Tigers open conference play with top-25 matchup at Doane
MITCHELL, S.D. – The No. 22 Dakota Wesleyan University football team flexed their offensive muscles in their home opener last weekend against the University of Jamestown as they came away with a 49-12 victory. DWU opens Great Plains Athletic Conference play as they travel to Crete, Neb., to take on No. 7 Doane University at 1 p.m.
MITCHELL, S.D. – The No. 22 Dakota Wesleyan University football team flexed their offensive muscles in their home opener last weekend against the University of Jamestown as they came away with a 49-12 victory. DWU opens Great Plains Athletic Conference play as they travel to Crete, Neb., to take on No. 7 Doane University at 1 p.m.
The contest was also named the NAIA Game of the Week after a vote was cast on Facebook by the NAIA.
The DWU defense stifled the Jimmies offense last week as the Tigers forced two interceptions, held Jamestown to just 2-of-12 on third-down conversions and only 12 points. The Tiger offense proved to be too much for the Jimmie defense. DWU finished with 583 total yards of offense, 284 yards rushing, 299 yards passing and 49 points. The Tigers are averaging 49.3 points per game while the defense is holding opponents to 27.3 points per game.
For the second-straight week, senior quarterback Dillon Turner (Salem, Ark.) earned GPAC Player of the Week honors as he finished with 267 yards passing, 68 yards rushing and five total touchdowns. Hayden Adams (Villa Park, Ill.) was on the receiving end of the longest touchdown on the day of 77 yards. He finished with three catches for 101 yards and a score. Luke Loudenburg (Canova, S.D.) added 12 rushes for 83 yards and a touchdown for the Tigers. The offense ranks second in the NAIA in total offensive yards per game with 611.3 and third in total scoring offense with 148 points on the season.
On the defensive side of the ball, Trevor Lundin (Volga, S.D.) led the way with seven tackles and 1.5 tackles for a loss. Charlie LaRoche (Lower Brule, S.D.) added five tackles, two interceptions and a pass breakup, while Bailey Schriever (Harrisburg, S.D.) tallied five tackles and two pass breakups. LaRoche ranks second nationally in total interceptions with two on the season.
Last season DWU hosted Doane at Joe Quintal Field for Blue and White Days but lost 61-34 after allowing 35 first-quarter points. Turnovers hurt DWU as they finished the game with six fumbles and an interception. The offense finished with 264 passing yards, 176 rushing yards and 440 total yards. Turner finished the game 17-of-30 passing for 264 yards and three touchdowns.
About the Series
Dakota Wesleyan is 11-20-1 in the all-time series against Doane University. The last victory for DWU came in 2014 as they defeated Doane in comeback fashion in a 27-23 thriller in Mitchell, S.D.
About the Coaches
Ross Cimpl is in his sixth season as the Dakota Wesleyan football head coach. He recently moved into second place on the all-time wins list by a football coach with a 40-17 career record.
Doane is led by Matt Franzen in his 11th season for the Tigers. He led Doane to back-to-back NAIA playoff appearances in 2015 and 2016.
About the Doane Tigers
Doane has started the season with two victories and jumped to No. 7 in this week's NAIA Coaches' Top-25 Poll. They defeated No. 14 Sterling College, 34-28 in the KCAC/GPAC Challenge to open the season and beat Friends University, 28-13 a week ago. Doane is led by senior quarterback, Trev Lovell. He is 11-of 23 for 181 yards passing and one touchdown on the season. Kyle Jensen leads the team in rushing with 194 yards and three touchdowns on the year. The defense ranks third in the NAIA in defense pass efficiency at 76.9 percent and ninth nationally in punt return yards per attempt at 16.8.