VCSU drops game to Dickinson State
VALLEY CITY – Valley City State and Dickinson State battled for first place in the conference standings Saturday, and it was Dickinson that came away with a 34-10 victory to stand alone atop the North Star Athletic Association.
The Blue Hawks took advantage of four VCSU fumbles as Dickinson won the pivotal early-season matchup in Valley City. Both teams entered the game with a 2-0 conference record.
Dickinson State improves to 4-1 overall and 3-0 in conference play. The Vikings move to 3-2 overall and 2-1 in conference play. The Vikings and Blue Hawks will rematch on Nov. 4 in Dickinson.
Blue Hawk running back Braden Zuroff rushed for 178 yards and two touchdowns to pace their 378 yards. Valley City State gained 212 total yards, most of which came through the air (205 passing yards). The Vikings were limited to a net of just 7 rushing yards as a team.
The Vikings received the opening kickoff and marched down the field into Dickinson State territory before a fumble on the handoff exchange between quarterback Avery Thorsgard and running back Justice Bice was recovered by Dickinson State's Krew Mathern. Dickinson took full advantage of the fumble, going 65 yards in 8 plays for the first touchdown of the game – an 8-yard run by Zuroff.
VCSU's next possession ended with a fumble on the punt attempt, and Dickinson recovered deep in Viking territory – eventually scoring a field goal. The Blue Hawks extended the lead to 17-0 late in the first quarter after Zuroff broke off a 55-yard touchdown run.
The Vikings put together a nice drive in the second quarter, going 64 yards in 13 plays as Andrew Nielsen capped it with a 24-yard field goal. The score would stay 17-3 going into halftime, and then Dickinson put together a 66-yard drive to start the second half. Quarterback Will Madler's pass to Noah Sickler went for a 13-yard touchdown and a 24-3 Blue Hawk lead.
VCSU took advantage of a Blue Hawk miscue midway through the third quarter after Gavin Gerhardt recovered a muffed punt return. Just one play later, Justice Bice punched in a touchdown and the Vikings were back within 24-10. VCSU had a chance to pull closer on their next drive, but after the Vikings moved into Blue Hawk territory Mathern came up with a big strip sack for the Blue Hawks, ending a VCSU threat. Dickinson State would put the game away with 10 more points and another fumble recovery in the fourth quarter.
The teams were nearly equal on time of possession, but three of VCSU's fumbles came in Dickinson State territory and ended potential scoring drives.
VCSU's Avery Thorsgard was 21-for-33 passing for 205 yards. Bice caught 10 of those passes for 92 yards, while Austin Young hauled in five catches for 55 yards.
Dickinson quarterback Will Madler was 15-for-25 passing for 179 yards and a touchdown. He did throw one interception as VCSU cornerback Hunter Phelps came up with a third-quarter takeaway. Dickinson receiver Noah Sickler had seven catches for 79 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively for VCSU, Jahidi West, Paco Baltazar and Riley Gerhardt all had 10 tackles each. Georgie Mageo had two sacks and three tackles for loss.
For the Blue Hawks, Mathern, Wyatt Anderson and Riley O'Donnell all had one sack each.
Up next: Valley City State is on the road at Waldorf University on Saturday, Oct. 7, to complete the first round of conference games. Dickinson State will host Dakota State on Oct. 7.