WEEK 09 2026 FootballFrontier Conference East Dickinson State Blue Hawks Week 9 Game Notes Valley City StateVikings AT Dickinson StateBlue Hawks Watch Live Live Stats Radio MatchupGame SponsorsWeatherUniformStorylinesSenior NightNotesAwardsPlayers to WatchStats LeadersBy the NumbersScheduleStandingsAround the FrontierSeriesDSU Two-DeepVCSU Two-DeepRostersScoutingSnapshotNext Up Matchup at a Glance Valley City State Vikings 1-6 • 0-3 East AT Dickinson State Blue Hawks 3-5 • 2-1 East Date Saturday, Oct. 24 Kickoff 2 p.m. MT / 3 p.m. CT Location Biesiot Activities Center • Dickinson, N.D. Series Dickinson State leads 53-37-5 all-time Game Day Sponsors Saturday's Game SponsorsCoca-Cola Bottling of Dickinson & Sax Motors Game-Time Weather Loading...Kickoff Temp Loading...Conditions Loading...Precipitation Loading...Wind Loading National Weather Service game-time forecast... National Weather Service • Dickinson, N.D. This Week's Look Week 9 Uniform Saturday's uniform combination will be added when confirmed. Record While WearingThrough Week 8 White Jersey1-2 Navy Jersey2-2 Gray Jersey0-1 Navy Pants2-1 Gray Pants1-3 White Pants0-1 Storylines to Watch Senior Night at Biesiot Dickinson State will recognize 17 Blue Hawks on Senior Night during the program's final scheduled home game of the 2026 season. The honorees include North Dakota players and teammates whose paths to Dickinson have crossed multiple states and countries. After Saturday, Dickinson State closes the regular season at MSU-Northern and Montana Tech. A September Finish Still on the Mind Valley City State won the first meeting 28-25 on Sept. 3, scoring 28 straight points after Dickinson State took a 10-0 lead. The Blue Hawks answered with 15 points in the final 6:32, capped by Jackson Whicker’s touchdown catch with 34 seconds remaining, but the comeback stopped three points short. The Vikings have won the past two meetings. An East Division Opportunity Dickinson State enters at 2-1 in Frontier East play, one loss behind 2-0 Montana Tech and Rocky Mountain. Mayville State is also 2-1. The division champion earns an automatic berth in the NAIA Football Championship Series, giving the Blue Hawks little room for another home setback before closing with two road games. Third Down Could Decide the Rematch Valley City State has converted 37 of 84 third downs (44.0%) this season; Dickinson State is 32 of 104 (30.8%). The Blue Hawks went 1-for-12 against Rocky Mountain on Oct. 17 despite outgaining the Battlin’ Bears. Staying ahead of the chains against the Vikings could change both possession time and scoring opportunities. A Ground Game Worth Rediscovering Dickinson State rushed for 204 yards on 40 carries in the first matchup, including 91 yards from Hudsen Grovom. Last week, five Rocky Mountain sacks contributed to a 49-yard rushing total on 27 attempts. Valley City State has allowed 188.1 rushing yards per game, making early-down balance a central challenge for both sides. Do Not Be Misled by 1-6 Valley City State averages 400.4 offensive yards and 28.1 points despite five consecutive losses. Three of those defeats came by seven points or fewer: 50-45 at Simpson, 31-24 at Rocky Mountain and 36-33 at Mayville State. The Vikings also average 144.4 yards rushing, led by Laggarius Marshell’s 744 yards. A Test for the Takeaway Unit Freshman quarterback Brayden Medeiros has passed for 1,745 yards and 12 touchdowns, with six interceptions in seven games. Dickinson State has nine interceptions of its own, including a pick by Tre Gary in each of the past two games. The Vikings completed 23 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns without throwing an interception in September’s meeting. Special Teams and the Hidden Yards Rocky Mountain opened the Oct. 17 game with an 80-yard punt-return touchdown. Valley City State’s Exavian Westbrook has a 48-yard kickoff return this season, while Ty Nelson has punted 45 times for Dickinson State. Coverage and field position will carry added importance in a game featuring two offenses capable of moving the ball. 2026 Senior Night Dickinson State celebrates 17 Blue Hawks during Saturday's final scheduled home game of the 2026 season. From Dickinson and communities across the region to farther afield, each has helped shape the program. 