Tigers roll Briar Cliff, Turner and Adams set milestone records

MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University football team was back to its normal ways on Saturday, taking care of Briar Cliff University 63-24 in Great Plains Athletic Conference play Saturday at Joe Quintal Field in Mitchell.

 Offensive firepower wasn't an issue for the Tigers as they racked up 700 yards of total offense and 32 first downs. The Tigers were the first on the scoreboard when senior dual-threat quarterback Dillon Turner (Salem, Ark.) found his favorite receiver in Hayden Adams (Villa Park, Ill.) on a 25-yard touchdown pass early in the first quarter.

 DWU went on to add 22 points in the second quarter. Turner tossed a one-yard touchdown pass to Ben Gustad (Irene, S.D.), while finding Adams again with 6:20 to play in the half. Turner also found the endzone with his feet, scoring from 10-yards out.

 The Tiger running backs went to work in the third quarter as Luke Loudenburg (Canova, S.D.) and Jonny Withrow (Kimball, Neb.) scored from 37 and one-yard out, respectively. Later in the third quarter, Turner found Adams once more, this time on a 77-yard touchdown to give the Tigers a 49-17 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

 Three touchdown receptions wasn't enough for Adams, after he hauled in an 11-yard touchdown pass with 12:49 to play in the game. Turner capped off the Tiger scoring on a 10-yard touchdown run, after a six-play 58-yard touchdown drive.

 Turner surpassed the 10,000 yard career passing mark, the first of any Tiger quarterback. He was 22-of-31 for 288 yards and five touchdowns. He also added 161 yards on the ground on 11 carries and two scores. The senior now sits in first place on in the DWU record books for most passing yards in a career with 10,078. Adams on the other hand, broke the single-season receiving yard record with 1,087 yards on the year, previously held by Bubba Slaba.

 Loudenburg had one of his best days in a Tiger uniform, carrying the ball 12 times for 147 yards and a touchdown. Withrow added 81 yards on 13 carries and a score. Adams finished the day with eight catches, 172 yards and four touchdowns.

 Defensively, Dillon Rork (Grand Island, Neb.) recorded eight tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a pass breakup. Eathen Gaulke (Kimball, S.D.) tallied four tackles, two sacks and three tackles for loss, while Tyler Wagner (Webster, S.D.) added six stops, a forced fumble and a pass breakup.

 The Tigers (5-4, 3-3 GPAC) hit the road to take on Concordia University in GPAC action at 1 p.m. Saturday in Seward, Neb.