Tigers close season against Defenders, 7 seniors to be honored

MITCHELL, S.D. – The 2014 senior class has a chance Saturday to leave a lasting mark on the Dakota Wesleyan University football program with a win over Great Plains Athletic Conference foe Dordt College.

With a win, the seven Tiger seniors would tie the 1994 senior class for the most wins over a four-year period in school history with 27. The group of fourth and fifth-year seniors have an overall record of 26-15 heading into the final game of 2014. DWU and Dordt kick off at 1 p.m. Saturday at Joe Quintal Field in Mitchell, S.D.

The senior class includes Francois Barnaud (Belle Fourche, S.D.), Spencer Bloch (Scotland, S.D.), Anthony Cervantes (Burbank, Calif.), Josh Fielder (Dell Rapids, S.D.), Kyle Hencke (Sturgis, S.D.), Jeff Maassen (Brandon, S.D.) and Jake Verry (Wernersville, Pa.).

Due to the winterization of Joe Quintal last week there will be no running water at the stadium this weekend. Portable toilets will be available and hot chocolate will be served. Weather is expected to be cold with a chance of snow. Fans are advised to dress warm for the game.

The Tigers (6-4, 4-4 GPAC) fell out of the NAIA Coaches' Poll for the first time this season following a second-straight loss last week against Concordia University on the road. Last week was the first time the Tigers suffered a second-consecutive loss since 2012.

In last week's loss Barnaud surpassed Josh Endres on the Tigers all-time career rushing list. The senior running back has 3,342 yards in his career heading into his final game as a Tiger. He also holds the school's single-season rushing record with 1,893 yards set in 2013.

The Tigers are a perfect 6-0 all-time against a Dordt team that has finished at the bottom of the GPAC standings each of the last five seasons. The Defenders need a win over DWU and a loss by Midland University to avoid a sixth-straight last-place season.

In last year's meeting, DWU traveled to Sioux Center, Iowa and shutout the Defenders 27-0 in the 2013 season finale. Barnaud capped his impressive junior campaign with 29 carries for 158 yards and a touchdown in the win.

Last week, a Dordt rally fell short in a loss to Hastings College. The Defenders kept the ball on the ground most of the game, attempting just 10 passes. Freshman quarterback Taylan Seaman led the Defenders with 25 carries for 142 yards and score, while adding 48 yards passing. Running back Daniel Fennig added 12 carries for 78 yards.

With the cold conditions expected at game time, Dordt may keep with the ground attack against DWU. The Tiger defense has been led by junior linebacker Brady Bonte (Garretson, S.D.) this season. He has a team-high 72 total tackles in 2014, with 21 tackles for loss and five sacks. Junior defensive back Tanner Munk (Dell Rapids, S.D.) is second on the Tigers with 70 tackles and is tied with Cervantes for the team lead with four interceptions.

A win over Dordt would give the DWU football team its first back-to-back seven-win seasons since 1992 and 1993.