Posted: Sep 10, 2016
JAMESTOWN, N.D. – On plays when Dillon Turner (Salem, Ark.) wasn't hitting the Dakota Wesleyan University wide receivers with strong throws, the elusive junior quarterback was making plays with his feet. Turner racked up 177 rushing yards on 19 attempts, while completing 21-of-28 passes for 219 yards. He accounted for seven total touchdowns, four passing, three rushing, in a 55-17 win for the No. 16 Tigers Saturday in Jamestown, N.D.
The game got rolling at the end of the first quarter after Turner scrambled for a 38-yard touchdown run. Jamestown quickly answered with a touchdown of its own on a 39-yard pass from starting quarterback Dylan Klatt to JaRiguez Collier.
Later in the quarter, Turner found senior wide receiver Kodi Larson (Tyndall, S.D.) to push the Tiger lead to seven, but Jimmies tied the game once more at 14 on a three-yard touchdown run by Keldrick Sullivan. At the end of the second quarter, freshman Jace Pulse (Kimball, S.D.) had his name called for his first touchdown catch in a Tiger uniform on a seven-yard pass from Turner to send DWU to the locker room with a 21-14 lead.
It was all DWU in the third quarter, scoring three times, beginning at the 12-minute mark on a one-yard scamper by Turner, capping a seven play, 70-yard drive. The run came one play after a Jamestown player was ejected for targeting.
Turner found Larson once more on a 15-yard pass with five minutes to go in the third quarter, pushing the score to 35-14. Shortly after, Turner found the end zone with his feet, running for 16 yards to cap a five-play, 44-yard drive.
In the fourth quarter, Turner hit Kevin Holt (Bullhead City, Ariz.), for his first touchdown catch this season from 30 yards out. DWU iced the game when freshman Brandon Slama (Chaska, Minn.) scored on a 79-yard fumble recovery.
The Tigers tallied 531 yards of total offense compared to 397 yards from the Jimmies. DWU dished out the ball to four different running backs throughout the contest. Sophomore Jonny Withrow (Kimball, Neb.) ran for 97 yards on 14 carries to pace the Tiger running backs. On the receiving side, Payne Ahrens (Gretna, Neb.) hauled in three passes for 40 yards, while Dustin Livingston (Irene, S.D.) caught four passes for 36 yards. Turner hit 10 different receivers in the win.
Turner set a new career-high with 177 yards rushing and tied a career-high with three touchdown runs.
Trevor Lundin (Volga, S.D.) tallied seven tackles, one sack and one tackle for loss. Collin Helget (New Ulm, Minn.) and Cohl Ratermann (Colome, S.D.) pitched in seven tackles, while Helget had one and a half tackles for loss. Senior Brady Mudder (Garretson, S.D.) added two and a half tackles for loss.
DWU (2-1) welcomes the No. 9 Doane Tigers for Blue and White Days at 1 p.m. Saturday at Joe Quintal Field in Mitchell, S.D.