89 Nate Norby TE • 6-5 • 248 lbs. Grenora, N.D. • Trenton High School 40 Dylan Dahlgren DL • 6-4 • 240 lbs. Soldotna, Alaska • Soldotna High School 91 Brice Domagala DL • 6-3 • 248 lbs. Battle Mountain, Nev. • Battle Mountain High School 84 Ben Glasscock DE • 6-4 • 237 lbs. Cohegan, Mont. • Custer County High School 24 Kyler Hallock LB • 6-1 • 210 lbs. Glasgow, Mont. • Glasgow High School 48 Johnnie McClusky Jr. LB • 5-9 • 195 lbs. Billings, Mont. • Billings Senior High School 34 Jaymn Medlock OLB • 5-10 • 212 lbs. Billings, Mont. • Montana Tech 51 Shel Osborne LB • 6-0 • 240 lbs. Laurel, Mont. • Laurel High School 90 Braden Racht DL • 6-6 • 273 lbs. Townsend, Mont. • Broadwater High School 22 Caleb Rist RB • 5-11 • 198 lbs. Burlington, N.D. • University of Mary 21 Jackson Simonson RB • 5-11 • 192 lbs. Great Falls, Mont. • Charles M. Russell High School 69 Dylan Skillings OL • 6-0 • 312 lbs. Gillette, Wyo. • Thunder Basin High School 30 Austin Spangler LB • 6-1 • 208 lbs. Belgrade, Mont. • Belgrade High School 45 Brett Stentoft LB • 6-1 • 218 lbs. Froid, Mont. • Froid High School 66 Adam Symonds OL • 6-2 • 291 lbs. Great Falls, Mont. • College of the Redwoods 77 Bruno Zandamela OL • 6-8 • 323 lbs. Maputo, Mozambique • Jackson State Senior Night state: Florida 7 Ty Nelson P • 6-3 • 163 lbs. Dickinson, N.D. • Dickinson High School Blue Hawk Notes Calderon Matches a Record-Book Mark Adrien Calderon caught nine passes for a season-high 161 yards against Rocky Mountain. The yardage matches the sixth-place figure in Dickinson State’s published single-game receiving records, previously listed for Semaj Clark. Calderon has 25 catches for a team-high 364 yards this season. Grovom Breaks 300 Hudsen Grovom completed 27 of 45 passes for 307 yards against Rocky Mountain, Dickinson State’s first 300-yard passing performance of 2026. It was the junior’s season high and lifted his totals to 1,327 passing yards and seven touchdowns. His 27 completions also matched the sixth-place total in the program’s published single-game team records. Stanton Enters With 101 Wins Pete Stanton became the second Dickinson State head coach to reach 100 career victories with a 28-6 Homecoming win over Mayville State on Oct. 3. The 20-19 victory at Dakota State the following week was No. 101, putting him behind only Hank Biesiot on the program’s career wins list. A Defense Creating Chances The Blue Hawks have forced 15 turnovers in eight games, recovering six fumbles and intercepting nine passes. Ryan Racht leads with three interceptions, while Tre Gary has intercepted a pass in each of the past two games. Dickinson State has allowed 26.4 points and 381.5 yards per game. Rushing Touchdowns Ahead of 2025 Dickinson State has scored 13 rushing touchdowns through eight games, two more than the 11 recorded in the entire 2025 season. Markiel Cockrell leads with five, followed by Grovom with four, Jackson Simonson with three and Caleb Rist with one. Tvedt Closing on the Tackles Lead Deegan Tvedt has 45 tackles, two fewer than team leader Brody Jenness, and a team-high 5.5 tackles for loss. The freshman linebacker matched Ryan Racht with seven stops against Rocky Mountain and has contributed a sack this season. October Wins Built on Timely Stops Dickinson State allowed just 25 combined points in its victories over Mayville State and Dakota State. The Oct. 10 win came after a 64-yard go-ahead drive ended with a Markiel Cockrell touchdown with 53 seconds left and Gary’s interception secured the final possession. Halvorson Remains Perfect on Field Goals Nik Halvorson is 5-for-5 on field-goal attempts this season after converting a field goal against Rocky Mountain. He is also 18-for-19 on extra points. The freshman’s 14-point performance against MSU-Northern earned Frontier Conference and NAIA national special teams honors. Awards & Recognition Dickinson State's 2026 weekly award winners. Brody Jenness • LB • Week 7 Frontier Conference Defensive Player of the Week at No. 23 Dakota State • 8 tackles • Forced fumble in 20-19 road win Ryan Racht • DB • Week 6 Frontier Conference Defensive Player of the Week vs. Mayville State • 74-yard INT return TD • Fumble recovery • PBU • 3 tackles Nik Halvorson • K • Week 3 NAIA National Special Teams Player of the Week Frontier Conference Special Teams Player of the Week vs. MSU-Northern • 3-for-3 FG • 5-for-5 PAT • 14 points Players to Watch 6 Adrien Calderon Wide Receiver Calderon is coming off a 161-yard game in which he repeatedly found space against Rocky Mountain. He faces a Valley City State defense surrendering 243.4 passing yards per game, making his ability to move the chains and create gains after the catch a potential answer to Dickinson State’s recent third-down struggles. 2 Hudsen Grovom Quarterback Grovom accounted for three touchdowns, two passing and one rushing, and gained 91 yards on the ground in the September matchup. After absorbing four of Rocky Mountain’s five sacks last week, his pocket decisions and designed or improvised runs will help determine whether Dickinson State can restore offensive balance. 33 Brody Jenness Linebacker Jenness and the interior defense must tackle Valley City State’s Laggarius Marshell, who is averaging 106.3 rushing yards and 5.8 yards per carry. Jenness earned Frontier Defensive Player of the Week honors following the win at Dakota State and will be asked to limit yards after contact. 3 Tre Gary Defensive Back Gary has picked off a pass in each of the past two games, including the game-clinching interception at Dakota State. The Vikings spread receptions among Jake Deutsch, Exavian Westbrook and Tyson Ball, so Gary’s coverage, communication and ability to contest throws should be central to the defensive plan. 8 Markiel Cockrell Running Back Cockrell scored four rushing touchdowns across the two October victories over Mayville State and Dakota State. He had eight carries for 32 yards in the first meeting with Valley City State. His short-yardage work could be particularly valuable against a Vikings defense allowing 188.1 rushing yards per game. 2026 Stats Leaders Season totals through eight games. Passing Yards1,327Hudsen Grovom • 115-of-206 • 7 TD Rushing Yards332Hudsen Grovom • 107 carries • 4 TD Receiving Yards364Adrien Calderon • 25 catches • 1 TD Receptions25Adrien Calderon, Jackson Whicker and Gage Gilbert Total Tackles47Brody Jenness • 3.5 TFL • 1.5 sacks Interceptions3Ryan Racht Sacks2.5Shel Osborne Punt Average36.2Ty Nelson • 45 punts • 1,627 yards By the Numbers 161Receiving yardsAdrien Calderon vs. Rocky Mountain 204Rushing yardsDickinson State at VCSU on Sept. 3 80Punt-return TD yardsRocky Mountain on Oct. 17 1-of-12Third-down conversionsDickinson State vs. Rocky Mountain 15TakeawaysNine interceptions, six fumble recoveries 10-of-11Red-zone scoresDickinson State through eight games 2026 Schedule & Results Aug. 27at MidlandL, 31-0 Sept. 3at Valley City StateL, 28-25 Sept. 12MSU-NorthernW, 44-13 Sept. 19No. 15 at CarrollL, 42-7 Sept. 26RV Montana WesternL, 41-27 Oct. 3Mayville State HomecomingW, 28-6 Oct. 10No. 23 at Dakota StateW, 20-19 Oct. 17Rocky MountainL, 31-10 Oct. 24Valley City State2 p.m. Oct. 31at MSU-Northern1 p.m. Nov. 7No. 5 at Montana Tech1 p.m. Current rankings reflect the Oct. 12 STADIONIC NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 Poll. Completed-game rankings reflect rankings at the time of the game. All times Mountain. Frontier Conference East Standings TeamDivisionOverall No. 5 Montana Tech2-06-1 Rocky Mountain2-03-3 Mayville State2-16-2 Dickinson State2-13-5 RV Dakota State1-25-3 Valley City State0-31-6 MSU-Northern0-20-7 Records through games played Oct. 17. Current rankings reflect the Oct. 12 STADIONIC NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 Poll. Around the Frontier Selected Oct. 17 Frontier East results. W/L is from the home team's perspective. Rocky Mountain at Dickinson StateL, 31-10 Dakota State at Valley City StateL, 21-42 Mayville State at MSU-NorthernL, 10-13 Series History 53-37-5DSU All-Time Series Record 95Previous Meetings L2DSU Series Streak 28-25Sept. 3 Score Last Meeting Valley City State defeated Dickinson State 28-25 on Sept. 3, 2026, at Lokken Stadium. The Vikings scored 28 consecutive points after falling behind 10-0, then held off 15 late Blue Hawk points. DSU had 347 yards, including 204 rushing yards, and Hudsen Grovom accounted for three touchdowns. 