Late score pushes DSU past Kansas Wesleyan and into NAIA Second Round

Sagan Osborne – Dickinson State Sports & Marketing Information Director

Dickinson, N.D. — Dickinson State delivered a thrilling performance in the NAIA Football Championship Series First Round, overcoming a 10-point halftime deficit to defeat Kansas Wesleyan 27-20 on Saturday at the BAC.

Playing in front of a loud group of fans that braved a cold and windy day in Dickinson, the Blue Hawks leaned on their ground game and a second-half defensive surge to advance to the next round of the postseason.

"It was a very gritty performance by our team," said Head Coach Pete Stanton. "To come back down two scores and be calm was a credit to our team. We put together a fabulous drive to win it. I'm very proud of our team."

Kansas Wesleyan (7-5) struck first, capitalizing on Dickinson State's opening punt with a 41-yard touchdown pass from Byron McNair to Darrias Pearsal, taking a 7-0 lead less than two minutes into the game.

Dickinson State (10-1) responded with a 15-play, 75-yard drive, capped by Braden Zuroff's 3-yard rushing touchdown to tie the game. Chase Miller added a 28-yard field goal late in the first quarter to give the Blue Hawks a 10-7 lead.

The Coyotes regained momentum in the second quarter as Luke Armstrong scored on a 24-yard rush, putting Kansas Wesleyan back in front, 14-10. The defenses dominated the remainder of the first half, with Dickinson State failing to capitalize on a late drive after an interception halted their progress. The Blue Hawks entered halftime trailing by four, 14-10.

Kansas Wesleyan extended its lead early in the third quarter when Armstrong broke free for a 75-yard touchdown, but a huge blocked extra point by Jamyn Medlock left the score at 20-10.

The Blue Hawks chipped away at the deficit with a 23-yard field goal from Miller, capping an 11-play drive. Dickinson State's defense forced a critical fumble late in the quarter to set up a momentum-shifting fourth quarter.

Trailing by seven entering the final period, the Blue Hawks put together a 15-play, 59-yard drive that quarterback Will Madler finished with a 1-yard sneak to tie the game at 20-20 with 8:26 remaining. After a defensive stand, Dickinson State orchestrated a methodical 16-play, 84-yard drive, consuming nearly six minutes of game time. Madler capped the drive with a 12-yard touchdown run with just 29 seconds left, sealing the victory.

Dickinson State's offense rushed for 231 yards on 58 carries, led by Zuroff with 90 yards and a touchdown. Madler, who was named Offensive Player of the Game by the media in attendance, contributed 48 rushing yards and two scores to go along with 126 yards on 16-27 through the air, while the Blue Hawks' defense turned in a strong effort. Riley Waters, who was named Defensive Player of the Game, led with 10 tackles and two sacks, and Joey DeMarco added key stops. Miller went 3-for-3 on extra points and converted both of his field goal attempts to provide critical points.

With the victory, the Blue Hawks advance to the Second Round of the NAIA Football Championship Series where they will travel to Dillon, Montana to take on the #4 Montana Western Bulldogs.