Tigers Chase Playoffs Down the Stretch

MITCHELL, S.D. – After a 50-7 loss to No. 1 Morningside College last weekend, the Dakota Wesleyan University football team dropped from No. 16 to 21 in the national rankings with four games remaining to prove its worth to be included in the NAIA postseason.

After a similar loss last season to the Mustangs, the Tigers went on to win the final four games of the season, falling just short of a playoff berth. This season the Tigers sit at 5-2 (3-2 GPAC), one win better than the same point last season. The final four games of the 2014 season are all Great Plains Athletic Conference contests against four of the bottom five teams in the current conference standings.

First up in the stretch run is Midland University (2-4, 1-4 GPAC), which comes into play this weekend on a four-game losing streak and following a 20-point loss to Hastings College on Homecoming last weekend. The GPAC matchup is set for a 1 p.m. kickoff Saturday at Joe Quintal Field in Mitchell, S.D.

With 130 yards rushing last weekend, senior running back Francois Barnaud (Belle Fourche, S.D.) now has 1,000 yards rushing on the season. Barnaud ranks third on DWU's all-time rushing list with 3,149 yards. He is two yards behind Mark Conrad (1994-96) for second place and 180 yards from Josh Endres' school mark of 3,329. Barnaud, who holds the school mark for rushing in a season – 1,893 yards in 2013 – ranks fifth among the nation's rushers in total yards and yards per game (142.9) this season.

The Tigers will have some holes to fill on defense this week after the loss of senior linebacker Jeff Maassen (Brandon, S.D.) to a leg injury suffered last week. DWU's defense will be tasked with stopping Midland running back Alex Cornist, who is averaging 102.7 yards per game on the ground this season. Cornist carried the ball 14 times for 153 yards and two scores in the Warriors loss to Hastings last week.

Zach Couey gets the start at quarterback for the Warriors this week for the injured Andrew Cameron. Couey was 28-for-46 passing for 227 yards, and threw one touchdown pass and three interceptions against Hastings. Nathan Schluter led the Midland receivers with 10 catches for 97 yards and a score.

DWU true freshman quarterback Dillon Turner (Salem, Ark.) makes the seventh start of his career Saturday. After three straight games of passing for more than 200 yards, Turner was held to 16-of-32 passing for 117 yards against Morningside last week. Turner has thrown for 1,025 yards, three scores and eight interceptions this season, while rushing for 226 yards and seven scores, for a DWU team that ranks 21^st in the nation in total rushing yards per game.

In last year's meeting between the Tigers and Warriors, DWU rebounded from a loss to Morningside with a 20-17 road win in Fremont, Neb., which saw Barnaud rush for 257 yards on 27 carries. A repeat performance by Barnaud would stamp his place in the DWU record books. The Tigers topped the Warriors with a last minute touchdown pass from quarterback Jon Bane to receiver Anthony Muilenburg.

Midland holds a 16-11 advantage in the all-time series, while DWU has won the last two meetings. Saturday's matchup is the second to last home contest for the Tigers in the regular season, with a matchup against Dordt College looming at the end of the schedule following two road contests.