with one touchdown. Hettick added 49 yards on five attempts, followed by
Samuel Livingston with 27 yards on eight carries. Davis rushed eight times for 21 yards and a touchdown.
Kihne led the Trojans' receiving corps with five catches for 95 yards, including a game-long 36-yard reception. Halbur followed with three receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown. Davis contributed three catches for 55 yards, while Streets added a 22-yard touchdown reception.
Defensively,
Darryl Williams II led Dakota State with 11 tackles, including three tackles for loss totaling 4 yards, and a sack.
Tamareon 'Frosty' Foster and
Kaden Van Otterloo each registered eight tackles. Foster added 1.5 tackles for loss, while Van Otterloo contributed half tackle-for-loss of one yard.
Josiah Perez collected six tackles and blocked a field-goal attempt.
Justin Holm added five tackles, including a tackle for loss of two yards. M. Foster recorded an interception.
Hamann finished 6-of-7 on extra-point attempts and converted his lone field-goal attempt from 24 yards.
Sam Marcus averaged 36.3 yards on three punts, with a long of 46 yards.
Green led the Comets offensively with 106 rushing yards on nine carries, averaging 11.8 yards per attempt and scoring two touchdowns. Marcussen added 68 rushing yards on 16 carries, while Simmers finished with 28 yards on nine attempts.
Marcussen completed 2 of 11 passes for 23 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Simmers caught a 25-yard touchdown pass.
DeAnthony Thompson led Mayville State's defense with a game-high 15 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss. Avery Rodriguez and Messi Kalenda each registered seven tackles, while Marcus Johnson finished with five tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack.
Seven Thomas recorded an interception for the Comets.
Up next
Dakota State heads on the road for their next two Frontier East Division games. The Trojans make their first stop in Billings, Mont., visiting Rocky Mountain (Mont.). The game is set for 2 p.m. (Central Time)/1 p.m. (Mountain Time) at Herb Blindt Field.
