Trojans Looking for Revenge: Game Preview – Dakota State vs Mayville State

The Dakota State Trojans football team is back after the bye week and will host Mayville State today at the Dan Beacom Track Complex.

These two teams met back in week five, with the Comets coming out on top. Not only did they come out on top, they held the Trojans scoreless for the first and only time this season. Even though it was the first time all season the Trojans allowed less than 200 yards of total offense, their offense couldn’t put up points.

Mayville State

The Comets come into this game mostly healthy and return all the same threats they had in week five. The team has a pair of runners with 100+ carries this season so expect them to lean heavily on the run. Their pass attack hasn’t been this year, what it was last year.

Tim Salmon will be holding down QB duties again. He’s up to 1,600+ pass yards on the year with 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Far away from the first teamer from 2022, but still a good player that you don’t want to get rolling with his offense. His number one guy is still Javeion Davison. He’s the only player with 200+ yards receiving on this team so when they choose to pass, they’re likely looking to get it to this guy.

Defensively they’ve improved over this year. Two weeks ago they held Waldorf to just seven points in a 20-7 win. Led by a host of players, but primarily their linebacker who leads them in tackles. Which is Mr. Richard Shelton, who has 52 tackles, with seven being tackles-for-loss.

Dakota State

For the Trojans, they get back a key player today on offense in Tyce Ortman. Who, oddly enough, has maintained the lead in carries for the Trojans, even while out with injury. Preston Iverson is tied with him after the last game with 36 carries. Ortman is also still the leader in rushing yards. He is so valuable for this Trojans offense, they’re lucky he was able to return. Iverson will still see work, but Ortman will be in the mix for sure and is back in the starting role.

Trey Hettick returns starting at QB and will be facing the team he saw his first bit of football action of the year against in the Comets. Hettick came in the second half and tried to bring their offense back to life, but to no avail. He’s improved vastly ever since that first outing, even though it has not equated to wins for DSU.

The Trojans defense in this game will look to get back to its stout defensive ways and spread it all throughout. This defense has had its moments of great run and stop and great at shutting down the pass at times. Unfortunately, it has yet to do both for four quarters of a football game. 

They allow less than 200 yards passing and rushing respectively. So that area is getting closer to balancing out, but while fixing the pass D, the run has suffered. They have to find a way to be complete and do both.

Kickoff for the game today is set for 3pm with pregame starting at 2:30pm on Jammin Country 103.