Blue Hawks pound Comets with running game

DICKINSON, ND - The Dickinson State football team used a dominant rushing attack to run away from Mayville State University, 48-14, in non-conference action. Riley Linder rushed for 250 yards on 17 carries to lead a Blue Hawk rushing attack that gained a staggering 434 yards on the ground, putting them only 4 yards shy of the school record set in 1981 (438).

Both offenses were forced into 3-and-outs on their first possessions, but a 25 yard punt return by Isaiah Kludt gave the Blue Hawks good field position for their second drive, starting on the 50. Five plays later, Linder took a 7-yard run into the endzone for DSU's first score. One play later, the Blue Hawks would get the ball back after Keaton Meschke took down MSU QB Tim Salmon in the backfield and popped the ball loose. He collected the fumble himself, setting Dickinson State up with another short field, this time at the MSU 20.

The Blue Hawks settled for a Wade James field goal and would eventually take their 10-0 lead into the second quarter. Another James field goal on the first possesion of the second quarter gave DSU a 13-0 lead. On the Comets next possesion, the Blue Hawks forced another turnover, as Jayden Heartwell picked off a Salmon pass at the DSU 2-yard line. Linder took the next play 91 yards to the MSU 7, and Alec Lovegren punched it in on the next play, giving DSU a commanding 20-0 lead.

With time winding down in the first half, the DSU offense ran a perfect two-minute drill, as they went 63 yards in 1:17, capped by a 10 yard TD pass from White to Noah Sickler, putting the Blue Hawks up 27-0 at the half.

The teams traded interceptions to start the second half. Dawson McGlothlin picked off Salmon on the MSU 48, but four plays later the Comets returned a White interception 85 yards for their first score of the game. The next DSU drive only took two plays, as Linder started with a 40 yard run, and Lovegren added a 35-yard TD run to get the lead back to 27, 35-7. Mayville State turned another DSU turnover into points as they recovered a White fumble near the DSU goal line and ran it in for a touchdown.

Not to be outdone, the Blue Hawk defense added a score of its own as JaQuawhann Booth forced a fumble and ran it back 80 yards for the touchdown. Neither team would score again until Bridger Grovom broke off a 25-yard TD run late in the fourth quarter for the final score.

Overall, the Blue Hawks outgained the Comets 531-97. Including 434 to -16 on the ground.

WHATS NEXT

The Blue Hawks return to action next week to kick of North Star Athletic Association play when they travel to Madison, SD to take on Dakota State University at 12:00 pm MT.