September 12, 2026
MADISON, S.D. — NAIA's nationally-ranked Dakota State (S.D.) erupted with a team record 713 yards of total offense and turned in a dominant defensive performance Saturday evening, rolling past Nebraska Wesleyan 52-0 in the 11
th annual Ag Bowl game at Brian Kern Family Stadium on Blankley Field. It was the seventh straight home victory for the Trojans and lifted to 8-3 record in Ag Bowl games since its inception in 2016.
Dakota State improved to 2-1 overall with the victory, while Nebraska Wesleyan fell to 0-2. The Trojans scored in every quarter, building a 38-0 halftime advantage before completing the shutout.
The previous team record total offensive yards were set during the 2
nd annual Ag Bowl game versus Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) on Aug. 24, 2017, with 642 total offensive yards.
How it happened
Dakota State opened the scoring with 9:11 remaining in the first quarter when
Malte Hamann connected on a 28-yard field goal for a 3-0 advantage.
Quarterback
Tray Hettick extended the lead to 10-0 with 4:53 left in the opening quarter. Hettick capped a four-play, 62-yard drive with a 15-yard touchdown run. The drive was highlighted by his 46-yard completion to
Maddox Kihne that moved the Trojans to the NWU 15-yard line.
Samuel Livingston added another rushing touchdown with 50 seconds remaining in the first quarter, scoring from one yard out to increase Dakota State's lead to 17-0.
The Trojans continued their offensive explosion in the second quarter. Hettick found Kihne for a 26-yard touchdown just 13 seconds into the period, giving DSU a 24-0 lead.
Dakota State quickly regained possession after stopping Nebraska Wesleyan on fourth down. Two plays later, Hettick connected with
Melek Ford for a 23-yard touchdown and a 31-0 advantage with 11:34 remaining in the half.
Hettick and Ford struck again late in the second quarter. Ford hauled in a 31-yard touchdown pass with 2:35 remaining, completing a three-play, 75-yard scoring drive and sending Dakota State into halftime with a commanding 38-0 lead.
Dakota State needed just five plays to travel 81 yards on its opening possession of the second half.
Trajan Davis finished the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run, extending the lead to 45-0 with 12:34 remaining in the third quarter.
The Trojans completed the scoring midway through the fourth quarter.
Cole Ruesink broke free for a 25-yard touchdown run with 7:57 remaining, putting DSU ahead 52-0. Hamann converted his seventh extra point of the night.
Inside the box score
Hettick turned in a huge performance through the air, completing 13 of 22 passes for 399 yards and three touchdowns in the first half. He also rushed for a 15-yard touchdown, accounting for four of Dakota State's seven touchdowns.
Kihne was Hettick's top target, finishing with seven receptions for career-high 220 yards and one touchdown, including a game-long 52-yard reception. Ford added three catches for 102 yards and two touchdowns, while
TC Charles caught two passes for 96 yards.
Mason Miller added 94 passing yards, completing 5 of 8 attempts.
Ruesink led Dakota State's ground attack with 105 yards on 10 carries and a touchdown, averaging 10.5 yards per attempt.
Anthony Moser added 33 yards on six carries, while Miller rushed for 27 yards on three attempts. Livingston, Davis and Hettick each scored rushing touchdowns.
Hamann was perfect in the kicking game, converting his lone field-goal attempt from 28 yards and all seven extra-point attempts. He tied for fifth most PAT extra point kicks made in a single game (7 PAT extra-point kicks) with Brywn Ractliffe at Briar Cliff (Iowa) on Sept. 9, 2017, and Don Simon versus Trinity Bible (N.D.) in 1993.
Dakota State's defense held Nebraska Wesleyan to just 89 total yards on 57 plays, an average of 1.6 yards per play. The Prairie Wolves managed only six first downs and converted 2 of 17 third-down attempts. NWU never reached the red zone.
The Trojans were especially dominant against the run. Nebraska Wesleyan finished with zero net rushing yards on 25 attempts. DSU registered seven sacks for 45 yards and totaled 16 tackles for loss covering 58 yards.
Kaden Van Otterloo led Dakota State with 10 tackles and a tackle for loss.
Josiah Perez added eight tackles, three tackles for loss and two pass breakups.
Gunnar Sarkela recorded seven tackles, five tackles for loss and was credited with 2.5 sacks for 11 yards.
Darryl Williams II added two sacks, while Elliott DeVries finished with six tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks.
Parker Petry and
Jacob Imdieke also registered sacks as the Trojans consistently pressured Nebraska Wesleyan's quarterbacks.
Nebraska Wesleyan quarterbacks Keaton Erdmann and Casen Carroll combined to complete 13 of 32 passes for 89 yards. Erdmann was 6-of-13 for 51 yards, while Carroll finished 7-of-19 for 38 yards. The Prairie Wolves punted 11 times.
The Trojans held a 32-6 advantage in first downs, tying for third most first downs in a single game (occurred twice – versus DWU on Aug. 24, 2017, and at Dordt, Iowa, on Sept. 3, 2016).
Dakota State's defense did not allow Nebraska Wesleyan to score or enter the red zone, while recording seven sacks and 16 tackles for loss.
Up next
Dakota State stays home next Saturday as they begin their Frontier Conference cross-over contests with the West Division. The Trojans host Arizona Christian at Brian Kern Family Stadium on Blankley Field with a kick-off at 1 p.m.
