Tigers look to rebound against Bulldogs

MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University football team dropped to No. 24 in the NAIA Coaches Poll from No. 19 after a loss on the road to Great Plains Athletic Conference foe Nebraska Wesleyan University last week, hampering the hopes of a playoff berth for the Tigers.

DWU (6-3, 4-3 GPAC) looks to close out the season on a high note in a matchup against Concordia University at 1 p.m. Saturday in Seward, Neb., before the regular-season finale next week.

The Tigers come into play hurting on defense with several key players out this week, including linebackers Jeff Maassen (Brandon, S.D.) and Adam Bormann (Sitckney, S.D.). The DWU defense will be tasked with stopping Concordia running back Bryce Collins, who ranks eighth in the NAIA in all-purpose yards per game with 174.5.

Collins has 889 yards rushing and 228 yards receiving this season and has scored eight touchdowns. The Bulldog passing game is led by dual-threat quarterback Von Thomas, who has 1,590 yards passing and 18 touchdowns this season. Thomas has added 492 yards on the ground and seven more scores.

DWU senior running back Francois Barnaud (Belle Fourche, S.D.) sits 32 yards from breaking the school's career all-time rushing record held by Josh Endres. Barnaud has 3,298 yards rushing in a Tiger uniform. He ranks sixth in the nation in total rushing yards this season with 1,149.

The DWU defense has been led this season by junior linebacker Brady Bonte (Garretson, S.D.) who is fourth in the NAIA in total tackles for loss this season with 19. Bonte has a team-high 64 tackles in 2014 with 46 solo and a DWU-best five sacks. Junior Tanner Munk (Dell Rapids, S.D.) is second on the team with 63 total tackles, 6.5 for a loss and three interceptions.

Against the Prairie Wolves last week, the Tigers were held to 46 yards rushing and 285 yards overall. True freshman quarterback Dillon Turner (Salem, Ark.) was 23-of-47 passing for 235 yards, with one touchdown pass and three interceptions against NWU. Turner has 1,412 yards passing, 11 interceptions and nine touchdowns in 2014.

In last year's meeting between DWU and Concordia, the Tigers topped the Bulldogs 24-13 at home with Barnaud racking up 104 yards on 30 carries. It was a defensive battle, with both team combining for less than 500 total yards of offense. Former quarterback Jon Bane led the way with two touchdown passes and Matt McManus capped the win with a 75-yard interception return for a score in the final minute of the game.

The Tigers return home next week to play their final home game of the season against Dordt College at 1 p.m. at Joe Quintal Field in Mitchell, S.D.