DICKINSON, N.D. — Dickinson State gave head coach
Pete Stanton his 100th career victory Saturday, forcing three turnovers and building a three-touchdown halftime lead in a 28-6 Homecoming win over Mayville State at the Biesiot Activities Center.
Stanton became the second head coach in Dickinson State football history to reach 100 victories, joining Hall of Fame coach Hank Biesiot. Stanton has led the Blue Hawk program since 2014.
The win also gave Dickinson State (2-4, 1-0 Frontier East) a victory in its Frontier Conference East Division opener.
Dickinson State established control with three sustained touchdown drives in the first half. The Blue Hawks opened the scoring with a 10-play, 60-yard possession that took nearly six minutes off the clock. Jackson Simonson finished the drive with a 6-yard touchdown run to give Dickinson State a 7-0 lead with 6:55 remaining in the first quarter.
The Blue Hawks went 52 yards on their next possession, with Markiel Cockrell scoring on a 4-yard run to extend the lead to 14-0.
Dickinson State added another long scoring drive in the second quarter. The Blue Hawks went 53 yards in 13 plays before Cockrell scored his second touchdown of the afternoon on a 5-yard run with 8:18 remaining in the half.
The Dickinson State defense kept Mayville State (4-2, 0-1) off the scoreboard throughout the first three quarters. The Comets moved the ball on the ground but struggled to turn their possessions into points as the Blue Hawks forced three turnovers.
Ryan Racht provided the biggest defensive play of the afternoon in the fourth quarter. With Mayville State driving at the Dickinson State 24-yard line, Racht intercepted Aiden Marcussen and returned it 74 yards for a touchdown. Nik Halvorson's extra point extended the Blue Hawk lead to 28-0 with 8:58 remaining.
Racht finished with three tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery. Brody Jenness led Dickinson State with seven tackles, while Brett Stentoft added six. Rustin Medenwald also recovered a fumble.
Mayville State avoided the shutout with 3:48 remaining when Marcussen connected with Darnell Green for a 14-yard touchdown.
Dickinson State finished with 258 yards of offense, including 145 through the air and 113 on the ground. Hudsen Grovom completed 12 of 16 passes for 145 yards without an interception.
Ty Dassinger led the Blue Hawks on the ground with 42 yards on nine carries. Simonson finished with 22 rushing yards and a touchdown while adding two receptions for 33 yards. Cockrell scored twice on four carries.
Jackson Whicker led Dickinson State's receivers with three catches for 40 yards. Adrien Calderon and Gage Gilbert each added two receptions for 21 yards.
Mayville State finished with 317 yards of offense, with 253 coming on 61 rushing attempts. The Blue Hawks limited the Comets to four completions on 17 attempts for 64 yards and forced two fumbles and an interception.
