MADISON, S.D. – The 2015 football season kicked off for Dakota Wesleyan University against instate rival Dakota State University Saturday at Trojan Field in Madison, S.D., with the Tigers used a second-half scoring barrage to get the campaign started in the right direction.
The start of the game could not have been worse offensively for DWU, with fumbles lost on its first three possessions. The Tiger defense held, allowing the home team just six points off those three early turnovers. Head Coach Ross Cimpl got the offense going, especially after the break, as DWU pulled away for a 40-27 win.
DWU (1-0) scored 33 points after the half, including a pair of touchdowns in the first 3:30 of the third quarter, led by sophomore quarterback Dillon Turner (Salem, Ark.).
"I thought our guys played extremely hard," Cimpl said. "We made mistakes, but we made coachable mistakes. There wasn't a lack of effort. The thing I take away from this game is that both teams played as hard as they could. That is what college football is about."
After DSU scored on a four-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jacob Giles to Doug Hale, the Tigers responded. Sophomore Hayden Adams (Villa Park, Ill.), who practiced sporadically in fall camp due to a lingering injury, stepped up with a 12-yard touchdown catch from Turner late in the first quarter.
The DWU offense stalled again in the second quarter, while the Trojans continued to find success through the air. Giles hit for his second passing score before the half, finding Preston Nordling for a 16-yard touchdown to send the home team into the break, up 13-7.
The second half saw a new DWU, with Turner putting on a show. The dual-threat quarterback used his legs to put DWU back on top with a 66-yard touchdown run, breaking a number of tackles, on a third-and-11 play. After a quick three-and-out from DSU and a 46-yard punt return from junior Dustin Livingston (Irene, S.D.), the Tiger running game put more points on the board. Sophomore John Fabrizius (Casper, Wyo.) found the end zone from two yards out for his first score of the season to put DWU up 21-13.
The Trojans fought back in front of a capacity crowd that was as much Tiger blue and white as it was DSU blue and yellow. Daveon Bank scampered home from two yards out and a two-point conversion knotted the score at 21.
The next 15 minutes on game clock belonged to the Tigers, as DWU put up 19 unanswered points. Fabrizius scored his second touchdown of the game from nine yards out to give the lead back to DWU early in the fourth quarter. Sophomore Tyler Fortuna (Gillette, Wyo.) caught a four-yard touchdown pass, while Livingston stretched across the pylon for his first receiving score of 2015 after a Nathan Dahl (Shelby, Neb.) interception for the Tigers.
DSU (0-1) continued to fight, scoring on an eight-play 94-yard drive, capped off by Giles' third touchdown pass. The Tiger defense stood tall in the end and an interception by junior Cody Bonte (Garretson, S.D.) allowed the visitors to line up in victory formation.
Turner finished 19-for-29 passing for 222 yards, while throwing three touchdowns and one interception. He also ran for another 99 yards on 16 carries and another score.
"The biggest thing for Dillon tonight was his decision making," Cimpl said. "I thought he was really good in terms of down-and-distance situations. The way he distributed the ball tonight really showed how much he has matured since last season."
Fabrizius had 33 carries for 96 yards and two scores. Livingston led the Tiger receivers with six catches for 106 yards and a touchdown, while Adams hauled in five balls for 60 yards and a score.
Junior Cody Reder (Philip, S.D.) finished with a team-high 10 tackles, while junior Cohl Ratermann (Colome, S.D.) added eight and senior Brady Bonte (Garretson, S.D.) chipped in with seven, including 2.5 for a loss.
DSU was successful through the air, with Giles churning out 315 yards on 23-of-45 passing. Gilles tossed three scores and two interceptions. Brendon Waldner hauled in a game-high seven receptions for 137 yards in the loss.
The Tigers continue non-conference play with the team's first-ever KCAC Challenge game against No. 14 Ottawa University at 2 p.m. Saturday in Ottawa, Kan. DSU remains home to play another GPAC school when Dordt College comes to town at 6 p.m. on Saturday.