2025 Meeting Valley City State won the Oct. 25, 2025, meeting 29-21. The official Dickinson State record book lists 53 wins, 36 losses and five ties against the Vikings entering 2026; the Sept. 3 defeat brings the Blue Hawks' series record to 53-37-5 entering Saturday. Dickinson State Two-Deep Dickinson State game-week two-deep for Valley City State. Offense Pos.First TeamSecond Team QB#2 Hudsen Grovom#12 Jack Taylor RB#8 Markiel Cockrell#21 Jackson Simonson TE#15 Gage Gilbert#44 Eli Hanson LT#63 Landen Thompson#77 Bruno Zandamela LG#58 Trenten Bertelsen#76 Matthew Jacobs C#66 Adam Symonds#56 Brandon Healy Jr. RG#65 Grant Kees#58 Trenten Bertelsen RT#67 Trey Swanson#73 Kyler Kossman WR#5 Kohbe Smith#19 Caleb Brossman WR#6 Adrien Calderon#32 Connor Stanton WR#3 Jackson Whicker#14 Scott Eckel Defense Pos.First TeamSecond Team DE#40 Dylan Dahlgren#95 Maddox Roberts DL#96 Mace Stuber#57 Chace Waters DL#55 Armani Smith#90 Braden Racht LB#53 Shel Osborne#24 Kyler Hallock LB#42 Deegan Tvedt#30 Austin Spangler LB#33 Brody Jenness#36 Layne Alexander LB#34 Jaymn Medlock#48 Johnnie McClusky Jr. CB#23 Khye Gamas#11 Bladen Madel S#3 Tre Gary#26 Cooper Bang S#8 Ryan Racht#3 Tre Gary CB#9 Chase Selle#6 Dominique Carter Special Teams RoleFirst TeamSecond Team K#35 Nik HalvorsonN/A P#7 Ty NelsonN/A S/Sn#8 Ryan RachtN/A L/Sn#8 Ryan RachtN/A KR#3 Jackson WhickerN/A KR#6 Adrien CalderonN/A Hold#9 Chase SelleN/A PR#14 Scott EckelN/A Valley City State Two-Deep Valley City State game-week two-deep for Dickinson State. Offense Pos.First TeamSecond Team QB#12 Brayden Medeiros#10 Eli Leaver RB#9 Laggarius Marshell#7 Jonathan Hunter TE#81 Jeffrey Yoder#8 Ryan French LT#75 Landon Johansen#63 Adam Adeboye LG#78 Zack Pfahl#66 Nevin Daley C#65 Taylor Jones#64 Caiden Olson RG#67 Barrett Luce#70 Rylen Coe RT#61 Jaxon Baumgarn#71 Pono Momoe H#18 Exavian Westbrook#23 Nick Mears X#5 Tyson Ball#2 Michael Cardonita Z#1 Jake Deutsch#3 Simon Peter Johnson Defense Pos.First TeamSecond Team DL#57 Lorenzo Luchi#93 Paul Webster DL#69 Scot Rohde#92 Jack Miller DL#24 Dorian Sandness#58 Cole Henderson DL#20 Brent Bearman#98 Oliver Melin LB#5 Caleb Torke#33 Charlie Yon LB#51 Anthony Madsen#45 Tanon Johnson LB#11 Aiden Russell#44 Javaughn Endemann CB#4 Khalil Toney#7 CJ Merritt S#6 Fafo Lefano#34 Solomon Harris S#0 Gavin Gerhardt#9 Brooklan Bruce CB#3 James Dahn#21 JD Davis Special Teams RoleFirst TeamSecond Team K#37 Walker BrondosN/A P#40 Chris RapozoN/A S/Sn#46 Xander MoodyN/A L/Sn#46 Xander MoodyN/A KR#18 Exavian WestbrookN/A KR#7 Jonathan HunterN/A Hold#23 Nick MearsN/A PR#18 Exavian WestbrookN/A Official Rosters Current official team rosters provide full personnel information. Dickinson State Roster DSU 2026 Dickinson State Football Roster Current Blue Hawk personnel. View Full Dickinson State Roster Valley City State Roster VCSU 2026 Valley City State Football Roster Current Viking personnel. View Full Valley City State Roster Scouting Valley City State 1-6Overall 0-3Frontier East 400.4Offense Yards/Game 431.6Yards Allowed/Game Medeiros Directs a Balanced Passing Attack Freshman Brayden Medeiros has completed 144 of 227 passes for 1,745 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions. Jake Deutsch has 36 catches for 413 yards and four touchdowns, Exavian Westbrook has 26 for 397 yards and Tyson Ball has 27 for 374. Valley City State has gained at least 300 passing yards against Simpson and Rocky Mountain. Marshell Provides the Downhill Threat Laggarius Marshell leads the Vikings with 744 yards and eight rushing touchdowns on 129 carries, averaging 5.8 