Record-setting performance lifts DWU past Saints

ABERDEEN, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University football team notched a record-setting night against Presentation College on their way to a 64-37 victory Saturday night at Clark Swisher Field in Aberdeen, S.D.

 The Saints (0-2) jumped on the scoreboard first with a field goal on their first possession to take a 3-0 lead. On the ensuing DWU possession, Shaye Slaughter (Harrisburg, S.D.) found Spencer Neugebauer (Mitchell, S.D.) on a 14-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-3 lead.

 The DWU defense held strong to force a Presentation punt one possession later. Seven plays later Slaughter found Daniel Libolt (Chambers, Neb.) for a 12-yard touchdown pass to take a 14-3 lead. The Tigers (1-1) scored their third touchdown of the opening quarter on a Neugebauer rush, as they led 21-3.

 The next time DWU found the end zone was is the second quarter as Slaughter ran it in from 29 yards out to take a 27-17 lead. Slaughter continued his success four minutes later as he found Libolt for a 42-yard touchdown pass, helping the Tigers take a 40-24 lead at halftime.

 The Tigers opened the second half with two touchdowns on their first two possessions, capped off with a Chayden Fitzsimmons (Sioux Falls, S.D.) rushing touchdown from 12 yards out.

 With 11:38 left to play, DWU put the game out of reach as Luke Loudenburg (Canova, S.D.) found the end zone from a yard out to make it a 64-37 game to pick up the first win of the season for the Tigers.

 Slaughter set a school record with 510 passing yards on 26 completions and three touchdowns. Jonny Withrow (Kimball, S.D.) finished the game with 162 yards receiving on eight catches, while Libolt recorded his second 100-yard receiving game of the season with six catches for 153 yards and two touchdowns. Neugebauer finished with six snags for 106 yards and Gaige Marshall (Hershey, Neb.) notched 101 rushing yards on 18 carries.

 The Tigers broke a school record with 45 first downs and 822 total yards in the game. DWU recorded two interceptions and a sack on defense as they held the Saints to 431 total yards and 97 rushing yards.

 DWU returns to the field against Morningside College in a Great Plains Athletic Conference showdown at 1 p.m. Sept. 15 at Joe Quintal Field in Mitchell.