VALLEY CITY – Valley City State football played their last home game of the year where they fell short against No. 17 Dickinson State University in a 42-24 loss. With tonight's loss, the Vikings are now 3-6 overall and 2-5 in conference play. Dickinson moves to 8-1 and 7-0 in conference play.
 
Dickinson won the toss and deferred until the second half. Viking quarterback Noah Chambers opened the game with three straight completions highlighted by a 45-yard completion to Nick Mears which later helped lead to a first-and-goal situation. The drive stalled out, resulting in two sacks and a missed 40-yard field goal attempt. A few punts later the Vikings once again received the ball late in the first quarter. VCSU then went on a 13-play 73-yard drive that ended in a 36-yard Yzan Lorenzo field goal that gave the Vikings a 3-0 lead.
 
Then next possession, Dickinson State drove six plays for 75 yards scoring on a touchdown pass to Gage Gilbert. After a successful extra point, the Blue Hawks led 7-3. The Vikings then when three-and-out and were forced to punt from their own 27-yard line. On that play, DSU's Dylan Dahlgren blocked the punt giving Dickinson the ball on the Valley City six-yard line. After a four-yard rushing touchdown, DSU earned a 14-3 lead.
 
At halftime, VCSU trailed 28-3. To start the second half the Viking defense held on a crucial fourth down. They quickly turned that into a 77-yard touchdown catch for Exavian Westbrook. One possession later Noah Chambers connected with Jake Deutsch on a 22-yard touchdown pass to narrow the lead to 28-17. From there, the teams exchanged touchdowns in the next three possessions, two touchdowns for DSU and one for Valley City which bought the score to 42-24 where it ended.
 
The Blue Hawks tallied 219 rushing yards and 246 passing yards for 465 yards of total offense. They earned 28 first downs and six touchdowns. Dickinson was led by Will Madler who was 17-for-24 passing for 246 yards and three touchdowns. Dickinson's Jackson Simonson had 22 rushing attempts good for 136 yards and two touchdowns. On defense, Jack Hartman led DSU with six tackles, five solo and one assisted.
 
The Vikings earned 76 rushing yards and 352 passing yards which was good for 428 yards of total offense. They earned 18 first downs and three touchdowns. Viking quarterback Noah Chambers was 22-for-38, passed for 352 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Exavian Westbrook had six receptions, 101 yards and two touchdowns. Jake Deutsch also had 101 yards on five receptions and one touchdown. VCSU's Levi Olson had a career-high 13 tackles, eight solo, and five assisted. Gavin Gerhardt had 10 tackles on the night.
 
UP NEXT: The Vikings finish the season at Jamestown in a Paint Bucket rematch on Saturday, Nov. 16.