MADISON, S.D. – The Dakota State defense held the Valley City State University Vikings offense without a score until late in the fourth quarter in a 40-7 win Saturday in Madison, South Dakota.

Valley City State is 4-3 overall and 1-2 in the Frontier Conference. Dakota State improves to 5-2 overall and 2-1 in the conference.

The Trojans scored first with a twelve play, 70-yard drive that culminated with a Kacy Cauley four-yard touchdown run. The extra-point was no good, making the score 6-0 Dakota State.

Each team would punt the ball on their next two drives. Valley City would have the ball in good field position after the second punt by Dakota State. They would take over at their own 40-yard line. On the first play of the drive, Brooks Jansen stripped the ball from Devyne Pearson and was recovered Dakota State's Josiah Perez at the 40.

The Trojans would go 40 yards on six plays with Preston Iverson scoring from nine yards to make it 12-0. The Vikings Tarren Larson would block the extra-point to keep the score 12-0.

Late in the second quarter, Dakota State would add to its lead when Preston Iverson scored his second touchdown of the game with 49 seconds to go in the second quarter. Adrian Villanueva's extra-point made the score 19-0 Dakota State. That was the score at halftime.

Valley City State would get the ball to start the second half. Ethan Kastner was sacked on the fourth play of the drive. The ball came free and Dakota State recovered the fumble at the Viking 18-yard line.
Two plays later, Tray Hettick found Tim Halbur in the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown. Villanueva made the extra-point to make the score 26-0 Trojans.

Valley City State would punt the ball away on its next drive, setting up Dakota State at the VCSU 48-yard line. The Trojans would score on a 35-yard touchdown pass from Hettick to Maddox Kihne. Villanueva's extra-point made it 33-0 with 8:54 to go in the third quarter.

The Vikings offense has its best drive, to that point, after the kickoff. After a personal foul penalty on Dakota State, the Vikings would start the drive on their own 40-yard line. The Vikings would get the ball down to the 14-yard line where the drive would stall. Walker Brondos tried a 31-yard field goal, but it was blocked by Dakota State's Caleb Dwyer. Michael Foster returned the blocked field goal 18 yards to the Dakota State 43-yard line.

The Vikings Ashton Raquino would end the Dakota State drive with an interception at the Viking 30-yard line. That Viking drive ended with an interception setting up Dakota State at the Viking 41. Dakota State would have to kick the ball away, giving the Vikings the ball at their own 13. 

Valley City State went on an impressive 87-yard drive on nine plays. Nick Mears capped off the drive with a one-yard run. Brondos' extra-point made it 33-7 with 5:33 to go in the fourth quarter.

Dakota State put a cap on the win with a late one-yard touchdown run by Darius Jay with 3:06 to play in the fourth quarter. The touchdown was set up by a Lucas Chamberlain interception that he returned to the Viking six-yard line. Villanueva's extra-point made the final 40-7 Trojans.

Freshman Ethan Kasnter, in his first collegiate start, was twelve for 28 passing for 105 yards with two interceptions. He also added 24 yards rushing on 17 carries.
Exavian Westbrook and Jake Deutsch each had three catches for the Vikings. Westbrook had 46 yards while Deutsch had 32.

Gavin Gerhardt and Caleb Torke each had eight tackles to lead the defense. Ashton Raquino and Aiden Russell had seven tackles each. TaQuez Chatman had two tackles for loss and a sack. Raquino had an interception for.

UP NEXT: Valley City State returns home Saturday, October 25^th when they host Dickinson State at Lokken Stadium and Dacotah Bank Field. It will be Senior Day for Viking Football. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m.