September 16, 2024

BISMARCK, N.D. – The North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) announced their third edition of the 2024 Football Players-of-the-Week honors Monday.  Semaj Clark of Dickinson State (N.D.) was chosen as the Offensive Player-of-the-Week.  Deveon Moses of Dakota State (S.D.) was named as the Defensive Player-of-the-Week, while his teammate Kaden Eng was selected as the Special Teams Player-of-the-Week.

NSAA Football Offensive Player of the Week
Semaj Clark – Dickinson State (N.D.) – 6’0” – 170 lbs., Junior – wide receiver – Rocklin, Calif. – Clark caught five passes for 148 total yards with two touchdowns as No. 16 ranked Dickinson State (N.D.) fell short at home versus NCAA Division III Wisconsin-Stout by the score of 22-20.  Both of his touchdowns came late in the fourth quarter, a 43-yard touchdown reception with 6:02 remaining and a 14-yard touchdown catch with 13 seconds remaining.  Clark averaged 29.6 yards per catch and registered his game-long 53-yard reception.

NSAA Football Defensive Player of the Week
Deveon Moses – Dakota State (S.D.) – 6’0” – 180 lbs., Junior – cornerback – Houston, Texas – Moses picked two interceptions in fueling Dakota State’s (S.D.) to a 16-6 defensive battle victory over Jamestown (N.D.) in the North Star Athletic Association action.  Leading 9-6, he secured the Trojans’ victory as he returned a ‘Pick Six’ for touchdown with less than three minutes remaining in the game.  He returned 60 yards for a touchdown to balloon DaSU’s lead to 16-6.  Moses also intercepted Jamestown’s pass in the end zone, preventing the Jimmies to score with 26 seconds left before halftime. 

NSAA Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Kaden Eng – Dakota State (S.D.) – 6’1” – 200 lbs. – Junior – full safety – Castlewood, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) blocked a game-tying PAT extra-point kick in the early fourth quarter, propelling to their 16-6 North Star Athletic Association home victory over Jamestown (N.D.).  After Caleb Dwyer blocked UJ’s PAT extra-point kick, Eng returned a 97-yard PAT 2-point defensive score to extend the Trojans’ lead to 9-6 which changed the momentum in the game.  He also had a fumble recovery in the game and returned for a touchdown of 10 yards to give DaSU a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.

Recap from last week’s games
NCAA Division III Wisconsin-Stout held off No. 16 ranked Dickinson State’s (N.D.) monstrous comeback in the fourth quarter, earning a 22-20 victory.  Wisconsin-Stout jumped to a 12-0 halftime lead and ballooned their lead to 22-0 after three quarters.  The Blue Hawks roared back by scoring 20 points in the final quarter, but their 2-point PAT attempt failed for their chance to tie the game with 13 seconds left in the game.  DiSU racked up 432 offensive yards compared to UWS 276 total offensive yards.  Dickinson State recorded their first setback of the season, holding an overall record of 2-1 (1-0 NSAA conference record).

Mayville State (N.D.) held a 14-10 halftime lead at home versus NCAA Division III Nebraska Wesleyan.  The Prairie Wolves outscored the Comets 24-10 in the final thirty minutes of the game, earning a 34-24 victory.  MSU fell to 1-2 overall record (0-1 NSAA conference record).

Dakota State (S.D.) won the defensive battle with Jamestown (N.D.) in both teams’ North Star Athletic Association season opener.  The Trojans led 7-0 after the first quarter.  The Jimmies trimmed their deficit to 7-6 before the Trojans scored the final nine points of the game to secure the victory.  UJ outgained DaSU 257-182 in total offensive yards.  Dakota State is 3-0 overall record and 1-0 NSAA conference record. 

Looking Ahead
Jamestown (N.D.) plays their first home game of the season Saturday as they host Mayville State (N.D.) in the North Star Athletic Association action.  Valley City State (N.D.) returns to action on the same day as they host Dakota State (S.D.) in the other NSAA football contest.

No. 16 ranked Dickinson State (N.D.) takes the North Star’s conference bye week.

            Saturday, Sept. 21
            Mayville State (N.D.) @ Jamestown (N.D.) – 2 p.m.
            Dakota State (S.D.) @ Valley City State (N.D.) – 4 p.m.
            NSAA Bye:  No. 16 Dickinson State (N.D.)      
   
NSAA Football Standings
 

School	Overall Record	NSAA Record	Games Behind	Streak
Dakota State (S.D.)	3-0	1-0	----	Won 3
(16) Dickinson State (N.D.)	2-1	1-0	----	Lost 1
Valley City State (N.D.)	1-1	0-0	0.5	Won 1
Mayville State (N.D.)	1-2	0-1	1.0	Lost 2
Jamestown (N.D.)	0-3	0-1	1.0	Lost 3

            Sept. 14 Results
            Wisconsin-Stout 22, (16) Dickinson State (N.D.) – FINAL
            Dakota State (S.D.) 41, Nebraska Wesleyan 25 – FINAL