Dakota State Football Rallies For Home Win

Dakota State Football found themselves down 18-0 with around six minutes left in the third quarter on Saturday, but would score the final three touchdowns of the game to defeat Presentation 21-18 at Trojan Field. After taking the opening drive of the contest down the field, a missed field goal was the only opportunity for points in the first half for DSU. The visiting Saints got a blocked punt recovered in the endzone for a touchdown plus a field goal to lead 9-0 at halftime.

Presentation then scored on a 59-yard touchdown pass to open up the second half and added another field goal with 5:41 to play in the third. That is when Dakota State came alive. The Trojans would score on their next two offensive possessions, a 15-yard touchdown pass from Torren Devericks to Dajshon Keel and a 22-yard TD pass from Devericks to Jacob Hirsch to pull within four points after three.

The two sides traded punts until Dakota State made a push into the redzone. Facing fourth and goal from around the one yard-line, the Trojans got a 1-yard plunge from Branson Taylor (and extra point) to take a 21-18 lead with 6:34 to go in the fourth. The defense made a couple of stops in the closing minutes, including an interception from Mahdi Benalshaikh to seal the contest and complete the comeback win.

Devericks completed 13 passes in 24 attempts for 166 yards with two touchdowns for the Trojans. Keel had six receptions for 40 yards and a touchdown. Hirsch had a career-high 114 receiving yards on five catches and a touchdown. Nico Feroni and Cole McCarty each tallied six tackles for Dakota State. Gustavo Bonilla and Connor Tordsen each recorded a fumble recovery. DSU now at 2-3 on the season will continue their homestand this Saturday, welcoming in Valley City State University.