(VCSU) Valley City State University quarterback Avery Thorsgard and defensive end Riley Gerhardt have been named the NSAA Football Players of the Week after their performances Saturday in VCSU’s regular season finale. 

NSAA Football Offensive Player of the Week
Avery Thorsgard – Valley City State (N.D.) – 6’1″ – 185 lbs., Sophomore – quarterback – Northwood, N.D. – Thorsgard rushed for 170 yards and had a hand in five touchdowns as Valley City State (N.D.) held off Mayville State (N.D.) 48-40 in a high scoring affair at Fargodome.  He averaged 10.6 yards per carry and rushed for two touchdowns, including the game-opening score with a 57-yard touchdown run.  Thorsgard was 9-of-11 for 136 passing yards and threw three touchdown passes.

NSAA Football Defensive Player of the Week
Riley Gerhardt – Valley City State (N.D.) – 6’2″ – 220 lbs., Sophomore – defensive line – Valley City, N.D. – Gerhardt tied his career-high and the Valley City State (N.D.) single-game record with three quarterback sacks in their 48-40 victory over Mayville State (N.D.) in the Fargodome. His three quarterback sacks resulted in a total of 29 yards loss. He leads the NAIA with 12.5 total quarterback sacks this season. Gerhardt finished the game with six tackles (4 solo, 2 assists). 

NSAA Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Braeden Lacombe – Mayville State (N.D.) – 5’10” – 150 lbs. – Freshman – kicker – Peoria, Ariz. – Lacombe was perfect 4-of-4 on PAT extra-point kicks and 2-for-2 in field goals as Mayville State (N.D.) fell short to Valley City State (N.D.) by the score of 48-40.  He collected 10 points in the game.  Lacombe hit a season long 38-yard field goal in the first quarter and added a 27-yard field goal later in the first quarter.  He also recorded eight kick-offs for 387 total yards (48.4 yards per kick-off) with one touchback. 

Recap from last week’s games
Dickinson State (N.D.), ranked No. 18 in the NAIA Football Coaches’ National Poll before entering the regular-season finale game on Nov. 12, roared to a 26-0 lead over Presentation (S.D.) in the first quarter on a frigid cold day in Dickinson, N.D.  The Saints scored a touchdown late in the first quarter to cut DiSU’s lead to 26-6.  The Blue Hawks outscored PC 27-2 in the second quarter, ballooning their lead to 53-8 by halftime.  Dickinson State outscored Presentation 20-8 in the second half to complete the final score of 73-16, finishing the North Star conference schedule with a perfect 6-0 record.  The Blue Hawks won their eighth straight game to raise their overall record to 8-2.  DiSU outgained PC 365-198 in total offensive yards.  Dickinson State forced Presentation to seven total turnovers – four interceptions and three fumbles lost – in the game.  Presentation finished its season with an overall record of 3-8 and 2-4 record in the North Star conference play (tied with Iowa Wesleyan – who finished their season on Nov. 5 with an overall record of 4-7 – for fifth place in the NSAA conference standings).

Valley City State (N.D.) was originally scheduled to play at Mayville State (N.D.) on Nov. 12, but the game was moved to the FargoDome in Fargo, N.D.  Both teams ignited a high offensive explosion where the Comets outgained the Vikings 541-539 in total offensive yards, with VCSU edging MSU by the score of 48-40.  It was a tale of two halves where Valley City State opened with a 34-13 halftime lead, while Mayville State outscored VCSU 27-14 in the final thirty minutes of the game.  The Comets registered 25 first downs compared to the Vikings 22 first downs.  Mayville State threw for 563 offensive yards compared to Valley City State 136 passing yards.  VCSU rushed for 403 total yards and held MSU to minus 22 yards.  Valley City State finished its season with a 5-5 overall record and 4-2 record in league play.  Mayville State dropped their seventh straight game, falling to 3-8 overall record and 0-6 record in North Star conference games.

Dakota State (S.D.) earned a 13-0 shutout victory over Waldorf (Iowa) on a cold day at Trojan Field, marking the final game being held at Trojan Field on Nov. 12.  The Trojans opened the first quarter with a 10-0 lead and ballooned their lead to 13-0 in the second quarter.  DaSU halted WU from scoring near halftime, stopping them at the 1-yard line in the end zone.  Neither team could score in the final quarter as the Trojans held on to their fourth win in the last five games, as well as their third straight win.  DaSU outgained WU 279-202 in total offensive yards.  Dakota State finished their season with an overall record of 6-4 and 4-2 NSAA conference record (tied for second in the NSAA with Valley City State).  Waldorf fell to 7-4 overall record and finished in a sole possession for fourth place in the NSAA football standings with 3-3 record.

Looking Ahead – Saturday
Dickinson State (N.D.) moved up one spot in the NAIA Football Coaches’ Top 25 final poll at No. 17.  The Blue Hawks received the league’s automatic bid to the NAIA Football Championships Series playoffs as No. 14 national seed.  Dickinson State is scheduled to visit third-ranked Northwestern (Iowa) in Orange City, Iowa on Saturday with a kick-off at 12 p.m. (Central Time)/11 a.m. (Mountain Time). 

            Saturday, Nov. 19
            NAIA Football Championships Series Playoffs – First Round – Orange City, Iowa
            (17) Dickinson State (N.D.) @ (3) Northwestern (Iowa) – 12 p.m. (Central Time)/11 a.m. (Mountain Time)