Dickinson State wins eighth consecutive NSAA Title with 58-7 win over Mayville State

MAYVILLE, N.D. - Dickinson State (7-2, 5-0 NSAA) gained 496 total yards on offense, and only allowed 105, to dominate Mayville State (3-7, 0-5 NSAA), 58-7, and clinch their eighth consecutive North Star Athletic Association football championship.

The Blue Hawks didn't take long to get going, after a quick stop on Mayville State's first possession, Braden Zuroff rattled off a 50-yard touchdown run on Dickinson State's first play from scrimmage, making it 7-0 DSU early. The next offensive possesion for the Comets didn't go much better. Krew Mathern gathered his second third down sack of the day and Mayville State couldn't handle the snap on the punt from their own endzone, resulting in a safety and putting DSU up 9-0 less than five minutes into the game. A Dickinson State fumble gave the Comets good field position on their next drive, and they were able to cash in, completing a 20-yard touchdown pass on second down to cut the DSU lead to 9-7. Dickinson State wasn't concerned, as they immediately answered back with a 22-yard touchdown strike from QB Aaron White to Kaden Kuntz putting the Blue Hawks back up nine, 16-7.

The first play of the second quarter was a 3-yard touchdown pass from Bridger Grovom to Conor McCarvel, on their eighth play of the drive, to give DSU a 23-7 lead with 14:44 left in the half. Dickinson State made it back-to-back possessions with a touchdown when White found Isaiah Kludt for a 55-yard bomb making it 30-7 DSU just five minutes into the second quarter. The Blue Hawks weren't done scoring yet, as Darion Brown took the handoff on the second play of Dickinson State's next possession 51 yards for a touchdown extending the lead to 37-7 DSU. Mayville State responded with a 20-play drive but were stopped on fourth and one at the DSU 5 yard line ending the threat and taking the game into the half.

The halftime break couldn't do anything to slow down Dickinson State, as they went 59 yards on 10 plays, capped off by a Zuroff 3-yard TD run, to stretch their lead to 44-7. On the next Mayville State possession, DSU forced their first turnover when Krew Mathern picked off a screen pass and returned it eight yards to the MSU 10. One play later DSU lef 51-7 when Darion Brown cashed in from 10 yards out. The rest of the game consisted of the teams trading punts, except for late in the fourth quarter when Braedy Santens punched in for a 6-yard touchdown run giving DSU their final score with 2:44 remaining in the game.

White went 13-16 for 180 yards, 2 touchdowns, and no interceptions while Zuroff took 13 carries for 138 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Blue Hawk offense. Darion Brown ran for 98 yards and two touchdowns of his own as the Blue Hawks got incredible production from its running game despite losing both Riley Linder and Alec Lovegren to injuries last week against Valley City State. Isaiah Kludt led the receiving corps with five catches for 72 yards and a touchdown. The Blue Hawk defense gathered five sacks on the day with Mathern (2), Javonte Oliphant (1), Austin Dennis (1.5), and Evan Henke (.5) all contributing.

WHATS NEXT

The Blue Hawks will return home to host Presentation College on Saturday, November 12 at the Biesiot Activites Center. Saturday will be senior day as the Blue Hawks honor the seniors in their last home game at DSU. Kickoff will be at 1:00 pm MT.