yards per attempt. He ran for 91 yards and two scores in the first meeting with Dickinson State. Valley City State has 13 rushing touchdowns and has converted 37 of 84 third downs (44.0%). Defensive Leaders and Scoring Trend Aiden Russell has 66 tackles, while Gavin Gerhardt has 57 tackles and two interceptions. Lorenzo Luchi adds 42 tackles, and Dorian Sandness has 1.5 sacks. Valley City State is allowing 34.3 points and 431.6 yards per game, including 188.1 rushing yards. Opponents have scored on 29 of 36 red-zone trips. Season Snapshot 3-5Overall 2-1Frontier East 297.6Total Yards/Game 20.1Points/Game Through eight games, Dickinson State has produced 2,381 yards, including 993 rushing and 1,388 passing, while scoring 161 points and recording 152 first downs. The Blue Hawks have converted 32 of 104 third downs (30.8%) and 10 of 17 fourth downs (58.8%). They have scored on 10 of 11 official red-zone opportunities, including nine touchdowns. Defensively, Dickinson State has nine interceptions, six fumble recoveries and 19 sacks, and has allowed 381.5 yards and 26.4 points per game. Next Up Saturday, Oct. 31 at MSU-Northern 1 p.m. MT • Havre, Mont.
Senior Night at Biesiot Dickinson State will recognize 17 Blue Hawks on Senior Night during the program's final scheduled home game of the 2026 season. The honorees include North Dakota players and teammates whose paths to Dickinson have crossed multiple states and countries. After Saturday, Dickinson State closes the regular season at MSU-Northern and Montana Tech.
A September Finish Still on the Mind Valley City State won the first meeting 28-25 on Sept. 3, scoring 28 straight points after Dickinson State took a 10-0 lead. The Blue Hawks answered with 15 points in the final 6:32, capped by Jackson Whicker’s touchdown catch with 34 seconds remaining, but the comeback stopped three points short. The Vikings have won the past two meetings.
An East Division Opportunity Dickinson State enters at 2-1 in Frontier East play, one loss behind 2-0 Montana Tech and Rocky Mountain. Mayville State is also 2-1. The division champion earns an automatic berth in the NAIA Football Championship Series, giving the Blue Hawks little room for another home setback before closing with two road games.
Third Down Could Decide the Rematch Valley City State has converted 37 of 84 third downs (44.0%) this season; Dickinson State is 32 of 104 (30.8%). The Blue Hawks went 1-for-12 against Rocky Mountain on Oct. 17 despite outgaining the Battlin’ Bears. Staying ahead of the chains against the Vikings could change both possession time and scoring opportunities.
A Ground Game Worth Rediscovering Dickinson State rushed for 204 yards on 40 carries in the first matchup, including 91 yards from Hudsen Grovom. Last week, five Rocky Mountain sacks contributed to a 49-yard rushing total on 27 attempts. Valley City State has allowed 188.1 rushing yards per game, making early-down balance a central challenge for both sides.
Do Not Be Misled by 1-6 Valley City State averages 400.4 offensive yards and 28.1 points despite five consecutive losses. Three of those defeats came by seven points or fewer: 50-45 at Simpson, 31-24 at Rocky Mountain and 36-33 at Mayville State. The Vikings also average 144.4 yards rushing, led by Laggarius Marshell’s 744 yards.
A Test for the Takeaway Unit Freshman quarterback Brayden Medeiros has passed for 1,745 yards and 12 touchdowns, with six interceptions in seven games. Dickinson State has nine interceptions of its own, including a pick by Tre Gary in each of the past two games. The Vikings completed 23 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns without throwing an interception in September’s meeting.
Special Teams and the Hidden Yards Rocky Mountain opened the Oct. 17 game with an 80-yard punt-return touchdown. Valley City State’s Exavian Westbrook has a 48-yard kickoff return this season, while Ty Nelson has punted 45 times for Dickinson State. Coverage and field position will carry added importance in a game featuring two offenses capable of moving the ball.
