MITCHELL, S.D. – In the very definition of a back-and-forth game, which included nine lead changes, Dakota State University had just enough to top Dakota Wesleyan University in the 2016 season opener Friday night at Joe Quintal Field in Mitchell, S.D.
Trojan quarterback Jacob Giles hit Preston Nording for his fourth touchdown pass of the game to put DSU up for good with 2:13 remaining. The Trojans held off one last drive by DWU to win 34-30, the first DSU victory in the rivalry since 2004.
The game started with a three-yard touchdown run from DSU running back Robert Johnson, giving the Trojans a 6-0 lead after a missed extra point. The Tigers cut the lead in half with the first career field goal from redshirt freshman kicker Chase Murphy (Kearney, Neb.) later in the first.
The Tigers took their first lead of the contest when junior quarterback Dillon Turner (Salem, Ark.) found senior receiver Dustin Livingston (Irene, S.D.) for a 38-yard touchdown early in the second quarter. Like they did all night long, the Trojans answered right back. Less than a minute later, Giles found receiver Austin Opdahl for a 62-yard score, the first of three touchdowns on the night from Opdahl.
After a breakout season a year ago, junior receiver Hayden Adams (Villa Park, Ill.) reached the end zone for the first time in the new campaign, catching an 11-yard strike from Turner. Opdahl's second score came less than three minutes later to send the teams to the locker room with DSU on top 20-17.
The Tigers came right out in the second half and took control with junior running back John Fabrizius (Casper, Wyo.) crossing the goal line for a five-yard score to put DWU up 23-20. After DSU punter saw a snap go over his head to set up DWU inside the Trojan red zone things looked to heading in the direction of the home team. After DWU drove down to the six, the field goal unit took the field, but this Murphy kick was blocked by DSU's Darion Office to swing the momentum back in the other direction. Opdahl's third score put DSU on top 27-23 heading to the fourth.
Once again, the Tigers came back to regain the lead. Turner hit his third touchdown pass of the game, finding sophomore Payne Ahrens (Gretna, Neb.) for a four-yard score, after a 14-play, 81-yard drive that chewed up 5:29 off the clock.
Giles brought the Trojans back one more time, engineering a 10-play, 66-yard drive, capped off by a four-yard pass to Nording. Despite an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty moving the ensuing extra point back 15 yardsl, DSU converted, forcing DWU to score a touchdown with two minutes on the clock.
Redshirt freshman Luke Loudenburg (Canova, S.D.), playing in his first game as a Tiger, took the Trojan kickoff 59 yards back the DSU 23-yard line to set DWU up with a short field and a chance to win. With time running out, DWU faced a fourth-and-two from the DSU five. The final Tiger play ended with a Fabrizius fumble, turning the ball over to the Trojans.
The Trojans outgained the Tigers 512 yards to 414, with Giles leading the way. The DSU quarterback finished 26-of-48 passing for 361 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. Opdahl was the favorite target for Giles, catching 10 passes for 177 yards and three scores. The Trojan rushing attack was led by Johnson with 24 carries for 168 yards and a score.
Turner used big plays to rack up 277 yards through the air on 23-of-37 passing, including three touchdowns and no interceptions. Livingston caught six passes for a career-high 141 yards and a score, while Adams added eight receptions for 75 yards and a score. Fabrizius led the Tiger rushing game with 21 carries for 82 yards and a touchdown.
The Tiger defense was led by senior Adam Bormann (Stickney, S.D.) with 10 tackles and a forced fumble. Senior Cody Bonte (Garretson, S.D.) added five tackles and four pass breakups, while senior Matt Jensen (Viborg, S.D.) added seven tackles and two pass breakups.
The Tigers look to get in the win column when they host No. 8 Tabor College at 1 p.m. Saturday at Joe Quintal Field in Mitchell.
