Top offenses take center stage in Sioux City, Iowa
SIOUX CITY, Iowa. – The No. 22 Dakota Wesleyan University football team has been climbing the NAIA rankings in the past few weeks after defeating the Midland University Warriors, 55-21 last Saturday in Mitchell, S.D., and now set their sights on the No. 4 Morningside College Mustangs in Sioux City, Iowa.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa. – The No. 22 Dakota Wesleyan University football team has been climbing the NAIA rankings in the past few weeks after defeating the Midland University Warriors, 55-21 last Saturday in Mitchell, S.D., and now set their sights on the No. 4 Morningside College Mustangs in Sioux City, Iowa.
The Tigers got right to work during Blue and White Days as they never trailed throughout the homecoming game. Senior quarterback Dillon Turner (Salem, Ark.) rushed for a one-yard touchdown run to give DWU an early 7-0 lead.
The Tigers began the route as they scored 28 points during the second quarter and took a 35-14 lead into halftime.
In the final quarter, freshman Cameron Sorg (Merritt Island, Fla.) caught a Midland punt and returned it 73 yards for the final touchdown of the game as DWU defeated the Warriors in front of a packed crowd at Joe Quintal Field.
In the victory, Turner broke the school record for most passing yards in a career with 9,321 passing yards. The record was previously held by Temple, Texas, native Jonathan Bane with 9,224 passing yards. Turner also set a new career-high for passing yards in a game with 446 yards. Luke Loudenburg (Canova, S.D.) led DWU on the ground with 56 yards and Gaige Marshall (North Platte, Neb.) added 41 yards rushing with a touchdown. Hayden Adams (Villa Park, Ill.) tallied 175 yards receiving and two touchdowns, while freshman Spencer Neugebauer (Mitchell, S.D.) recorded 79 yards receiving and a score.
Defensively, Trey DeCrook (Sioux Falls, S.D.) led the team with 11 tackles and a pass breakup and Dillon Rork (Grand Island, Neb.) added seven tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss and a sack. Freshman linebacker Cody Reichelt (Mitchell, S.D.) tallied seven tackles and 1.5 tackles for a loss, while Charlie LaRoche (Lower Brule, S.D.) recorded five tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss and two pass breakups.
About the Series
Last season, DWU entered their matchup with Morningside riding a four-game winning streak and a No. 14 ranking in the NAIA. However, the Mustangs defeated the Tigers on Senior Day, 39-6. Morningside silenced the hot DWU offense as they held the Tigers to 241 total offensive yards and just 61 rushing yards. DWU is 6-25-1 in the all-time series against Morningside.
About the Coaches
Ross Cimpl has recorded a career record of 42-18 in his six seasons as the DWU head football coach. He currently sits second in the DWU all-time wins list.
Steve Ryan is in his 16th season as the head football coach of the Morningside Mustangs. He has tallied a career record of 142-39 at Morningside.
About the Morningside Mustangs
Morningside ranks No. 4 in the NAIA with a record of 5-0 on the season. They are averaging 218.8 rushing yards, 365.8 passing yards and 584.6 total yards per game. The Mustang offense ranks second in the NAIA in pass efficiency (201.5), third in third-down conversions (56.9), third in total offense yards per game (584.6), fourth in first downs per game (29.2) and fourth in passing offense per game (365.8).
Trent Solsma leads the explosive offense at quarterback as he ranks first in the nation in pass efficiency, fourth in passing yards per game, fourth in total offense yards per game and fifth in total offense. He averages 349.8 passing yards per game and has 20 total touchdowns on the season. Caden McDonald leads the defense with 49 tackles, seven tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks, three interceptions and a fumble recovery on the season.