One goal driving DWU Football in 2016, Playoffs

MITCHELL, S.D. – Under head coach Ross Cimpl, Dakota Wesleyan University is riding the most successful four-year span in more than 100 years of Tiger football, earning 30 wins. The newest group of Tigers will have some key holes to fill after graduating 16 players from the last squad, but a strong core of dynamic playmakers on offense will make DWU a team to watch in the Great Plains Athletic Conference in 2016.

The Tigers finished 2015 with a 9-2 overall record and were 7-2 in the GPAC. Dakota Wesleyan closed the season at No. 15 in the NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 Poll and come into the 2016 campaign ranked 16th. The Tigers just missed out on the 2015 NAIA postseason as one of the first teams not to receive a bid. DWU has not made the postseason since the school's undefeated regular season in 1992, the only postseason appearance in program history.

"The team had to learn some things the hard way last year," Cimpl said of how the experiences of 2015 will help his team this season. "We were able to experience some great things, especially beating Northwestern, a team our senior class had not defeated until that point. Also losing a tough game down at Doane, and letting ourselves get the best of us."

The Tigers will need to fill the void left by the winningest senior class in school history, including the leadership and toughness of two-time All- American linebacker Brady Bonte. The DWU defense will also need to replace the production on defense of Sam Kiger, among others.

"The graduating class deserves a lot of credit for everything we are trying to do," Cimpl said. "And now it's this senior class' opportunity at carrying the torch. The first test of the summer is getting guys here, relaying the importance of our message. What they look like and how they handle the adversity of what we are going to throw at them and the adversity they will see on the field will be interesting to see."

The Tigers return several starters on defense, including All-GPAC performers Adam Bormann, Cody Bonte, Brady Mudder and Cohl Ratermann.

"Those guys have been three-, four-year starters who have been a part of the last three or four years of successes or downfalls we have had," Cimpl said of the defensive leaders returning this fall.

Bormann led the Tigers in tackles in 2015 with 83, including three sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. Bormann will be a leader in the linebacking group that will include sophomores Dillon Rork and Collin Helget, both with game-time experience in the tightly contested GPAC.

Mudder was a force on the DWU defensive line in 2015, totaling 10.5 sacks and 20.5 tackles for loss. He was fifth on the team in total tackles with 53, while forcing two fumbles and recovering two more. Ratermann had 59 tackles a year ago, including a sack and a fumble recovery.

Bonte will be the most experienced member of the DWU defensive backfield returning after a junior season that saw him pick off three passes, break up three more and rack up 47 tackles.

"In the defensive backfield, it's going to be a question mark for us not because of the talent we have, but a matter of who our guys are going to be," Cimpl said, adding that returners Charlie LaRoche and Matt Jensen could be looked at to fill some of the holes at the cornerback and safety positions.

On offense, the DWU skill positions will look very similar to past years, as the Tigers return two-year starting quarterback Dillon Turner, starting running back John Fabrizius, along with starting receivers Hayden Adams, Dustin Livingston and Kodi Larson.

Turner has started every game since week two of 2014 as a true freshman. He is a complete dual threat, throwing for big plays down field, while adding a power running game. In 2015, Turner completed 58.8 percent of his passes for 2,366 yards and 29 touchdowns, while tossing just seven interceptions, a large drop from his freshman year. Turner led the Tigers in rushing in 2015 with 162 carries for 889 yards and six scores.

"Dillon is getting to the point where he is understanding the offense and understanding the reads," Cimpl said. "Now it's more of being the guy the offense is looking at for leadership and a calming presence."

The 2015 running back position was a revolving door due to several injuries. Fabrizius was limited to eight games, carrying the ball 120 times for 431 yards and five touchdowns, while Jonny Withrow added 70 carries for 329 yards and three scores. Gaige Marshall also showed signs of production before having his season cut short due to an injury. After redshirting in 2015, Eathen Gaulke, Mitch Johnson and Luke Loudenburg will join a strong freshman class of ball carriers to make the position group one of the deepest on the team.

"It has been an interesting battle all fall camp," Cimpl said. "I think John Fabrizius has the heads' up just based on experience. With all of the things the other guys bring to the table, it is going to be hard to keep them off of the field."

Adams was unstoppable at times through the air for the Tigers in 2015, catching 57 passes for 875 yards and 14 touchdowns. Against Briar Cliff University in week three, Adams scorched the Chargers for 209 yards and a score, while adding three touchdowns in a late-season game at Northwestern College. Livingston was also highly effective receiving and returning. He finished his junior year with 45 catches for 678 yards and seven touchdowns, while averaging 18.2 yards on kickoff and 12.4 yards on punt returns, including a touchdown.

For the first time in four years, there will be a new Tiger handling the kicking and punting for DWU. The Tigers all-time leader in field goals and extra points, Daniel Porter graduated in 2015 after his most successful season. Cimpl believes redshirt freshmen Enrique Cajero and Chase Murphy learned how to be successful from Porter last year, and it will be an interesting competition to see who takes over this key role for DWU.

The Tigers will also see immediate contributions from the large incoming freshman class that has added significant depth to the DWU roster at key positions all over the field.

"Our message to all of our guys is what you want to be a part of while you are here," Cimpl said. "We are extremely proud of what we have accomplished here for the last four years, but that can't define who we are right now. This senior class wants to go out and do something that hasn't been accomplished at DWU in more than two decades. We want this team to set itself apart and leave a legacy."

The DWU schedule in 2016 will not be easy, as three preseason top-10 teams will make their way to Mitchell. After opening the season under the lights against rival Dakota State University at 7 p.m. Friday, the Tigers welcome No. 8 Tabor College (Kan.) to Joe Quintal Field for the KCAC/GPAC Challenge. DWU closes the nonconference schedule at the University of Jamestown (N.D.) before hosting No. 9 Doane College for the GPAC opener on Blue & White Days on Sept 17. After two GPAC road games, the Tigers start a three-game home stand against a trio of tough conference opponents. Concordia University comes to town on Oct. 15, followed by Northwestern on Oct. 22 and No. 3 Morningside College on Oct. 29 before the Tigers close the season with two more on the road.