FREMONT, Neb. – Dakota Wesleyan University football coach Ross Cimpl may not want to play at home this season after starting 2015 with four wins on the road, leading DWU to its best start since 2011.
The No. 22 Tigers continued their early-season road show with a 51-29 win over Midland University Saturday in Fremont, Neb., moving DWU to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference.
"It was great to go on the road for a fourth straight week and get a win, especially in the GPAC," Cimpl said. "I thought the offense did a good job all game of keeping us in position to play with the lead."
The story was much the same as the week prior. DWU rode the right arm and legs of sophomore quarterback Dillon Turner (Salem, Ark.) on offense, along with some powerful rushing from the Tiger backfield. Turner, the reigning GPAC Offensive Player-of-the-Week, ignited the stat sheet once again with 367 yards of total offense and four touchdown passes.
Turner's favorite target this season has been sophomore Hayden Adams (Villa Park, Ill.) and the two hooked up for a score early against the Warriors. Adams hauled in a 36-yard touchdown pass midway through the first quarter to break the ice.
Midland had an answer on the ensuing drive. The Warriors took the ball 73 yards on seven plays and the drive was capped off by a Jacob Butler 1-yard run to tie the score at seven.
The DWU passing attack gave the Tigers the lead for good later in the first quarter, with Turner finding junior Dustin Livingston (Irene, S.D.) on a 34-yard score to build a 14-7 lead.
After starting running back John Fabrizius (Casper, Wyo.) left the game with an injury, true freshman Gaige Marshall (North Platte, Neb.) took over carrying the ball for the Tigers. Marshall added to the DWU lead with a 31-yard scamper in the third quarter to put DWU on top 21-7.
After Midland scored on a touchdown pass from Raul Alvarez to Tristin Kamaka, DWU put together one last drive before the half. The Tigers went 67 yards in 11 plays to get into field goal range for senior kicker Daniel Porter (Plattsmouth, Neb.). DWU was without a field goal for more than a season until two from Porter last week, and the reigning GPAC Special Teams Player-of-the-Week hit again on a 26-yard attempt to send the Tigers to the locker room with a 24-14 lead.
The third quarter was all DWU, with the Tigers putting up 13 unanswered points. The half started with Adams making a spectacular one-handed touchdown catch from 23-yards out on a pass from Turner. The score was the fifth of the season for Adams. The Tigers extended their lead with a pair of Porter field goals and held a 37-14 advantage heading into the final 15 minutes.
The teams traded touchdowns in the fourth quarter including Marshall catching a 12-yard scoring pass from Turner. Cimpl pulled his starters late and backup quarterback Luke Stephens (Chico, Calif.) hit tight end J.J. Wall (Chanhassen, Minn.) for the final DWU score.
DWU outgained Midland 569 to 359, while running 25 more offensive plays. Midland did have 290 yards passing, but was bottled up on the ground, gaining just 69 yards on 24 attempts.
Turner finished 19-of-34 passing for 257 yards and four scores, while carrying the ball 19 times for 110 yards. He hit nine different receivers, including four completions to Adams, who finished with 78 yards and two scores. Livingston caught three passes for 49 yards and score, while senior Trevor Schroeder (Canistota, S.D.) hauled in a team-high five passes for 40 yards.
Marshall took control of the DWU rushing attack after entering the game, finishing with 24 carries for 111 yards and a score, while also catching a touchdown.
The DWU defense accumulated five sacks as a team, with senior linebacker Brady Bonte (Garretson, S.D.) picking up two, while junior defensive end Brady Mudder (Garretson, S.D.) added 1.5. True freshman linebacker Dillon Rork (Grand Island, Neb.) and junior Nathan Dahl (Shelby, Neb.) each posted six tackles to lead the team. Sophomore defensive back Dakota Bodden (Tyndall, S.D.) picked off the first pass of his career.
The Tigers finally get to play in front of the DWU faithful on Blue & White Days against Hastings College at 1 p.m. Saturday at Joe Quintal Field in Mitchell, S.D.