Tigers Overcome 16-point 4th-quarter deficit in Win

MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University football team has made a habit of leaving things to the last moment this season, but the cardiac cats continue to find a way to win.

The No. 18 DWU Tigers came back from a 16-point deficit in the fourth quarter to top Doane College 27-23 in a Great Plains Athletic Conference matchup Saturday at Joe Quintal Field in Mitchell, S.D.

The win moves DWU to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in the GPAC, while all five wins this season required Wesleyan to come up with big plays in the fourth quarter. The situation looked bleak for DWU in the fourth quarter, when Doane scored to take a 23-7 lead with 8:45 remaining in the game.

After three and half quarters of frustration on offense, DWU's playmakers came alive. Following the final Doane touchdown, Junior Tremaine Scott (St. Paul, Minn.) returned the kickoff 52 yards to set DWU up in good field position at the Doane 42-yard line.

DWU wasted little time, going 42 yards in five plays capped by a one-yard touchdown run from true freshman quarterback Dillon Turner (Salem, Ark.). Turner hit freshman wide receiver Turner Hiatt (Casper, Wyo.) for the two-point conversion to bring DWU to within eight points.

The Wesleyan defense forced Doane into a three-and-out on its next possession. DWU marched 69 yards on 11 plays in just under three minutes to move within a two-point conversion of tying the score. The drive ended with an eight-yard scoring run from senior running back Francois Barnaud (Belle Fourche, S.D.). The two-point conversion failed however, leaving DWU in a two-point hole with 3:56 remaining.

Doane took over after the kickoff with a chance to run some time off the clock, but on its first play of the drive, quarterback Brandon Stuart was picked off by DWU junior defensive back Jared Van Winkle (Tyndall, S.D.), who returned the interception to the Doane 24–yard line.

DWU struck on the first play when Turner hit junior tight end Trevor Schroeder (Canistota, S.D.) for a 24-yard score. The two-point conversion failed leaving DWU up four points with 3:41 remaining.

The Wesleyan defense stood tall again, forcing a turnover on downs after three straight incomplete passes and DWU regained possession with a chance to chew up some time of its own.

Doane got one last chance with 35 second remaining, but Stuart threw another interception to Van Winkle and DWU lined up in victory formation for the fifth time this season.

DWU's offense was led by Barnaud, who has been battling injuries the last few weeks. He carried the ball 33 times for 175 yards and a score. Turner was a true dual threat against Doane. He completed 15-of-42 passes for 201 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, while carrying the ball 21 times for 84 yards and another score. Schroeder continued to be one of Turner's favorite targets, catching five passes for 105 yards and two scores.

In total, DWU ran 101 plays on offense for 478 yards, while Doane added 78 plays for 415.

Stuart used big plays through the air to help Doane build its 16-point lead, none bigger than a 99-yard strike to Alex Trevino in the third quarter. Stuart finished 16-of-46 passing for 331 yards and three scores. Trevino led the Doane receivers with four catches for 153 yards, while Nick Reed added three receptions for 103 yards and a score.

The DWU defense was led by sophomore linebacker Adam Bormann (Stickney, S.D.) with seven tackles, while Van Winkle added two interceptions and a pass breakup. Senior linebacker Anthony Cervantes caused havoc in the Doane backfield with six tackles, including three for a loss and one pass breakup.

DWU will have no time to rest as a date with the No. 1 team in the country, Morningside College, is on deck for Saturday, Oct. 18 in Sioux City, Iowa.

NOTES: The game was delayed by 30 minutes after DWU freshman linebacker Clark Butler (Discovery Bay, Calif.) was hit in the head and was taken off the field on a stretcher. Butler was taken by ambulance to the hospital. He did not sustain serious injury and was back on the DWU campus shortly after the game ended.