Tigers outrun Warriors in second half for GPAC win

MITCHELL, S.D. – With the game tied at 14 in the second quarter, the Dakota Wesleyan University football team looked to be in another battle till the end against Midland University Saturday at Joe Quintal Field in Mitchell, but the Tigers pulled away after the break on the legs of their running game and the arm of a true freshman quarterback.

DWU topped Midland 42-21, with senior running back Francois Barnaud (Belle Fourche, S.D.) finding the end zone three times and Dillon Turner throwing for a career-high three scores in the second half.

Barnaud moved into second on the DWU all-time rushing list with his first touchdown run of four yards in the first quarter. Barnaud moved past Mark Conrad and trails only Josh Endres on the record list. Barnaud added a second first quarter score to put the Tigers up 14-0.

Midland did not go away, as the Warriors got on the board with quarterback Zach Couey hitting Kail Walker for a 45-yard score. The score was tied at 14 after Midland running back Alex Cornist rushed in from eight yards out in the second quarter.

Barnaud sent the Tigers into the locker room for halftime up 21-14 with his third touchdown.

With the Tiger ground game churning up yardage, the DWU passing game took advantage of lapses in the Midland coverage. Turner hit Austin Schwader (Howard, S.D.) from seven yards out after a 10-play 73-yard drive to extend the DWU lead in the third.

Turner added scoring passes to Dustin Livingston (Irene, S.D.) and Trevor Schroeder (Canistota, S.D.) to help the Tigers pull away for the win.

DWU outgained Midland 287 to 165 on the ground, with Barnaud leading the way with 24 carries for 109 yards with a long of 31. Turner added 13 carries for 73 yards, while Xavier Armijo carried the ball 14 times for 64 yards.

Turner finished 11-for-17 passing for 152 yards and was not sacked or intercepted in the win. Schroeder caught three passes for 44 yards and a score to lead the DWU receiving corps.

Cornist led the Midland rushers with 17 carries for 87 yards and score, while Couey added 17-of-34 passing for 226 yards and was intercepted once by DWU senior defensive back Josh Fiedler (Dell Rapids, S.D.).

The Tiger defense got nine tackles from linebacker Anthony Cervantes (Burbank, Calif.) and sophomore Adam Bormann (Stickney, S.D.). DWU took advantage of several penalties by Warriors, who were penalized 14 times for 204 yards, which included a handful of personal foul facemask flags on the Midland defense.

With Barnaud 72 yards from breaking the school's rushing record, the Tigers take on Nebraska Wesleyan University at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1 in Lincoln, Neb.