HAVRE, Mont. — Dickinson State scored two defensive touchdowns and Ty Dassinger rushed for a career-high 113 yards and two scores as the Blue Hawks pulled away from MSU-Northern for a 42-32 Frontier Conference East Division victory Saturday at Tilleman Field.
Dickinson State trailed 24-21 midway through the third quarter before scoring 21 unanswered points. Dassinger scored twice during the run before Shel Osborne recovered a fumble for a touchdown to give the Blue Hawks an 18-point fourth-quarter lead.
The victory was Dickinson State's second straight and fourth in its past five games. The Blue Hawks improved to 5-5 overall and 4-1 in Frontier East play heading into their regular-season finale at No. 4 Montana Tech. MSU-Northern fell to 0-9 overall and 0-4 in the division.
"We got off to a slow start, but credit Northern, they played well," head coach Pete Stanton said. "We played a great second half, ran the ball well and got a couple of defensive touchdowns. Happy to get a good road win."
Northern took the first lead on a 29-yard touchdown pass from Malakhi Statler to Isaiah Woodley with 5:06 remaining in the opening quarter.
Dickinson State answered with a 12-play, 50-yard drive, capped by Markiel Cockrell's 6-yard touchdown run with one second remaining in the quarter.
The Lights quickly regained the lead when Laighton Scott V broke free for a 60-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter.
Dickinson State's defense provided the response.
Jaymn Medlock intercepted Statler and returned it 11 yards for a touchdown with 7:47 remaining in the half, tying the game at 14.
Northern moved back in front on Tate O'Neill's 33-yard field goal, but Dickinson State answered before halftime. Hudsen Grovom connected with Gage Gilbert for a 17-yard touchdown with 1:36 remaining, sending the Blue Hawks into the break with a 21-17 advantage.
Northern regained the lead midway through the third quarter when Jackson Kink recovered a Dickinson State fumble for a touchdown, putting the Lights ahead 24-21.
Dickinson State then marched 68 yards in nine plays on its next possession, with Dassinger scoring from 3 yards out to put the Blue Hawks back in front 28-24.
Deegan Tvedt then forced a Northern fumble that Chase Selle recovered at the Lights' 29-yard line. Dickinson State capitalized on the short field, and Dassinger's 2-yard touchdown run early in the fourth extended the lead to 35-24.
The defense provided the final blow late in the fourth. Dylan Dahlgren forced another Statler fumble and Osborne recovered it for a touchdown, pushing Dickinson State's advantage to 42-24 with 4:05 remaining.
Northern added a late touchdown to set the final at 42-32.
Dassinger carried 19 times for 113 yards and two touchdowns, surpassing the career-high 107 yards he recorded against Valley City State last week. He has rushed for 220 yards over the past two games, giving the Blue Hawks consecutive 100-yard performances.
Grovom completed 21 of 34 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown. Gilbert led Dickinson State with five receptions for 46 yards and a touchdown, while Adrien Calderon had four catches for a team-high 61 yards. Kohbe Smith added three receptions for 44 yards.
Dickinson State forced four turnovers, including two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Two of those takeaways resulted directly in touchdowns.
Tre Gary led the Blue Hawks with six tackles. Tvedt finished with four tackles and a forced fumble, while Osborne had four tackles and the fourth-quarter defensive touchdown. Chase Selle added an interception, and Dahlgren forced the fumble that resulted in Osborne's score.
Dickinson State finished with 303 yards of offense and controlled possession for 36:36. The Blue Hawks converted 8 of 17 third downs and both of their fourth-down attempts despite allowing seven sacks.
The victory completed a season sweep of MSU-Northern after Dickinson State won the first meeting 44-13 on Sept. 12 in Dickinson. The Blue Hawks improved to 12-8 all-time against the Lights.
Dickinson State now turns to its regular-season finale with the Frontier East race still at stake. The Blue Hawks travel to No. 4 Montana Tech on Saturday, Nov. 7, for a 1 p.m. Mountain kickoff in Butte, Mont.
