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No. 20 Dickinson State 28, No. 17 Minot State 13

Key play: Dickinson State's Jason Kraft picks off an MSU pass and returns it to the Minot 14 with the Blue Hawks clinging to a 21-13 lead.

Key player: DSU's Clint Grosz 3 catches for 78 yards, TD.

Key stat: The Blue Hawks equal their season and MSU QB Jon Meier's season total with three interception.

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DICKINSON - Time and time again Minot State University pushed into Dickinson State territory.

Time and time again, the Blue Hawks thwarted the Beavers.

Minot State turned the ball over three times, missed two field goals and turned the ball over on downs as DSU sent the Beavers home with a 28-13 Dakota Athletic Conference football win at the Badlands Activities Center.

"We just made too many mistakes and in all honesty they outplayed us in the first half," MSU head coach Paul Rudolph said. "You have to score points and protect the football and we missed out on both of them. We couldn't cash in on our chances."

While MSU couldn't convert on multiple chances, Dickinson made just about every big play made available. The Blue Hawks quarterback Cody Holland converted just nine passes, but three went for touchdowns. DSU's defense also picked off MSU's quarterback Jon Meier three times, twice inside the Blue Hawks' 5. MSU missed two field goals and had a punt blocked.

"It was just that, a bend don't break mentality," said DSU senior lineman and former Rugby standout John Tuchscherer. "We really came out rolling in the first half. But they got it going in the second. It was a tough football game - a hell of a game."

In all, MSU squandered six opportunities inside the Dickinson 35 in the game.

"We rotated some guys up front and we had some outstanding pressure in the first half," DSU Hank Biesiot said. "We wore down a little, but in the first especially it was good. And, it was really with just four guys. We didn't have to bring a bunch which is important when they spread you out."

The Blue Hawks (7-0 DAC, 7-2 overall) got an early lead and an early momentum swing as Jarel Hafner pushed a blocker into a punt attempt by MSU's Nico Youngren. After the ball bounced, Youngren pounced on it, but Dickinson had the ball at the MSU 19. One play later, Holland hit Blaine Berg on a fade pattern over the MSU defense.

DSU took a 14-0 lead on a similar fade round to Derek Pauley late in the second quarter on a quick 68-yard drive.

"We just gave up too many big plays,"We had the ball the entire first half and we are down 14-0. You can't expect to win that way. Come on, everybody in the building knows its going to be a fade and we can't stop it, are you joking me."

MSU got back into the game with a short drive culminating in a Jon Meier QB sneak. The Beavers had a short field because of two big plays. First, MSU's Jeremy Kessler blocked a field goal attempt by Cole Zamira and returned it to the DSU 17. MSU failed to score on that sequence as Meier was intercepted in the end zone by Sean Russell. But the Blue Hawks were flagged for a penalty after the pick. The Beavers defense held including a sack by Ben Pease forcing a punt deep in DSU territory. MSU started the drive at the 34 and scored eight plays later on the Meier run.

"Getting the lead right away was absolutely big," Biesiot said. "We are patient and will run the clock. Our defense has been playing well and wit ha lot hustle and we have been improving."

Holland completed the final of his big plays to big receivers as he hit Clint Grosz for a 30-yard post on the second play of the fourth quarter.

"We had three senior wide receivers who went up and caught big passes," Biesiot said. "Cody made some uncharacteristic mental mistakes, but that is because sometimes he tries to hard. He put the ball up there and the guys went up and got them."

MSU (6-1, 7-2) responded with a 13-play, 80-yard drive culminating in another Meier sneak to cut it to 21-13 - after the extra point clanged off the right goal post. The Beavers again got into great position on the next drive as Adrian Smith forced a Holland fumble and Gino Maxi returned it 13 yards to the DSU 33. The turnover bug bit again, however, as Meier was picked off by Jason Kraft, who returned it to the MSU 15.

"We were hoping to hold them to a field goal and then we make a play and get the pick," Tuchscherer said. "We got off to a slow start (to the season), but after the bye week we got our stuff together and started rolling."

The Beavers had one more shot to get a score after DSU's James Macey scored to make it 28-13 aided by the Kraft interception return. The Beavers drove for the final time and were repelled one final time as Mike Keyser intercepted Meier off the hands of an MSU receiver to end the game.

"We did a good job of turning them over," Biesiot said. "But when you are down two you don't have the luxury to play it safe, you have to take chances."

"We never established the run and had to rely on the passing game," Rudolph said. "At times we were OK, but we had to go to the well too many times."

Holland finished with 173 yards on 9-of-17 passing and three scores. Macey led the Blue Hawks with 48 yards rushing as MSU held DSU to just 239 total yards.

Meier was 28 for 41 with three picks and 229 yards. Tyson Schatz led MSU with 63 yards rushing. MSU held a 298-239 avantage in yards, a 19-12 lead in first down and a whopping 39:15-19:05 time of possession bulge.

The Beavers will take on Jamestown College in the inaugural Dacotah Bank DAC Bowl at the Fargodome Sunday starting at 4 p.m..