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CITY  (NewsDakota.com)–The second week of the season has the VCSU Viking football team in unfriendly territory.

The Vikings travel to the Badlands Activity Center today to face the Dickinson State Bluehawks.  The game is considered a Dakota Athletic Conference (DAC) matchup, and is the first of a home-and-home series in 2011.

Valley City State has not won in Dickinson since 2001, when they finished 9-2 and made a first-round playoff appearance.

The Bluehawks are 0-2, and are allowing 390 yards of offense and 37.5 points a game through two losses this season.  They were beaten in their opener 38-3 at Rocky Mountain, MT, then lost last week at Concordia, MN 37-13.

The Vikings dropped their opener last Thursday night at home to #5 Morningside, IA 35-17.  Quarterback Tommy Zinke was 26-44 for 267 yards and two scores, but two costly interceptions and 310 rushing yards by the Mustangs sealed the Viking fate.

The game was costly in the injury category as well.  Defensive end Garrett Jackson was lost for the season with an ACL tear, and runningback Derek Elliot cracked his collar bone, and will be out at least four weeks.  Linebacker Josh Hooey also will not see the field today due to a concussion.

Gametime is set for 1:30 p.m. in Dickinson, 2:30 central.  Pregame coverage will begin at 1:45 p.m. on Dakota Country Radio.