Box Score DICKINSON, N.D – Dickinson State set the tone early by taking the opening kickoff and marching down field for the opening score. Marcus Sanders scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak. Chase Miller tacked on the extra point, making it 7-0 Blue Hawks. The drive covered 73 yards on plays and took seven minutes off the clock.

The Vikings answered immediately on their opening drive. Wide receiver Nick Mears took the snap in a wildcat formation and scored on a two-yard run, capping a 75-yard drive that took 4:41 off the first quarter clock. Walker Brondos added the extra point to tie the game 7-7 with 3:19 to go in the first quarter. The big play on the drive was a 26-yards run by quarterback Joey Cave. The Vikings were also helped by a pass interference penalty in the end zone against Dickinson State.

After the Vikings punted the ball away on their second possession, Dickinson State moved the ball into the Vikings red zone but had the drive stall. Chase Miller made a 26-yard field goal to make the score 10-7 Blue Hawks with left in the first half.

On the Vikings ensuing drive, a Cave pass was tipped into the air and was intercepted by Dickinson State's Jack Hartman who returned it 31 yards for the pick-six. Miller's extra point made it 17-7 Blue Hawks with 6:23 remaining in the first half.

Valley City State did not waste time getting back on the scoreboard. On the ensuing drive, Cave hit Jake Deutsch with a 47-yard touchdown pass. The extra point was blocked, but Nick Mears picked up the ball and ran it in for a two-point conversion to make it 17-15 with 5:35 remaining in the second quarter.

After a Dickinson State punt, Cave tossed his second interception of the game on a deep throw looking for Jake Deutsch. Hartman came up with his second interception of the game. But the Blue Hawks could not move the ball before the half came to an end.

On the first drive of the second half for Dickinson State, they would drive 82 yards in just over five minutes to regain the two-score lead. Sanders hit Semaj Clark with a 23-yard touchdown pass. Chase Miller's extra point made the score 24-15 Blue Hawks with 6:45 remaining in the third quarter.

Valley City would punt on its next drive, setting up the Blue Hawks at the 50-yard line. On the first play of the drive, Sanders hit Clark for a 39-yard completion to the Vikings eleven-yard line. Three plays later, Sanders hit tight end Chase Crockett in the back of the end zone for a six-yard touchdown. Miller missed the extra point, making it 30-15 Dickinson State with 3:47 to go in the third quarter.

Neither team could do much after that as the defenses stiffened up, making the final 30-15.

Joey Cave was 19 of 32 passing for 228 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Dominic Sotomayor caught six passes for 74 yards to lead the receiving corps. Jake Deutsch had four receptions for 80 yards and a touchdown. Exavian Westbrook caught three passes for 66 yards.

Cave led the ground game with 15 carries for 59 yards.

Defensively, Ashton Raquino had seven solo tackles. Dorian Sandness had five solo tackles, one assisted, and two tackles for loss. He added 1 ½ sacks on the night. Tarren Larson and Lorenzo Luchi each had a sack and TaQuez Chatman had a half of a sack.

UP NEXT: The Vikings will host Augsburg University for the 6^th Annual Ag Bowl next Thursday, September 4^th at Dacotah Bank Field at Lokken Stadium. Kicoff is set for 6:00 p.m.