Tigers prepared for road matchup against Warriors

FREMONT, Neb. – For the second time this season, the Dakota Wesleyan University football team will endure a two-game road stint as they will face off against (RV) Midland University at 1 p.m. Saturday in Fremont, Neb.

 The Tigers took the lead early in the Blue & White Days football game against Dordt College. DWU marched on a 13-play, 91-yard drive that ended with a 25-yard field goal from Tate Gale (Irene, S.D.). The Defenders answered with four-straight touchdowns as the teams headed to the locker room with the score, 26-3 in favor of Dordt.

 The Tigers got a spark early in the third quarter when Daniel Libolt (Chambers, Neb.) raced down the right sideline for a 94-yard kickoff return. DWU found the end zone again with 3:18 left to go in the third quarter as Shaye Slaughter (Harrisburg, S.D.) scampered for a 16-yard run to make the score 36-16. Dakota Wesleyan scored one more time with a 52-yard touchdown reception from Libolt on his only catch of the game, but it was not enough as the Tigers fell 50-23 on Saturday.

 Slaughter finished 11-of-23 passing for 173 yards through the air with a touchdown and 14 yards on the ground with a score. Luke Loudenburg (Canova, S.D.) rushed for 51 yards on 14 attempts. Spencer Neugebauer (Mitchell, S.D.) caught three passes for 75 yards and Jonny Withrow (Kimball, Neb.) led all receivers for DWU with four catches on the day. Tyler Wagner (Webster, S.D.) tied a season high in tackles with 13 tackles. Cody Reichelt (Mitchell, S.D.) and Alan Murtic (Phoenix, Ariz.) both finished with 10 tackles. 

 About the Series 

 The all-time football series between Dakota Wesleyan and Midland University has been a close one, as the Tigers are 15-16 against the Warriors. The last time DWU was defeated by Midland was in 2011 in Fremont, Neb. 

 About the Coaches 

 Ross Cimpl is currently in his seventh season as the head coach of the football program. He has coached the Tigers to seven-straight winning seasons. He currently sits second on the all-time wins list at DWU with 45 victories.

 Jeff Jamrog is in his third season as head football coach of Midland University. Jamrog has coached two straight winning season and has posted a 7-4 career record when coaching at home. 

 About the Midland Warriors 

 The Warriors are currently 5-2 coming into Saturday's contest with a GPAC record of 3-2. Last Saturday, Midland defeated Hastings College 36-15 in Hastings, Neb. The Warrior offense is led by quarterback Payton Nelson who leads the team in rushing and passing yards thus far. He has rushed 86 times for 455 yards and four touchdowns. Through the air, the junior signal caller has thrown for 1,506 yards and 15 touchdowns on 104-of-193 passing. Defensively, Midland relies on linebacker Wyatt Tremayne who has collected 53 tackles and has 5.5 tackles-for-loss on the season.