OTTAWA, Kan. – In his first three seasons with the Dakota Wesleyan University football team, Head Coach Ross Cimpl saw opportunities for a statement win pass his team by, but the Tigers made some national noise on Saturday.
The Tigers headed eight hours south to take on No. 14 Ottawa University. It wasn't pretty, but DWU showed determination and grit on defense and an ability to answer every score from the Braves to topple an Ottawa team that is an annual member of the NAIA postseason and was picked to win a tough Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference before the season.
DWU came from behind twice late to secure a 23-22 win, setting the team up for a run at its first playoff berth since 1992. The win came in the first ever GPAC/KCAC Challenge, which saw Great Plains Athletic Conference teams head to Kansas for several matchups this weekend.
The Braves came out strong, scoring the game's first touchdown less than five minutes after the opening whistle when Robert Brooks caught an eight-yard touchdown pass from Dayton Walter.
Instead of getting frazzled by the early deficit, the Tigers responded, with an answer coming from a not so familiar face to DWU fans. True freshman running back Gaige Marshall (North Platte, Neb.) took off for daylight on a 37-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter to even the score. The touchdown was the first in Marshall's career and tied the game at seven.
The teams again traded scores, with Michael Francis rushing one in from 52 yards out for the Braves late in the first quarter. DWU answered right back, this time through the air. Sophomore quarterback Dillon Turner (Salem, Ark.) found sophomore wide receiver Hayden Adams (Villa Park, Ill.) for a 62-yard strike early in the second quarter.
Despite the early scoring barrage, offense was at a premium against the two defenses Saturday. Both offenses remained off the board until the fourth quarter, but DWU did find a way to take its first lead of the game with a safety in the third quarter. DWU lead 16-14, heading into the fourth and looked poised for the upset.
Ottawa has the pedigree of a champion and showed it early in the final quarter. DWU muffed a punt and the Braves recovered, giving the home team a short field to take the lead in its opening game of 2015. T.J. Cobbs ran the ball in from nine yards out three plays later to put Ottawa back in the lead. A two-point conversion made the DWU deficit 22-16 with just over 12 minutes to play.
Like they had twice before, the Tigers answered immediately. DWU took the ensuing drive 73 yards, capped off by Turner punching the ball across the goal line from the one. Senior kicker Daniel Porter (Plattsmouth, Neb.) hit a clutch extra point and DWU had a one-point lead with 8:53 left.
From there, it was the DWU defense that took over. The Braves drove the ball down to the DWU 21-yard line, and on fourth-and-one, the Tigers held when junior defensive end Scott Davis (Irene, S.D.) pushed Ottawa running back Tim Morovick back.
The Tigers held for a second time on fourth down when a Walter pass was broken up by DWU sophomore defensive back Trevin Island (Rialto, Calif.) and for the second week in a row, the Tigers lined up in victory formation on an opposing team's field.
Moving the ball was tough for both teams, with Ottawa outgaining DWU 313 to 271 in total offense. Turner posted his second straight 200-yard passing game to start the year. He completed 17-of-29 passes for 205 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, while adding a score on the ground.
Adams was a favorite target of Turner against the Braves, catching five passes for 110 yards and a score. Junior Dustin Livingston (Irene, S.D.) hauled in five passes for 65 yards. Making his first appearance since 2013 for DWU, senior wide receiver Arthur Brown (Rosemead, Calif.) caught three passes for 18 yards.
Outside of Marshall's big touchdown run, the Tiger ground game was bottled up. Marshall finished with 38 yards on six carries, while sophomore John Fabrizius had 18 carries for 34 yards.
Island led the Tigers in tackles with eight, six solo, and added two pass breakups. Junior Cody Bonte (Garretson, S.D.) finished with seven tackles, while senior Sam Kiger (Irene, S.D.) and Brady Mudder (Garretson, S.D.) had 1.5 sacks each. Junior Cody Reder (Philip, S.D.) added an interception for the Tigers.
DWU (2-0) will look to carry its momentum over to the GPAC season. The Tigers open conference play against Briar Cliff University at 1 p.m. Saturday at the DakotaDome in Vermillion, S.D. Ottawa (0-1) stays home to host No. 22 Tabor College at 6 p.m. Saturday.