TIGERS COMEBACK COMES UP SHORT, FALL 23-12 AGAINST NO. 17 DEFENDERS IN SEASON FINALE
Sioux Center, Iowa – The Dakota Wesleyan Tigers clawed their way back to make it a five-point game late in the fourth, but a big 70-yard run put the game away for the Defenders 23-12. The Tigers held their own against the No. 17 Defenders from start to finish in the contest. Despite the defense giving up 390 yards of total offense, the Tigers made the plays when they needed, forcing two turnovers that set up the offense to put points on the board. The Defenders did what only Concordia has been able to do and that is contain Jamin Arend in the run game who was held to 66 yards (2nd lowest of the season / 51 at Concordia). Arend struggled to find room to run but had a career day through the air with his six catches for 69 yards and a score. With the six receptions Jamin moved into sixth all-time in DWU history in career receptions with 115. Austin Lee finished the game 21-34 for 202 yards and one touchdown and interception. Preston Nedved had a solid day in his last collegiate season with four receptions and tied a career-high with 51 yards.
On the defensive side of the ball, Kale Stevenson was all over the field for the Tigers collecting a game-high 11 tackles in the contest. Grayson Hanson was right behind Stevenson with his nine tackles to go along with his big interception that set the Tigers up with great field position that ended with a Jaxon Patrick field goal. Patrick has now made 23 straight fields goals and extra points with his two field goals on the day. Patrick last missed kick was all the way back on 9/23 in the 16-12 win over Concordia on the road. Ethan Engen and Victor Kniesche both were credited with eight tackles while Adam DeJong had four tackles and a force and recovered fumble.
Again, the Tigers dominated the time of possession battle 34:42-25:18 but had a couple sacks that killed drives and forced the Tigers to punt. Both teams were comparable on third downs with DWU finishing 7 for 17 on third down (41%) and DOR going 5 for 12 (42%). Dordt scored on their opening drive and kept the Tigers off the scoreboard for most of the first half. DWU held the ball a lot and moved it on the Defender defense but just couldn't come up with the big play on third down and had a couple costly sacks that derailed the drives. Dordt increased that lead to 14, scoring with just under five minutes left in the first half. The ensuing Defender drive was when Hanson came up with the big interception that resulted in a Patrick field goal to make it 14-3 at half.
Out of the half the Tigers forced another turnover on a strip fumble, but again only walked away with a short yardage field goal but making it a one score game at 14-6. The Defenders wiped that field goal away with one of their own on the next drive to push it back to an 11-point game. With eight minutes left in the game and DWU facing that same 11-point deficit, Lee and company put together their best drive that went for eight plays and 70 yards, but more importantly finding the endzone with Lee finding Arend from 19 yards out to cut the lead to five. Dordt shut down any hope of a comeback when Nick Wellen got loose for a 72-yard touchdown run making it 23-12 which was our final score. The 23 points was the third fewest the Defenders have scored during the 2023 season.
Head-to-Head (Dordt)
- Dakota Wesleyan falls to 10-6 all-time against Dordt.
- The Tigers dropped last year's matchup 38-7 against the Defenders.
Up Next
- Dakota Wesleyan football concludes their 2023 season and now sets their sights on the offseason to grow and develop as a team and prepare for the 2024 season.