MADISON, S.D. – The first edition of the Dacotah Bank/North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) Football Players-of-the- Week was announced by the conference office Monday. Louis Quinones of Valley City State (N.D.) was selected as the Offensive Player-of-the-Week. Cole McCaty of Dakota State (S.D.) was chosen as the Defensive Player-of-the-Week, while his teammate Casey Bourque was picked as Special Teams Player-of-the-Week. 

NSAA Football Offensive Player of the Week Louis Quinones – Valley City State (N.D.) – 5’9” – 195 lbs., Senior – running back – Colorado Springs, Colo. – Quinones rushed for a career-high 249 yards, carrying Valley City State (N.D.) to a 20-14 victory over its rival Jamestown (N.D.). He gained 251 of VCSU’s 333 offensive yards (75 percent). After UJ cut VCSU’s lead to 13-7 in the third quarter, three straight rushes by Quinones put the Vikings back in the end zone as he gained every yard of a 3-play, 63-yard touchdown drive. 

NSAA Football Defensive Player of the Week Cole McCarty – Dakota State (S.D.) – 6’0” – 220 lbs., Junior – linebacker – Mira Loma, Calif. – McCarty tallied a game-high 16 tackles (9 solo, 7 assist) in Dakota State’s (S.D.) 33-30 double overtime victory over rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.), including a pair of tackles in double overtime that prevented the Tigers from scoring from the goal line. He also had 1.5 tackles-for-loss of 9 yards in the game. 

NSAA Football Special Teams Player of the Week Casey Bourque – Dakota State (S.D.) – 6’0” – 230 lbs., Senior – kicker – Coeur D’Alene, Idaho – Bourque hit the game-winning 21-yard field goal by the end of second overtime, giving Dakota State (S.D.) a 33-30 thriller overall rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.). He was 2-for-2 on field goals in the game (converted 30-yard field goal) and made 3-of-4 on PAT extra-point kicks. Bourque recorded six kick-offs for a total of 285 yards. 

Recap from last week’s games The 2019 college football season officially kicked off on Aug. 29 with three games on schedule. No. 9-ranked Dickinson State (N.D.) fell short at home against No. 23-ranked Rocky Mountain (Mont.) in the early season battle of NAIA’s Top 25 nationally-ranked teams. The Battlin’ Bears opened up with a 17-0 lead through mid-third quarter before the Blue Hawks roared back. Dickinson State outscored Rocky Mountain 21-3 to take a 21-20 less than six minutes left in the game. Rocky Mountain won the game after converting a 24-yard field goal with 38 seconds remaining for a 23-21 victory. RMC outgained DiSU 401-287 in the game. 

Valley City State (N.D.) earned their ‘Paint Bucket’ traveling trophy back from Jamestown (N.D.), hanging on to a 20-14 victory in Valley City, N.D. VCSU opened up with a 13-0 lead by halftime before the Jimmies scored in the third quarter to trim VCSU’s lead to 13-7. Valley City State quickly answered with a touchdown on the ensuing possession for a 20-7 lead and held off Jamestown. The Vikings recorded 333 total yards of offense and limited the Jimmies to 292 total offense yards. 

Dakota State (S.D.) posted a 33-30 double overtime victory over long-time rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.), maintaining its Chamber of Commerce traveling trophy for the third consecutive year. Trailing 16-7, the Trojans scored 13 straight points to overtake a 20-16 lead in the early third quarter. The game was tied at 30-30 by the end of regulation before both teams were unable to score in the first overtime. After DaSU’s defense line halted DWU to score four straight times in the goal line, the Trojans set up a game-winning 21-yard field goal to earn a thrilling victory. The Trojans outgained the Tigers 404- 366 in total offense yards. 

Two NSAA teams were in action in their season opener on Aug. 31. Waldorf (Iowa) earned its first win of the season after holding off Briar Cliff (Iowa) 17-10 in Forest City, Iowa. The Warriors led 14-10 by halftime and extended their lead to 17- 10 after a field goal in the fourth quarter. The Chargers gained 256 total offense yards, while the Warriors recorded 250 total offensive yards. 

Presentation (S.D.) opened up with a 6-0 lead after the first quarter over Trinity International (lll.) in Aberdeen, S.D. The Saints led 13-6 by halftime before TIU rallied back in the fourth quarter for the lead. With PC leading 20-13, Trinity International scored 15 straight points to take a 28-20 with less than 14 minutes to go in the game. Presentation would score on the following drive, but could not convert their 2-point PAT attempt. The Saints fell short by the score of 28-26. Presentation outgained Trinity International 385-292. 

Mayville State (N.D.) played an exhibition home game versus Lewis-Clark Valley (Idaho) on Aug. 31. 

Looking Ahead The second edition of the Dacotah Bank/North Star Athletic Association Football Game of the Week will feature the battle of two Iowa teams with Waldorf (Iowa) visiting No. 24-ranked Dordt (Iowa). Kick-off is set for 7 p.m. in Sioux Center, Iowa. 

All other North Star conference teams will be on the road on Saturday. Dakota State (S.D.) plays at Briar Cliff (Iowa); Mayville State (N.D.) travels to St. Scholastica (Minn.); Valley City State (N.D.) takes on No. 11-ranked Northwestern (Iowa) in Orange City; Presentation (S.D.) visits Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) and No. 9 Dickinson State (N.D.) travels to Jamestown (N.D.).