Tigers move to the top of the GPAC with win against Dordt
SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – The Dakota Wesleyan University football team kept its undefeated season alive with a dominant, 58-10 win against Dordt College Saturday afternoon in Sioux Center, Iowa. The Tigers accumulated 531 yards of total offense and held the Defenders to 98.
SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – The Dakota Wesleyan University football team kept its undefeated season alive with a dominant, 58-10 win against Dordt College Saturday afternoon in Sioux Center, Iowa. The Tigers accumulated 531 yards of total offense and held the Defenders to 98.
The win pushes DWU's record to 5-0 overall and 4-0 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference. This is the Tigers' best start since the 1992 season when they went undefeated and made the NAIA playoffs for the first time in school history.
Saturday's win, coupled with Morningside College's win against Doane College, leaves the Tigers alone in first place in the league. Dakota Wesleyan and Doane were the only two undefeated teams remaining in the conference, but the ninth-ranked Mustangs beat Doane 31-16 Saturday, leaving DWU alone at the top. That sets the stage for next weekend's showdown between DWU and Morningside, which is 4-1 overall and 3-1 in the GPAC. The Tigers look to stay undefeated and improve to 6-0, while the Mustangs hope to take over a share of first place.
After a three-and-out to start the game, the Tigers found the end zone almost at will. Nate Ovenden scored the first touchdown of the game on a 31-yard pass from Jon Bane with 9:41 left in the first quarter, and that opened the floodgates for 42 first-half points, 28 of which came in the second quarter. Dakota Wesleyan added a touchdown in the third quarter and a safety and touchdown in the fourth quarter.
After Ovenden's touchdown, Euedell Clayton caught a 54-yard touchdown pass from Bane to make it 14-0 with 3:40 remaining in the first quarter. The Tigers started the second quarter with a one-yard touchdown run by Josh Endres, and he scored again on another one-yard run six minutes later. After forcing the Defenders (1-5, 0-5 GPAC) to a three-and-out, Roscoe Lee returned the punt 70 yards for a touchdown, and DWU ended the half with another one-yard touchdown run by Endres.
Francois Barnaud scored on a three-yard run for DWU's only score of the third quarter, and Craig Henglefelt scored on a safety and Travis Salmonson caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Joey Olson to end the scoring for the Tigers.
Dordt scored on a 40-yard field goal by Barry Dykstra late in the third quarter, and added a touchdown when Trai Pickney caught a 15-yard scoring pass from Justin Knott with less than five minutes left to play.
Dakota Wesleyan racked up 531 yards of offense – 361 through the air and 170 on the ground – and held Dordt to 98 total yards. The Defenders passed for 121 yards and recorded negative rushing yards. At halftime, the Tigers had 333 yards of total offense to Dordt's 20.
Bane finished the day 13-for-21 for 319 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Olson finished 5-for-8 for 42 yards and a touchdown. Clayton caught four passes for 128 yards and a touchdown and Endres caught three passes for 115 yards, including a long pass of 55 yards. Endres also led the Tigers' rushing game with 65 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries. Barnaud finished with 63 yards and one touchdown on 15 carries.
Craig Henglefelt and Tom Jarding each had six tackles – five solo – to lead Dakota Wesleyan. Henglefelt also finished with 5.5 tackles for a loss of 26 yards and three sacks for a loss of 20 yards. Jeff Maassen added five tackles and one sack for a loss of 11 yards. Cantrell Richardson had an interception and Anthony Cervantes finished with two tackles for a loss.
The Tigers try to keep their undefeated season alive next Saturday, Oct. 15, when they host Morningside. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Joe Quintal Field. Dakota Wesleyan hasn't beaten the Mustangs since 2003 when they won 33-29.