Blue Hawks come up short against #17 Montana Western

DILLON, MT – Dickinson State dropped its first road game of the 2022 season, 35-14, to #17 University of Montana Western on Saturday. The loss moves the Blue Hawks to 0-2 on the season.

After a DSU punt on their opening posession, the Bulldogs jumped out to a 7-0 lead on a 19 yard rush from All-Frontier QB Jon Jund with 9:08 left in the first quarter. The Blue Hawks ran 10 plays on their next drive, but only gained 16 yards, and ultimately gave UMW the ball back when QB Aaron White was sacked and stripped of the football and the recovery was returned to the DSU 25. One play later, the Bulldogs had extended their lead to 14-0 on a pass from Jund to Dylan Shipley.

After another DSU punt, Jayden Heartwell gave the Blue Hawks their first spark by forcing a fumble, and recovering it, on Montana Western's first play. A 24-yard completion to Noah Sickler on 3rd and long gave the Blue Hawks the ball on the UMW 22, and RB Riley Linder took the next play to the house for a 22-yard touchdown run, cutting the lead to 14-7.

A 4-play drive by Montana Western on their next possession ended with a punt that was returned for a touchdown by DSU's electric return man, Isaiah Kludt, knotting the score at 14-14 at the end of the first quarter.

Unfortunately for the Blue Hawks, this was all the offense could muster against a strong Bulldog defense, as UMW scored the next 21 points unanswered for the final score.

QB Aaron White finished the game 22-41 for 222 yards and 1 INT. Riley Linder led the Blue Hawk rushing attack with 67 yards and a TD on 13 carries. Noah Sickler had 93 yards on 5 receptions to lead the receivers.

Keaton Meschke had 14 tackles, including 2 sacks, to lead the Blue Hawk defense. Jayden Heartwell added an interception to his forced fumble, and recovery, and 10 tackles in an impressive outing. Riley O'Donnell added a sack, and Nathaniel Jilek and Matt Anderson added 0.5 sacks to round out the DSU defense.

Overall, the Bulldogs outgained the Blue Hawks 414-296. UMW won the turnover battle, 3-2, by forcing 2 fumbles and 1 interception.

WHATS NEXT

The Blue Hawks return to action next Saturday, September 17, on the road at Valley City State in the NSAA Conference opener for both teams. The game will be at 2:00 PM MT.