For the second straight week, Valley City State University linebacker Sal Avila has been named the Dacotah Bank/NSAA Football Defensive Player of the Week, the conference office announced Monday.
NSAA Football Defensive Player of the Week
Sal Avila – Valley City State (N.D.) – 5’9″ – 210 lbs., Sophomore – linebacker – El Paso, Texas – Avila anchored Valley City State’s (N.D.) defense in a 30-19 victory over Mayville State (N.D.), recording 10 solo tackles and 13 total tackles. He also had a quarterback sack (for 7 yards loss) and a pass break-up. Avila’s 10 solo tackles was a new career-high during his time as a Viking.
NSAA Football Offensive Player of the Week
Hayden Gibson – Dickinson State (N.D.) – 6’3″ – 225 lbs., Senior – quarterback – Bismarck, N.D. – Gibson set a single-game school record 401 passing yards in propelling No. 14-ranked Dickinson State (N.D.) to a 42-21 victory over Presentation (S.D.). He also threw four touchdowns in the game. Gibson completed 26 passes in 36 attempts. He had a touchdown reception for two yards.
NSAA Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Slater Gifford – Waldorf (Iowa) – 6’6″ – 205 lbs., Sophomore – kicker – West Burlington, Iowa – Gifford converted all eight PAT extra-point kicks and hit a 44-yard field goals in Waldorf (Iowa) 59-9 victory over Dakota State (S.D.). He also recorded nine kickoffs for 418 total yards and had one touchback.
Recap from last Saturday’s games
Waldorf (Iowa) racked up 569 total offensive yards in 59-9 rout over Dakota State (S.D.) in the eighth edition of the Dacotah Bank/NSAA Football Game-of-the-Week. The Trojans grabbed the first lead of the game at 3-0 in the early first quarter before the Warriors scored 52 straight points. DaSU recorded 311 total offensive yards in the game. Waldorf won their third straight game to raise their overall record to 5-2 and 3-1 NSAA conference record. Dakota State dropped their second straight game, falling to 3-4 overall record and 1-3 record in North Star conference contests.
No. 14-ranked Dickinson State (N.D.) remained undefeated in Dacotah Bank/North Star conference play after pulling away past Presentation (S.D.) 42-21. The Blue Hawks held a 21-14 lead after the three quarters and outscored the Saints 21-7 in the final quarter. DiSU racked up 571 total offensive yards compared to PC 354 total offensive yards. Dickinson State has won six straight games, raising their overall record to 6-1 and 4-0 NSAA conference record. Presentation fell to 0-7 overall record and 0-4 NSAA conference record.
Valley City State (N.D.) held a slim 14-6 halftime edge over Mayville State (N.D.). The Vikings outscored the Comets 9-0 in the third quarter and held on to a 30-19 victory. Both teams produced 23 first-downs in the game. VCSU outgained MSU 439-415 in total offensive yards. Valley City State improved to 5-2 overall record and 3-1 NSAA conference record.
Looking Ahead
The ninth edition of the Dacotah Bank/North Star Athletic Association Football Game of the Week is set for Saturday at Shelly Ellig at Lokken Field in Valley City, N.D. Valley City State (N.D.) is set to host the conference’s leader No. 14-ranked Dickinson State (N.D.). Kick-off is set for 3 p.m. The Blue Hawks had won the last six meetings, while the Vikings are seeking for their first win over DiSU since Oct. 18, 2014 (22-17 victory in Valley City).
Dakota State (S.D.) stays on the road as they visit Mayville State (N.D.) on Saturday at 2 p.m. Presentation (S.D.) returns home on Saturday, hosting Waldorf (Iowa) in a night game at 7 p.m.
Saturday’s Games
Dakota State (S.D.) @ Mayville State (N.D.) – 2 p.m.
Waldorf (Iowa) @ Presentation (S.D.) – 7 p.m.
Dacotah Bank/North Star Football Game of the Week
(14) Dickinson State (N.D.) @ Valley City State (N.D.) – 3 p.m. (CT)/2 p.m. (MT)