BISMARCK, ND (PlayNorthStar.com) – The North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) announced their fourth edition of the 2024 Football Players-of-the-Week honors Monday.  Tyce Ortman of Dakota State (S.D.) was selected as the Offensive Player-of-the-Week, while his teammate Oscar Kooistra was chosen as the Defensive Player-of-the-Week.  Xyler Carlson of Mayville State (N.D.) was named as the Special Teams Player-of-the-Week.

NSAA Football Offensive Player of the Week
Tyce Ortman – Dakota State (S.D.) – 5’11” – 195 lbs., Senior – running back – Canistota, S.D. – Ortman rushed 30 times for a season-high 161 yards in fueling Dakota State (S.D.) to a 19-8 North Star Athletic Association road victory at Valley City State (N.D.), remaining undefeated this season with a 4-0 overall record.  He averaged 5.4 yards per rush and rushed for a touchdown (11-yard touchdown run in the second quarter to give DaSU a 7-0 lead).  Ortman also had five punts for 208 total punts in the game, averaging 41.6 yards per punt.  Four of his punts landed inside the 20-yard line.

NSAA Football Defensive Player of the Week
Oscar Kooistra – Dakota State (S.D.) – 6’4” – 235 lbs., Sophomore – linebacker – Brandon, S.D. – Kooistra came up with a pair of quarterback sacks in the fourth quarter to secure Dakota State’s (S.D.) 19-8 road victory at Valley City State (N.D.) in the North Star Athletic Association action.  He registered a sack on the fourth-and-three situation on DaSU’s 43-yard line, forcing the Vikings to turn the ball on downs after a 12-yard loss.  He added another quarterback sack later in the fourth quarter with nine yards loss.  Kooistra finished the game with two sacks (two tackles-for-loss) of 21 yards loss, fueling the Trojans’ defense unit to 188 total offensive yards and seven yards rushing Xallowed in the game.

NSAA Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Xyler Carlson – Mayville State (N.D.) – 5’11” – 180 lbs. – Sophomore – safety – Finley, N.D. – Carlson sparked Mayville State’s (N.D.) 20-0 scoring run in the second quarter after trailing 14-0 at Jamestown (N.D.).  He returned a 92-yard kick-off for a touchdown on the ensuing possession after UJ’s scoring drive with 7:03 left in the second quarter, holding on to a 26-20 North Star Athletic Association road victory.  Carlson also tallied six tackles in the game.

Recap from last week’s games
Jamestown (N.D.) played their first home football game of the season on Sept. 20, hosting Mayville State (N.D.) in the North Star Athletic Association action.  The Jimmies grabbed a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter and ballooned their lead to 14-0 with less than eight minutes left in the second quarter.  The Comets sparked a kick-off return for a touchdown on the ensuing possession, fueling a 20-0 scoring run that concluded with a touchdown pass when the time expired for a 20-14 halftime lead.  After a scoreless third quarter, MSU extended their lead to 26-14 with less than seven minutes remaining after a touchdown.  UJ rallied back to cut their deficit to 26-20 and fell short on their final drive of the game on Mayville State’s side of the field.  Jamestown racked up 444 total offensive yards compared to Mayville State 293 total offensive yards.  MSU is 2-2 overall record and 1-1 record in North Star contests.  UJ remained winless this season, falling to 0-4 overall record and 0-2 NSAA conference record.

Dakota State (S.D.) and Valley City State (N.D.) were scoreless after the first quarter on Sept. 20 at Lokken Stadium.  The Trojans poured in 14 points in the second quarter to grab a 14-0 halftime lead and ballooned their lead to 16-0 in the third quarter after a safety.  DaSU widened their lead to 19-0 in the fourth quarter before the Vikings ended their scoring drought with less than two minutes left in the game.  Dakota State earned a 19-8 victory over VCSU to remain undefeated this season.  The Trojans outgained the Vikings 331-188 in total offensive yards.  DaSU held VCSU to seven rushing yards in the game.  Dakota State raised their overall record to 4-0 and 2-0 NSAA conference record.  Valley City State fell to 1-2 overall record and 0-1 NSAA conference record.

Dickinson State (N.D.) was idle from the North Star conference play last week.  The Blue Hawks fell from No. 16 to No. 22 in the latest NAIA Football Coaches’ Top 25 national poll.  DiSU is 2-1 overall record and 1-0 NSAA conference record.

Looking Ahead
Valley City State (N.D.) travels to Mayville State (N.D.) for the North Star Athletic Association action on Saturday.  No. 22 Dickinson State (N.D.) returns to action as they remain at home versus Jamestown (N.D.) in the other NSAA contest.

Dakota State (S.D.) will be idle this week.

            Saturday, Sept. 28
Valley City State (N.D.) @ Mayville State (N.D.) – 2 p.m.
Jamestown (N.D.) @ (22) Dickinson State (N.D.) – 3 p.m. (Central Time)/2 p.m. (Mountain Time)
NSAA Bye:  Dakota State (S.D.)

NSAA Football Standings

            Sept. 21 Results
Mayville State (N.D.) 26, Jamestown (N.D.) 20 – FINAL
Dakota State (S.D.) 19, Valley City State (N.D.) 8 – FINAL