Dickinson State won a battle of North Star unbeaten's Saturday in Valley City, downing Valley City State University 34-7 in a North Star Athletic Association football matchup.
The No. 15-ranked Blue Hawks scored two touchdowns in the final four minutes of the first half, taking control of the game and turning a 3-0 lead into a 17-0 lead at the break. Jed Fike added two third-quarter touchdown runs as the lead ballooned to 34-0 before the Vikings scored their lone touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Dickinson State improves to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the North Star Athletic Association. Valley City State drops to 2-3 overall and 1-1 in conference play.
The Blue Hawks gained 504 yards of total offense in the victory, including 315 rushing yards on 44 carries. The Vikings were held to just 187 yards of total offense.
The two teams began in a defensive struggle with neither offense moving the ball in the first quarter. Dickinson State broke the scoreless tie on Cody Johnson's 21-yard field goal early in the second quarter.
The rest of the second quarter belonged to Dickinson as well. Backup quarterback Hayden Gibson entered the game and led two second-quarter scoring drives. He capped an 11-play, 64-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Jamion Lindsey, putting the Blue Hawks up 10-0 with 3:51 left in the half. Gibson then marched the Blue Hawks 80 yards in the final minute of the half, capping the drive with a 28-yard touchdown strike to Hayden Gibson.
Jed Fike busted touchdown runs of 16 yards and 66 yards in the third quarter to put the game out of reach. The Vikings finally found the end zone late in the game on a 5-yard pass from Kurtis Walls to Joshua Tovar, making the final score of 34-7.
Fike had nine carries for 168 yards and two scores to lead Dickinson. Gibson went 13-for-17 passing for 124 yards and two touchdowns.
Louis Quinones rushed for 45 yards on eight carries for VCSU, while Jacob Duilio had 36 yards on nine carries. VCSU quarterback Kurtis Walls finished 21-for-37 for 118 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Nicholas McBeain tallied 18 tackles for the Vikings defense, while Jawuan Pugh and Jesus Munoz each had 10 tackles.
Drew Johnson led the Blue Hawk defense with seven tackles, while Tino Mafi had six tackles and a sack.
Up next: Valley City State (2-3, 1-1 NSAA) travels to Mayville State on Saturday, Oct. 8 for a 2 p.m. game. Dickinson State (4-1, 2-0 NSAA) travels to Waldorf for a 1 p.m. game also on Oct. 8.
