Offense shines as DWU overpowers Dordt

MITCHELL, S.D. – Offense took center stage as the Dakota Wesleyan University football team squared off against Great Plains Athletic Conference foe, Dordt College on Senior Day. DWU defeated the Defenders, 62-52 while both offenses combined for over 1,300 total yards and 114 points Saturday at Joe Quintal Field in Mitchell.

 Dordt (4-5, 2-5 GPAC) took a 6-0 lead after a short four-play opening drive. However, the Tigers (6-5, 4-4 GPAC) answered back with back-to-back touchdowns to take a 14-6 lead in the first quarter.

 With the momentum favoring DWU and the ball on their own six-yard line, Dordt needed a big play to keep pace with the Tigers. They got just that with a 94-yard touchdown run to end the first quarter and make it a 14-12 game.

 It was a back and forth affair for the remainder of the first half with each team tacking on multiple touchdowns. But it was Dillon Turner (Salem, Ark.) and DWU who scored last in the half with a 14-yard touchdown run to give the Tigers a 34-25 lead heading into the break.

 In the second half, the Defenders scored 13-unanswered points to regain the lead, 38-34. The Tigers would not trail for long as Turner found Hayden Adams (Villa Park, Ill.) for their third touchdown connection to put DWU back on top, 41-38.

 The Tigers would not trail the rest of the game as they pulled away near the end with back-to-back touchdown runs by Luke Loudenburg (Canova, S.D.) to seal the victory.

 Turner finished 28-of-39 with 386 passing yards, 108 rushing yards on 24 attempts and five total touchdowns. Adams added 14 catches for 228 yards and three scores, while Loudenburg tallied 79 yards on 22 rushes with two touchdowns. Gaige Marshall (North Platte, Neb.) and Preston Emerson (Lakeville, Minn.) each added a rushing touchdown.

 Defensively, Austin Van Poole (Yuba City, Calif.) led the way with seven tackles and a forced fumble, while Eathen Gaulke (Kimball, S.D.) tacked on five tackles, a sack and two tackles for loss. Charlie LaRoche (Lower Brule, S.D.) secured three tackles, a tackle for loss and two interceptions.

 The Tigers finish the season 6-5 and 4-4 in the GPAC. The victory secured their sixth-straight winning season under head coach Ross Cimpl.

 Turner closes his career at DWU with 10,704 passing yards with 115 touchdowns and 3,215 rushing yards with 36 touchdowns. Adams records 43 touchdowns for 3,243 receiving yards in his four-year career at DWU.