Tigers host Hastings for Senior Day

Mitchell, S.D.- On senior day, Dakota Wesleyan University will honor 17 seniors as they look to build off last week's victory and end the 2019 season with consecutive wins. DWU will host Hastings College in a Great Plains Athletic Conference matchup at 1 p.m. tomorrow at Joe Quintal Field.

 The Tigers earned their first conference victory of the season last week in dominating fashion, defeating the Jamestown Jimmies 41-14 at Joe Quintal Field. After a slow first quarter where the Tigers found themselves down, 14-7, DWU went on to score 34 unanswered points in the final three quarters of the game en route to the victory.

 Last year, the Hastings Broncos visited Joe Quintal Field on Senior Day and stole a victory, 21-13. After DWU was forced to punt on the opening possession of the game, the Tiger defense stepped up and made a huge play as Hastings attempted a fourth-down conversion, to get the ball back for Dakota Wesleyan.

 Two plays later, Spencer Neugebauer (Mitchell, S.D.) hauled in a 43-yard completion all the way down to the Hastings 10-yard line. DWU fumbled the ball on the ensuing drive to bail out the Broncos, and give the ball back.

 In the final minutes of the first half, Luke Loudenburg (Canova, S.D.) punched the ball into the end zone from two yards out to take a 6-0 lead. However, with 40 seconds left in the half and DWU with the ball on the Hastings side of the field, DWU threw an interception that resulted in a touchdown for the Broncos. Hastings took the lead 7-6 to close out the first half.

 The Broncos marched down the field to begin the second half and converted on a one-yard rush to extend their lead, 14-6. Two minutes into the final quarter, Hastings added another score to push their lead to 21-6.

 The Tigers responded with a 62-yard drive that ended with a five-yard rushing touchdown for Loudenburg to cut the deficit to 21-13. DWU had a chance to tie it up as they marched all the way down to the Hastings two-yard line, but could not punch it in.

 Loudenburg led the charge offensively, tallying 146 rushing yards on 38 carries and two touchdowns. Neugebauer added three catches for 46 yards, and Daniel Libolt (Chambers, Neb.) snagged three catches for 46 yards. Tyler Wagner (Webster, S.D.) led the defense with 10 tackles and Cody Reichelt (Mitchell, S.D.) added eight tackles of his own.

 About the Series

 The Tigers currently trail the all-time series against the Broncos, 8-17. DWU had won the previous five matchups before falling last season.

 About the Coaches

 Ross Cimpl is in his eighth season with the Tigers. He sits at second on the all-time wins list at Dakota Wesleyan.

 Tony Harper is in his 13^th season as part of the Hastings College football program. Harper took over as head coach following the 2011 season.

 About the Broncos

 Hastings yields an identical record to the Tigers, at 2-7 and 1-7 in GPAC action. The Broncos are led on offense by running back Brett Simonsen, who has rushed for 655 yards on 137 attempts and three touchdowns. They are also led by quarterback Isaiah Jackson who has completed 105 of his 227 attempts for 1,232 yards, nine touchdowns and eight interceptions. Defensively, they are led by linebacker Tydus Clay who leads the team with 58 total tackles, and four tackles for loss. Abdul Marei leads the Bronco defense with four sacks on the season, as well as 45 total tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss.