TIGERS EARN FIRST WIN OF THE SEASON THANKS TO THREE INTERCEPTION DAY FROM DEJONG, TYING SCHOOL RECORD
October 15, 2022

TIGERS EARN FIRST WIN OF THE SEASON THANKS TO THREE INTERCEPTION DAY FROM DEJONG, TYING SCHOOL RECORD

Mitchell, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan football team got in the win column for the first time in the 2022-23 season by a score of 31-24 by shutting down the Chargers pass attack, thanks to big plays from Adam DeJong with his three interceptions (two returned for touchdowns), tying the school record for interceptions in a game. The Tigers improved to 1-7 (1-6 GPAC) on the year while the Chargers drop to 1-7 (1-6 GPAC) as well. Jamin Arend was over 100 yards rushing for the fifth time this year.

Quick Stats:

Offense –

Defense –

Recap:

The Tigers knew coming into the game that the Chargers had a strong pass attack and would need to step up in the secondary to slow them down offensively. DWU would receive the ball to start the game but go three and out on the first series. On the BCU ensuing drive they would face a third and three when DeJong would undercut the route and pick off the pass and have nothing but green grass in front of him all the way to the endzone giving the Tigers an early 7-0 lead. Chargers would go three and out on their next drive, almost being intercepted again this time by Hunter Cordell who jumped an underneath route but couldn't come down with the ball.

Both squads would punt on their next drives leaving it a 7-0 score with 6:30 in the quarter. On the ensuing Tiger drive they would move the ball with hard runs from Arend and short yardage connections from Lee to Logan Serck and Jackson Hilton. DWU would face a fourth and four from the BCU 09-yard line and head coach Ross Cimpl would call on his kicker, Jaxon Patrick, to attempt the 27-yard field goal that he would convert extending the Tigers lead to 10-0 early in the second quarter.

On the ensuing Charger drive they would go at Kniesche on the first play connecting for a first down but would make the mistake of testing Kniesche again with Victor coming away with the interception and returning it 36 yards to give the Tigers offense great field position with 13:30 left in the half. DWU would get anything going on offense and attempt a 30-yard field goal that would just miss left, leaving the score 10-0 with 12:22 left in the half.

BCU would finally get on the scoreboard with a 14 play, 67-yard drive that would end in a field goal showing again what the Tiger defense has done all year in bending but not breaking in the redzone. Score would sit 10-3 with 4:11 left in the second quarter. The Tigers would get great field position after a big 47-yard return from Nelson. Receptions from Cole Holden and Jakob Oxos would get the Tigers in striking distance. The drive would end the same way it started with a big play from Kiel Nelson catching Lee's pass from 13-yards out giving the Tigers a 17-3 lead with 1:42 in the half. Chargers would pick up a couple first downs before DeJong comes up with his second interception of the game keeping it 17-3 at half.

Briar Cliff would receive the ball out of half and find the endzone with a 39-yard run bringing the score to 17-10. Dakota Wesleyan would go three and out on their drive giving the ball back to the Chargers offense. BCU would tie the game up, capitalizing on a 64-yard touchdown pass and catch that resulted in multiple broken tackles and change of directions from the Chargers receiver.

Dakota Wesleyan on their ensuing drive would go heavy Arend and Nelson to get the ball on the BCU side of the field. On third and fourteen, Lee would connect with Preston Nedved good for 14-yards to pickup a big first down. At the start of the fourth quarter the Tigers would have second and goal from the three-yard line when Lee would take the snap and go for a handoff, but miscommunication would lead to a fumble that was recovered by the Chargers giving them the ball with 14:09 left in the game and the score still tied.

DWU defense held strong and would force another Charger punt. The Charger's punter couldn't handle the snap and elected to run and tried to throw the ball out of bounds, but it would find the hands of no other than Adam DeJong for his third interception that he would return 15-yards to the house giving the Tigers the lead back with 12:35 left. The score would show 23-17 though with the extra point being blocked.

Chargers would face fourth and one on their ensuing drive and be stuffed short of the markers by Kniesche and Kale Stevenson forcing a turnover on downs at the DWU 47 with 9:51 left in the game. The Tigers would take advantage of the great field position driving down and punching it into the endzone on a Arend rush from eight yards out padding their lead to 31-17 after a successful 2-point conversion from Lee and Nelson.

Briar Cliff responded fast with a 36-yard touchdown connection getting behind the Tigers defense with a lot of time to throw bringing it to 31-24 with 4:40 left. DWU would pick up one first down on their next drive but ultimately be forced to punt giving the Chargers the ball at their own 20 with 2:02 left. Two straight incomplete passes would be followed by a massive sack by Jaiden Walton forcing the Chargers into a fourth and thirteen. BCU would connect on a pass but come up short of the sticks thanks to Jacob Zamora and Grayson Hanson on the tackles forcing a turnover on downs and sealing the 31-24 win.

 

Head-to-Head (Briar Cliff University)

  • DWU is 7-3 in the last 10 matchups against BCU
  • The Tigers are outscoring the Chargers 339-211 during that span

Up Next

  • Dakota Wesleyan football finishes their two game homestand at Joe Quintal Field for their matchup against No. 17 ranked Midland Saturday, October 22. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m.
Box Score

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