DICKINSON, N.D. – The Valley City State football team went on the road and battled the top team in the conference Saturday afternoon but came up one score short, losing a hard-fought 21-13 game at Dickinson State.
Trailing 21-7 entering the fourth quarter, the Vikings pulled to within 21-13 after Justice Bice capped a 13 play, 80-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run early in the period. The Vikings had two more chances to potentially tie the game, but both their final two drives stalled out as the Blue Hawks hung on for the win.
Valley City State drops to 3-5 overall and 2-2 in the North Star Athletic Association. Dickinson State improves to 6-2 overall and is now 4-0 in conference play.
Dickinson State struck first with a 14-play, 75-yard touchdown drive on the first possession of the game. The Vikings responded early in the second quarter, tying the game at 7-7 after quarterback Noah Chambers connected with receiver Austin Young for a 21-yard touchdown.
The Blue Hawks would score just before halftime, covering 54 yards in less than 30 seconds as Aaron White hit Noah Sickler on a 26-yard touchdown with 50 seconds remaining to give the Blue Hawks a 14-7 lead heading into the locker room.
Dickinson State extended the lead to 21-7 with a touchdown late in the third quarter. After Valley City State pulled to within 21-13 on Bice's TD, the Vikings had two opportunities to pull even. The best chance came with four minutes remaining after the Viking defense forced the Blue Hawk into a 3-and-out and the Vikings took over on Dickinson's 42-yard line. The Vikings gained nine yards, but were stopped shot on 3rd-and-1 and then a false start penalty put the Vikings in a 4th-and-6 situation which they could not convert. The Blue Hawks took over with 2:07 remaining and were able to run out the clock.
Dickinson State held a 326-188 advantage in total offense. Valley City State gained 145 yards through the air and 43 yards on the ground. Dickinson State picked up 210 yards passing and 116 rushing.
Riley Gerhardt had a monster game defensively for the Vikings, tying his career-best and the VCSU school record with three sacks on Saturday. He totaled 10 tackles and finished with four tackles for loss for 25 yards. Ashton Raquino had nine tackles and one TFL, while Jahidi West, Dustin Kasowski and Georgia Mageo all had six tackles each.
Chambers finished the game 16-for-28 passing for 145 yards, one touchdown and one interception. It was the only turnover of the game by either team. Bice picked up 21 yards rushing and a touchdown on 10 carries. Faaris Amegankpoe led the Viking receivers with four catches for 50 yards. Trent Finney had a pair of receptions, and Dominic Sotomayor hauled in three passes.
Up next: Valley City State hosts Presentation College for the final Viking home game of the season on Saturday, Nov. 5.
