VALLEY CITY, N.D. — Dickinson State scored 15 unanswered points over the final 6:32 and pulled within three in the closing seconds, but Valley City State held on for a 28-25 nonconference win Thursday night.
The Blue Hawks (0-2) trailed 28-10 with just over nine minutes remaining before mounting their comeback. Dickinson State cut into the deficit with a safety, added a Hudsen Grovom rushing touchdown and then drove 91 yards for another score. Grovom found Jackson Whicker for a 7-yard touchdown with 34 seconds left to make it 28-25, but the Vikings (1-1) ran out the remaining time.
Grovom accounted for all three Dickinson State offensive touchdowns. He completed 11-of-24 passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns while adding a team-high 78 rushing yards and a touchdown on 14 carries.
Dickinson State had built a 10-0 advantage in the first half.
Nik Halvorson opened the scoring with a 19-yard field goal before Grovom connected with Kohbe Smith for a 47-yard touchdown with 6:23 remaining in the second quarter. Smith finished with two receptions for 60 yards.
Valley City State broke through just before halftime, scoring with 13 seconds remaining to trim Dickinson State's lead to 10-7 at the break.
The momentum carried into the second half as the Vikings scored three more touchdowns to complete a run of 28 unanswered points. Valley City State moved in front during the third quarter and stretched its advantage to 28-10 with 9:08 remaining in the fourth.
Dickinson State responded.
The Blue Hawks were credited with a safety with 6:32 to play after Valley City State intentionally took the safety, cutting the deficit to 28-12. Dickinson State then found the end zone less than three minutes later when Grovom scored on a 1-yard run. The conversion attempt failed, leaving the Vikings ahead 28-18 with 3:47 remaining.
After getting the ball back, Dickinson State faced 91 yards between it and the end zone. The Blue Hawks covered all 91 on a 13-play drive, with Grovom connecting with Whicker from 7 yards out for the touchdown with 34 seconds remaining. Halvorson's extra point brought Dickinson State within 28-25.
The comeback ended there as Valley City State maintained possession through the final seconds.
Dickinson State finished with 306 yards of offense and did much of its work on the ground, rushing for 171 yards. In addition to Grovom's 78 yards, Jackson Simonson carried 11 times for 60 yards with a long of 16.
Adrien Calderon caught three passes for 33 yards, while Gage Gilbert added three receptions for 21 yards. Halvorson made both of his extra-point attempts in addition to his first-quarter field goal.
The Blue Hawk defense recorded 10 tackles for loss and three quarterback hurries. Deegan Tvedt led the unit with nine tackles, while Shel Osborne and Armani Smith each finished with six.
Valley City State totaled 340 yards, with 242 coming through the air. Brayden Medeiros completed 23-of-30 passes for 248 yards and two touchdowns. Larrarius Marshell rushed 16 times for 90 yards and two scores, while Tyson Ball led the Vikings with six catches for 89 yards and a touchdown.
Dickinson State returns home for the first time this season Sept. 12 when the Blue Hawks host Montana State-Northern at the Biesiot Activities Center. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
