MITCHELL, S.D. – With seven returning award winners coming back for the 2019 season, the Dakota Wesleyan University football team looks to bounce back following a down year in 2018 and return near the top of the Great Plains Athletic Conference like Tiger fans have been used to seeing in recent years.
From 2013 until 2015, the DWU defense ranked inside the top five of the conference in scoring defense per game. During the same span, the Tiger defense also ranked inside the top five of the GPAC in total defense per game, pass defense efficiency, first downs allowed and opponent third-down conversions.
A statistical category that the DWU defense has prided itself on over the years has been sacks per game. The Tigers ranked as high as second in the conference in 2013 and 2015 with 2.2 sacks per game and 2.9 sacks per game, respectively. Despite dropping to fifth in the GPAC in this category in 2016, the Tigers returned to prominence in 2017 when they ranked second in the conference with two sacks per game. DWU reached the pinnacle of the GPAC last season in sacks per game as they led the conference, which boasted the NAIA National Champions in 2018, with three sacks per game.
"We have done a good job of putting pressure on the quarterback in passing situations," head coach Ross Cimpl said. "The reason we are able to do this is playing well on first and second downs. We are going to have to improve on those early downs to eliminate big plays. Our goal is to keep the offense guessing as to when and where we are bringing pressure."
While the DWU defense was keeping opposing quarterbacks at bay throughout the 2013, 2014 and 2015 seasons, the offense exploded during the 2015, 2016 and 2017 campaigns. The Tigers ranked second in the GPAC in scoring offense per game, averaging 35.1 points in 2015, 38.8 points in 2016 and 43.6 points in 2017.
The overlap of great offense and great defense saw a 2015 season where DWU ranked in the top 25 nationally all season with a 9-2 overall record and a final ranking of 14th in the NAIA, just missing the playoffs. Statistically, the Tigers ranked inside the top five in every offensive and defensive category, explaining their recipe for success.
With four All-GPAC members returning on defense and three on offense, the Tigers are poised to renew the buzz of football with the DWU faithful.
"We want to compete in every game," Cimpl said. "We have a great number of guys who have invested a great deal in this program, and they want to leave it better than how they found it. This year's team is going to be very young. We want our young guys to make an impact and our older guys to leave a legacy in their last season."
Two of the defensive returners include Eathen Gaulke and Tyler Wagner of the linebacking core. Wagner led the defense with 92 total tackles, including 14.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Gaulke was not far behind as he tallied 76 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. Emmanuel Christopher was also tabbed to the All-Conference Team last season as he led the team with 5.5 sacks and notched 44 tackles and 9.5 tackles for loss. Mitch Johnson rounded out the four defensive award winners, pacing the defensive backfield with two interceptions, 59 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks.
"We have a pretty good group of returners on the defensive side of the football, specifically some guys with some high accolades," Cimpl said. "We need to count on those guys to get everyone in the right spot and do their job extremely well. If we can count on these guys to be consistent, it allows everyone else to play fast."
On the offensive side, the explosive duo of Spencer Neugebauer and Daniel Libolt return to receiver and special teams. Neugebauer was tabbed to the All-GPAC Second Team last year after leading the receivers with 829 yards on 52 catches, averaging 75.4 yards per game and three receiving touchdowns. In his first season, Libolt made an immediate impact as he was named All-GPAC First Team Returner and All-GPAC Honorable Mention Offense. He finished with 22 kick returns for 598 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Libolt averaged 27.2 yards per return, while Neugebauer averaged 17.9 yards per return.
"There are not a lot of defensive backs who can stay with Spencer, while Libolt is something special when he gets the ball in space," offensive coordinator Loren Endsley said about his two returners at receiver. "Our receiving core is the strength of our offense, and we will make sure they get plenty of touches."
At the running back position, Luke Loudenburg returns for his senior campaign after being named All-GPAC Honorable Mention last year. The Canova, S.D., native played in all 11 games and led the team with 865 rushing yards, averaging 78.6 yards per game and tallied eight touchdowns on the ground. A new face that provides depth at running back is freshman TreVyon McDaniel. He finished his high school career with over 2,000 rushing yards and 36 touchdowns. The Lakewood, Wash., native was a two-time All-State nominee and a three-year starter for Clover Park High School.
"Loudenburg's leadership is crucial; he is the heartbeat of our offense," Endsley said. "It was hard for him getting nearly 40 touches a game last year, so we brought in a group of guys who can take some weight off of Loudenburg's shoulders. This, in turn, will make him and the rest of the running backs better as a whole."
The offensive line might have the most work ahead of them as they will start five new offensive linemen. However, as Endsley stated, he feels that this group can make a huge impact for the offense.
"We have some returning guys who have played some reps, as well as some newcomers who could see immediate playing time," Endsley said. "They are going to be a challenging group, but they will also be an exciting group to watch this season."
The position that had many Tiger fans curious over the offseason was at quarterback. With a returning quarterback who saw playing time last season and a handful of new faces, the decision was made during fall camp. Mitchell native Kiel Nelson won the starting role in just his first season with the Tigers. In high school, Nelson was named to the All-State football team, was a two-time team captain, a three-year starter and a 2016 South Dakota Class "AA" State Football champion. Backing up Nelson will be Zachary Lester, who saw action in four games last season.
The season kicks off against Dakota State University at 7 p.m. tomorrow in Madison, S.D. The home opener is the following week against Presentation College, beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7 at Joe Quintal Field. The annual Blue & White Days game is set against Doane University at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5, while Senior Day concludes the 2019 season against Hastings College at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16.
"We learned a lot last year the hard way," Cimpl said. "One thing that was reinforced was how tough the GPAC is. We must be ready to play each game and willing to play 60 minutes of football. If we can do that, we at least give ourselves a chance at the end of the game. No one liked how last year ended, and we are using that in our preparation as players and coaches."
