Sagan Osborne - Dickinson State Sports and Marketing Information Director
Dickinson, N.D. – #15 Dickinson State (1-0) opened the 2024 season with a bang, dominating Rocky Mountain College (0-1), 42-17, in front of a spirited home crowd at the Biesiot Activities Center in Dickinson.
"It was a great win for our guys," said head coach Pete Stanton. "We persevered and took advantage of a few of their mistakes. We played well in the second half on both sides, we didn't turn it over and took care of the ball."
The Blue Hawks controlled the action all night, with two forced fumbles, an interception, and a blocked field goal to go along with three turnovers on downs. The DSU defense was swarming throughout the game pressuring RMC quarterback Graedyn Buell on almost every snap and getting to him seven times in the backfield, including an incredible 5.5 sacks from Dylan Dahlgren.
After a pair of empty possessions from each team opened the game, Jayden Heartwell got the scoring started when he intercepted a Buell pass over the middle after a scramble and returned it 66 yards to the house for a 7-0 DSU lead.
The Battlin' Bears answered back late in the first quarter to tie things up at 7-7, but Dickinson State regained the lead with a 20-yard touchdown run by Braden Zuroff early in the second frame.
The Blue Hawks would never relinquish that lead again, getting big stop after big stop to keep the pressure on the Frontier Conference visitors, with the big blow coming on a 99-yard fumble return touchdown by Heartwell to make it 21-10 DSU heading into the half.
DSU got additional scores from CJ Stinson on a 23 yard dime from Will Madler, a sneak from Madler, and a 37-yard run from Carson Hunter to round out the scoring in the second half.
Madler went an efficient 11-16 for 141 yards and a touchdown, while Zuroff led the ground attack with 23 rushes for 77 yards and a score. Stinson led the receiving corps with three catches for 69 yards and Chase Miller went a perfect 6 for 6 on extra points.
Joey DeMarco and Dahlgren each had seven tackles to lead a balanced DSU defense.
The Blue Hawks will be back in action next week when they travel to Mayville, N.D. to take on Mayville State, Saturday, September 7.