November 3, 2026
MADISON, S.D. — Dakota State's senior wide receiver
Maddox Kihne was named the Erck Hotels/Frontier Conference Football Special Teams Player of the Week, the conference office announced their tenth edition of the football conference weekly honor on Monday. It is the first career Frontier Conference weekly honor for Kihne.
Kihne, a native of Sioux Falls, S.D., highlighted the Trojans' 51-21 Frontier Conference East Division home finale victory over Mayville State (N.D.) Saturday afternoon at Brian Kern Family Stadium on Blankley Field.
He electrified the home crowd with an 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the third quarter. After Mayville State trimmed Dakota State's lead to 37-14 with 6:58 remaining in the third quarter, Kihne answered just 14 seconds later with his kickoff return touchdown, extending the Trojans' advantage to 44-14 after
Malte Hamann's PAT extra point kick.
It was the first time since Aug. 25, 2022, when the Trojans had a kickoff return for a touchdown.
Tamareon 'Frosty' Foster returned a 93-yard kickoff for touchdown in the fourth quarter in defeating rival Dakota Wesleyan 29-19 at the former Trojan Field.
Kihne also made significant contributions to Dakota State's offensive attack, leading the Trojans with five receptions for 95 yards. He averaged 19.0 yards per reception, including a game-long 36-yard catch. He ranks ninth in the NAIA and leads Frontier East Division in total receiving yards.
He finished the contest with 183 all-purpose yards, combining his 95 receiving yards with 88 kickoff return yards. His performance helped Dakota State secure its sixth victory of the season and improve to 6-3 overall and 2-2 in Frontier Conference East Division play.
Kihne has been one of Dakota State's top offensive threats throughout the 2026 season. Through nine games, he has accumulated 913 receiving yards on 49 receptions, averaging 18.6 yards per catch, with seven receiving touchdowns.
Dakota State continues its Frontier Conference East Division schedule Saturday, traveling to Billings, Mont., to face Rocky Mountain (Mont.). Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. Central Time (1 p.m. Mountain Time) at Herb Blindt Field.
