Tigers set for KCAC Challenge matchup with No. 8 Tabor

MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University football team is looking to bounce back from a tough loss in the season opener to rival Dakota State University last weekend. The No. 16 Tigers will get an immediate opportunity to prove themselves with a matchup against No. 8 Tabor College.

The highly ranked Bluejays come to town to take on DWU in the second annual KCAC/GPAC Challenge at 1 p.m. Saturday at Joe Quintal Field in Mitchell, S.D. The meeting is the first all-time between the two schools as DWU seeks to play its part in helping the GPAC win the annual challenge for a second straight year. With all GPAC schools on the road last year the conference when 8-1 against the KCAC, including DWU escaping a meeting with Ottawa University early in 2015. The challenge games will all be played at GPAC sites this weekend.

Saturday's game has been selected as the NAIA Game of the Week.

DWU's offense showed flashes of brilliance in the loss to the Trojans last weekend with junior quarterback Dillon Turner (Salem, Ark.) going 23-of-37 passing for 277 yards and three touchdowns. Turner found three different receivers for scores including a 38-pass to senior receiver Dustin Livingston (Irene, S.D.). Junior Hayden Adams (Villa Park, Ill.) and sophomore Payne Ahrens (Gretna, Neb.) each found the end zone off a Turner pass as well.

Livingston had a career day in the loss. He caught six passes for a career-high 141 yards. He was also impactful in the return game, gaining 63 total yards on two returns.

The Tigers had trouble getting the run game going, with Dakota State bottling up the dual-threat Turner for no yards on nine carries. Junior running back John Fabrizius (Casper, Wyo.) finished with 21 carries for 82 yards and a touchdown, while redshirt freshman Luke Loudenburg added 24 yards on three touches. Loudenburg electrified the capacity crowd in the return game including a 59-yard return in the closing minutes to set his team up for a potential go-ahead score.

The Tigers stalled on the DSU five-yard line leading the first loss for DWU against its longtime rival since 2004.

About the Series

Today is the first meeting between Dakota Wesleyan and Tabor on the football field.

About the Coaches   

Dakota Wesleyan head coach Ross Cimpl is in his fifth season leading the Tigers.  His career record is now 30-14 overall, putting him fourth on the DWU all-time wins list, one behind former head coach Brad Pole.

Mike Gardner is in his ninth season as the head coach of Tabor and has a career record of 63-27, making him the winningest coach in the program's history.

Saturday's Officials

Andrew Fulton, referee; Andrew Fitzke, umpire; George Finley, head linesman; Tanner Opichka, line judge; John Robinson II, side judge; Justin Denning, field judge; Larry Backes, back judge.

About the Tabor College Bluejays

Today is the 2016 season opener for Tabor College one year after making the NAIA Postseason as the No. 8 seed.  The matchup with DWU will be the third straight for the Bluejays against a member of the Great Plains Athletic Conference.  Tabor opened the NAIA Playoffs against Doane College with a 16-14 win before falling to No. 1 Morningside College 51-6 in the national quarterfinals.  Trey Schmidt is set to take over at the quarterback position for Tabor, while Jonah McKee is the team's leading rusher, returning with 182 yards last season.  Today is the first meeting between Tabor and DWU on the football field.