77 Bruno Zandamela OL • 6-8 • 323 lbs. Maputo, Mozambique • Jackson State Senior Night state: Florida
Calderon Matches a Record-Book Mark Adrien Calderon caught nine passes for a season-high 161 yards against Rocky Mountain. The yardage matches the sixth-place figure in Dickinson State’s published single-game receiving records, previously listed for Semaj Clark. Calderon has 25 catches for a team-high 364 yards this season.
Grovom Breaks 300 Hudsen Grovom completed 27 of 45 passes for 307 yards against Rocky Mountain, Dickinson State’s first 300-yard passing performance of 2026. It was the junior’s season high and lifted his totals to 1,327 passing yards and seven touchdowns. His 27 completions also matched the sixth-place total in the program’s published single-game team records.
Stanton Enters With 101 Wins Pete Stanton became the second Dickinson State head coach to reach 100 career victories with a 28-6 Homecoming win over Mayville State on Oct. 3. The 20-19 victory at Dakota State the following week was No. 101, putting him behind only Hank Biesiot on the program’s career wins list.
A Defense Creating Chances The Blue Hawks have forced 15 turnovers in eight games, recovering six fumbles and intercepting nine passes. Ryan Racht leads with three interceptions, while Tre Gary has intercepted a pass in each of the past two games. Dickinson State has allowed 26.4 points and 381.5 yards per game.
Rushing Touchdowns Ahead of 2025 Dickinson State has scored 13 rushing touchdowns through eight games, two more than the 11 recorded in the entire 2025 season. Markiel Cockrell leads with five, followed by Grovom with four, Jackson Simonson with three and Caleb Rist with one.
Tvedt Closing on the Tackles Lead Deegan Tvedt has 45 tackles, two fewer than team leader Brody Jenness, and a team-high 5.5 tackles for loss. The freshman linebacker matched Ryan Racht with seven stops against Rocky Mountain and has contributed a sack this season.
October Wins Built on Timely Stops Dickinson State allowed just 25 combined points in its victories over Mayville State and Dakota State. The Oct. 10 win came after a 64-yard go-ahead drive ended with a Markiel Cockrell touchdown with 53 seconds left and Gary’s interception secured the final possession.
Halvorson Remains Perfect on Field Goals Nik Halvorson is 5-for-5 on field-goal attempts this season after converting a field goal against Rocky Mountain. He is also 18-for-19 on extra points. The freshman’s 14-point performance against MSU-Northern earned Frontier Conference and NAIA national special teams honors.
Brody Jenness • LB • Week 7 Frontier Conference Defensive Player of the Week at No. 23 Dakota State • 8 tackles • Forced fumble in 20-19 road win
Ryan Racht • DB • Week 6 Frontier Conference Defensive Player of the Week vs. Mayville State • 74-yard INT return TD • Fumble recovery • PBU • 3 tackles
Nik Halvorson • K • Week 3 NAIA National Special Teams Player of the Week Frontier Conference Special Teams Player of the Week vs. MSU-Northern • 3-for-3 FG • 5-for-5 PAT • 14 points
6 Adrien Calderon Wide Receiver Calderon is coming off a 161-yard game in which he repeatedly found space against Rocky Mountain. He faces a Valley City State defense surrendering 243.4 passing yards per game, making his ability to move the chains and create gains after the catch a potential answer to Dickinson State’s recent third-down struggles.
2 Hudsen Grovom Quarterback Grovom accounted for three touchdowns, two passing and one rushing, and gained 91 yards on the ground in the September matchup. After absorbing four of Rocky Mountain’s five sacks last week, his pocket decisions and designed or improvised runs will help determine whether Dickinson State can restore offensive balance.
33 Brody Jenness Linebacker Jenness and the interior defense must tackle Valley City State’s Laggarius Marshell, who is averaging 106.3 rushing yards and 5.8 yards per carry. Jenness earned Frontier Defensive Player of the Week honors following the win at Dakota State and will be asked to limit yards after contact.
3 Tre Gary Defensive Back Gary has picked off a pass in each of the past two games, including the game-clinching interception at Dakota State. The Vikings spread receptions among Jake Deutsch, Exavian Westbrook and Tyson Ball, so Gary’s coverage, communication and ability to contest throws should be central to the defensive plan.
8 Markiel Cockrell Running Back Cockrell scored four rushing touchdowns across the two October victories over Mayville State and Dakota State. He had eight carries for 32 yards in the first meeting with Valley City State. His short-yardage work could be particularly valuable against a Vikings defense allowing 188.1 rushing yards per game.
