Blue Hawks make statement with dominating 50-7 win over #22 Waldorf

DICKINSON, N.D. - The Dickinson State University football team (5-2, 3-0 NSAA) dominated in every facet of the game as they took down #22 Waldorf University (6-2, 2-1 NSAA), 50-7, on a chilly Homecoming afternoon in Dickinson.

The visitors from Forest City, Iowa moved the ball well on their first drive, converting on 4th and 5 at the DSU 36, but a big 4th down stop by Javonte Oliphant gave DSU the ball back on downs. It took the Blue Hawks eight plays and 4:26 to go 75 yards, as they took an early 7-0 lead on Riley Linder's 2-yard run. Two plays into the next Waldorf possession, Jermani Brown came up with the first DSU takeaway when he intercepted a pass at the WU 38, he had room to run on the return, but the referee ruled he stepped out of bounds on the 36-yard line, giving the Blue Hawks great field position. The Warrior defense was able to hold, and Wade James kicked a 36-yard field goal, his first of five made field goals on the day, to make it 10-0 DSU. The next Waldorf possession was their best of the day, as they capped off a 14-play, 75-yard TD drive with a nine yard TD pass. A fake punt that went for a 29-yard gain helped keep the drive alive for WU.

DSU was set up with great field position again, on its first drive in the second quarter, when Isaiah Kludt made multiple Warrior tacklers miss on his way to a 44-yard punt return to the Waldorf 34. The WU defense was able to get a stop when Linder was stopped on fourth down at the WU 9, turning the ball over on downs. A quick 3-and-out had the Blue Hawks expecting to have good field position, but ended up with great field position when Waldorf fumbled the snap on the punt and Colin Bowden recovered it on the WU 4. Two plays later, QB Aaron White found Conor McCarvel over the middle for a 2-yard TD pass, putting DSU up 17-7.

Jayden Heartwell got the ball back for DSU on the next Waldorf drive when he intercepted a pass at the DSU 36, ending a WU drive that had gone 40 yards in nine plays. DSU look poised to extend their lead even more when Riley Linder broke off a 55-yard run to the Waldorf 5 yard line, but the Warrior defense was able to chase him down and force a fumble taking the ball back. Unbothered, the DSU defense got right back to work and forced a third consecutive turnover when Heartwell poked the ball loose on a Warrior rush, and Matt Anderson recovered it at the WU 11. Two plays later, White found Noah Sickler, who made an impressive catch over a Waldorf defender at the sideline, for an 11-yard touchdown pass giving DSU a 24-7 lead heading into the half.

The first DSU drive of the second half ended with a punt, but they got the ball right back by forcing a fourth consecutive Waldorf turnover. This time Riley O'Donnell stepped in front of a pass and returned it 17 yards to the Waldorf 24-yard line. Wade James then made a 23-yard field to make it 27-7 DSU. The Warriors didn't even have the ball for a play on their next possession, as Darion Brown forced a fumble on the kick return and the Blue Hawks took back over on the Waldorf 45. James added a 26-yard field goal on the ensuing possession, making it 30-7 home team.

The fourth quarter started with back-to-back touchdown runs by Alec Lovegren to give DSU a 44-7 advantage. James added two more field goals later in the quarter after the Blue Hawks forced two more turnovers, a forced fumble by JaQuawhann Booth and an interception by Zane McCormick, for the final 50-7 score.

Overall, the Blue Hawks outgained the Warriors 415-229. Aaron White went 17-25 for 213 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Riley Linder had 16 carries for 122 yards and a touchdown. Lovegren added the two fourth quarter rushing touchdowns on the ground for the Blue Hawks. Noah Sickler caught four passes for 92 yards and a touchdown to lead the DSU air attack.

WHATS NEXT

The Blue Hawks will take a much-deserved bye-week before hosting Valley City State on Saturday, October 29 at 2:00 pm MT.