Tigers Battle Back to Topple Trojans
MITCHELL, S.D. – The No. 20 Dakota Wesleyan University football team overcame mistakes and missed opportunities on offense to top in-state rival Dakota State University 27-22 in a nonconference matchup Saturday under the lights at Joe Quintal Field in Mitchell, S.D.Trailing by nine in the second quarter, the Tigers scored 20 unanswered points to take an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter and held on for a 27-22 win in the final nonconference game of the regular season for DWU.
MITCHELL, S.D. – The No. 20 Dakota Wesleyan University football team overcame mistakes and missed opportunities on offense to top in-state rival Dakota State University 27-22 in a nonconference matchup Saturday under the lights at Joe Quintal Field in Mitchell, S.D.Trailing by nine in the second quarter, the Tigers scored 20 unanswered points to take an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter and held on for a 27-22 win in the final nonconference game of the regular season for DWU.
DWU turned the ball over four times in the win. The turnovers allowed the Trojans to overcome shortcomings on offense and stay in the game. The Tiger defense held their opponent to 284 yards of total offense and 13 total first downs.
The Tiger defense sealed the victory when sophomore Adam Bormann (Stickney, S.D.) stuffed a run attempt on 4th-and-1 for the Trojans on DSU's final drive of the game with 48 seconds remaining. Tanner Munk, from Dell Rapids, S.D., outleaped a Trojan receiver on a lofted pass from quarterback Justin Summers for an interception to halt another DSU drive late in the fourth quarter.
DWU made plenty of big plays on defense, with senior linebacker Jeff Maasen (Brandon, S.D.) leading the way with 13 tackles. Maassen added 2.5 tackles for loss which resulted in 11 negative yards for DSU. Sophomore defensive lineman Brady Mudder (Garretson, S.D.) and freshman defensive lineman Lane Fawcett (Colome, S.D.) came up with a sack each, while Bormann added nine tackles, including eight solo and blocked a field goal attempt.
The Trojans jumped out to an early lead on a field goal and a 1-yard run by Jeremy Christner to take a 9-0 lead. True freshman quarterback Dillon Turner (Salem, Ark.) answered with a 1-yard scoring run of his own for the Tigers in the second quarter. The teams traded scores to close out the first half, with Turner finding sophomore wide receiver Dustin Livingston (Irene, S.D.) for a two-yard score with six seconds to go before the break.
Senior running back Francois Barnaud gave the Tigers their first lead of the contest at 21-16 mid way through the third on a five-yard scoring run, his seventh of the season. DWU added to their lead with a 43-yard touchdown pass from Turner to junior tight end Trevor Schroeder (Canistota, S.D.).
DSU pulled to within one score when a broken play in a 3rd-and-30 situation saw Summers fumble, pick up the ball and throw a screen pass to Brendon Waldner, who took off down the sidelines for 75-yard score.
The Trojans (3-3) got one more shot at leaving Mitchell with a win in the fourth quarter, but the DWU defense stood tall to secure the team's fourth win of the season.
The DWU offense was led by Turner, who completed 21-of-35 passes for 222 yards and two scores. Barnaud added 81 yards on 27 carries and a score on the ground, while sophomore wide receiver Alex Robertson (Canistota, S.D.) led the DWU receiving corps with four catches for 71 yards.
The Tigers (4-1) head back to Great Plains Athletic Conference action with another home game against Doane College at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11 at Joe Quintal Field.