DWU secures victory over Hastings on Senior Day

MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University football team made it two wins in a row as they capped off the season with a 30-7 victory of Hastings College for their second Great Plains Athletic Conference win of the season Saturday at Joe Quintal Field in Mitchell.

 The DWU defense began the game with a strong stand to force the Broncos (2-9, 2-7 GPAC) into a three-and-out and punt the ball. Five plays later, senior Luke Loudenburg (Canova, S.D.) rushed the ball into the end zone for a one-yard touchdown rush to put the Tigers (3-8, 2-7 GPAC) on top, 7-0.

 Both teams stalled throughout the first quarter, until DWU went on a nine-play, 68-yard drive that was capped off by a Zachary Lester (Fairbanks, Alaska) 12-yard touchdown run to double the Tiger lead with 3:52 left in the period.

 On the first possession of the second quarter, Preston Emerson (Lakeville, Minn.) blocked the Hastings punt and returned it for a touchdown to make it a 20-0 advantage for the Tigers. Neither team scored for the remainder of the half as the teams headed to halftime with DWU holding a 20-point lead.

 The Tigers received to begin the second half and they took advantage of the opportunity. Lester dished the ball to Loudenburg on a screen pass, who took the pass 39 yards for a touchdown.

 With 10:37 to play, Tate Gale (Irene, S.D.) nailed a 25-yard field goal to put DWU up, 30-0. However, the shutout was spoiled as Hastings scored on a 38-yard touchdown pass for its' first points of the game. That would be the only scoring of the game for Hastings as the Tigers knelt the ball down of their final possession to seal the Senior Day victory.

 Loudenburg finished the day with 16 carries for 78 yards and two total touchdowns. The 78 yards rushing put him at 2,563 career rushing yards, putting him at eighth all-time rushing and making him the eighth player in DWU football history to rush for over 2,500 yards.

 Lester finished the day 18-of-33 passing for 243 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Daniel Libolt (Chambers, Neb.) tallied 11 catches for 108 yards, while Chance Sorensen (Rapid City, S.D.) recorded 54 yards receiving on two catches. Zach Gors (Tea, S.D.) led the defense in his final game with 11 tackles and a tackle for loss, while Tyler Wagner (Webster, S.D.) notched 10 tackles, a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss.

 The Tigers finish the season with a 3-8 record overall and 2-7 in GPAC play.