Zuroff's record day helps propel #16 Dickinson State over #17 Montana Tech in opening round

Butte, Mont. – Braden Zuroff rushed for 227 yards and three touchdowns as #16 Dickinson State went into Butte and took down #17 Montana Tech of the Frontier Conference in the NAIA Football Championship Series Opening Round. The Blue Hawks now move on to the round of 16 and will head to Iowa to take on #2 Grand View.

The game was exciting from start to finish, as a contest that many thought may be a defensive battle turned into a shootout early. Montana Tech jumped out to an early 7-0 lead on their first possession, but after forcing a Dickinson State punt, the Orediggers made their first mistake of the game when the Blue Hawk defensive line got to the quarterback and tipped a pass that was intercepted by Brooks Talbot at the MTU 29 yard line, setting DSU up with a short field.

A 28-yard run by Zuroff, that pushed him over 1,000 yards on the season, was followed by a 1-yard touchdown run by Zuroff as Dickinson State got even with 7:21 left in the first quarter. Zuroff became the first Blue Hawk to rush for 1,000 yards in a season since Karsten Mack in 2017, and with his third touchdown run in the fourth quarter tied the school record for rushing touchdowns in a season (Jace Schillinger, 2003) with 19. He will look to break that record next week against national power GVU.

After the Zuroff touchdown tied the game, Montana Tech wasted no time jumping back out in front, using a 73-yard pass on 2^nd and 25 from their own 27 to take a 14-7 lead just two minutes later.

The score stayed there into the second quarter, but four plays into the Blue Hawks first possession of the frame Will Madler found Noah Sickler deep down the sideline for a 51-yard strike to tie the game at 14-14.

After a quick three-and-out got the ball back in the hands of DSU, Madler completed another deep pass, this time to Cameron Sheppard, who was pushed out of bounds at the two-yard line. This play set up Zuroff's second score of the day as he powered his way into the endzone on the next play for a 21-14 lead.

The Blue Hawks looked poised to take control of the game after Joey DeMarco intercepted Montana Tech on a ball deep down the middle of the field with 7:57 to go in the half, but the DSU drive stalled out in Montana Tech territory, and they were forced to punt. The Orediggers took advantage of the time remaining in the half to drive 94 yards and score with just 30 seconds remaining to send the game into the break tied at 21.

In the third quarter, the game slowed down considerably, as neither team could get much going offensively. Montana Tech was the first to threaten, but a huge fourth down stop by the Blue Hawk defense deep in their own territory set the stage for another DSU score. After runs of 3 and 21 yards by Zuroff, Madler again found Cameron Sheppard deep, this time for a 46-yard touchdown and a 28-21 lead.

The next Montana Tech possession spanned across the third and fourth quarters, as the hosts used another long drive, capped off by a 3-yard touchdown run, to knot the score 28-28 with 12:40 left.

After that point, however, it was Zuroff time. The junior from New Salem, N.D. gained all 75 yards on the next DSU possession, on six carries, and he punched in the go-ahead score from three yards out with 8:35 left in the game to give Dickinson State a 35-28 lead.

Montana Tech again drove down the field on their next possession, but on 2^nd-and-10 from the DSU 23, DeMarco came up with his second interception of the day to seal the win for DSU. Six more runs from Zuroff, and a set of kneel downs from Madler, ended the contest as Dickinson State stays alive in the NAIA Playoffs.

Madler went 9-17 for 244 yards and 2 touchdowns on the day as he threw the ball as well as he has all year long. He also rushed for 17 yards to go with Zuroff's 227 as the Dickinson State offensive line was dominant all day long and a huge reason for the victory. Sheppard led the receiving corps with 4 receptions for 116 yards and a touchdown.

On the defensive side the line deserves the same credit as their offensive counterparts as they held a dangerous Montana Tech running attack to just 88 yards on 27 carries and consistently got pressure on quarterback Blake Thelen. Jayden Heartwell led DSU with 10 tackles on the day, including two for a loss, as the Blue Hawks were held without a sack for the first time this season.

"It was a heck of a win for our team," said head coach Pete Stanton. "Offensively we were able to control the line of scrimmage and move the ball all day with great balance like we have all year. Although we gave up some explosive plays in the first half, we got enough in the second half and got it done."

The normally stoic Stanton showed some rare emotion at the conclusion of the game, raising his fist in the air as he went on the field as time expired. "We know this game should have been at home," he said, "but it was great to go on the road and get it done. I am very happy for our players and coaches. They deserve it."