Tigers rout Jimmies in GPAC action

MITCHELL, S.D. – Thanks to outscoring their opponent 34-0 in the final three quarters of the game, the Dakota Wesleyan University football team handled University of Jamestown, 41-14 in a Great Plains Athletic Conference bout on Saturday at Joe Quintal Field in Mitchell.

 In DWU's opening possession, Kiel Nelson (Mitchell, S.D.) found fellow Mitchell native Spencer Neugebauer (Mitchell, S.D.) for a 46-yard pass and catch to set DWU inside the Jamestown 10 yard line. One play later, Nelson dove into the end zone to give the Tigers (2-8, 1-7 GPAC) a 7-0 lead.

 The Jimmies (1-9, 1-7 GPAC) answered back two possessions later with a nine-play drive to tie the game. On its' next possession, Jamestown took a touchdown lead on a 63-yard run with two minutes left in the first quarter.

 Minutes into the second period, Zachary Lester (Fairbanks, Alaska) found Daniel Libolt (Chambers, Neb.) who took the ball into the end zone from 10 yards out to even the score again.

 On the ensuing Jamestown possession, Mitch Johnson (Mitchell, S.D.) picked off the pass to set the Tigers up inside Jimmie territory. Five plays later, Lester completed a pass to Garret Determan (Watertown, S.D.) to hand the Tigers a 21-14 lead.

 The defense was hungry for more as Eathen Gaulke (Kimball, S.D.) snagged the second interception of the day the next time Jamestown had the ball. However, the Tigers could not capitalize on the turnover as the teams headed to halftime with DWU leading by a touchdown.

 After halting the Jimmies on their opening possession of the second half, the Tigers drove 11 plays for 86 yards and scored on a Luke Loudenburg (Canova, S.D.) 16-yard rush.

 Leading 27-14 in the fourth quarter, Lester added his third touchdown of the afternoon with a five-yard touchdown scamper. One possession later, Loudenburg added an insurance score from three yards out as the Tigers cruised to victory over Jamestown.

 Lester finished 17-for-32 for 212 passing yards, 24 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Loudenburg chipped in 61 rushing yards on seven attempts and two scores, as Determan and Libolt notched a receiving touchdown apiece.

 Cody Reichelt (Mitchell, S.D.) led the defense with 10 tackles, two sacks, three tackles for loss and a forced fumble. Johnson tallied seven tackles, a tackle for loss and an interception, while Alan Murtic (Phoenix, Ariz.) added seven tackles, 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss.

 The Tigers finished with 440 total yards of offense, averaging 6.4 yards per play, while the defense held the Jimmies to 268 yards of offense, forced three turnovers and tallied four sacks.

 DWU concludes its' season against Hastings College at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Joe Quintal Field in Mitchell.