ORANGE CITY, Iowa – The Dakota Wesleyan University football team looks to return to its winning ways this week after falling to No. 4 Morningside College a week ago. The Tigers focus on their fifth NAIA Top-25 opponent in a row as they take on No. 17 Northwestern College at 7 p.m. Saturday in Orange City, Iowa.
The game did not begin as DWU hoped last Saturday as Morningside jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter. The Mustangs scored 21 points in the second quarter and held DWU off the scoreboard until the last play of the first half. On that play, Dillon Turner (Salem, Ark.) found Hayden Adams (Villa Park, Ill.) for a six-yard touchdown pass. Heading into the break, DWU trailed, 42-7.
Morningside added 21 points in the third quarter and kept the DWU offense at bay. However, Turner connected with Adams on a 72-yard touchdown pass to give DWU its second score of the game.
In the fourth quarter, Turner added his third touchdown of the day with a 52-yard touchdown pass to Tre Hobbs (Detroit, Mich.).
Turner finished 18-of-38 with 309 passing yards and three touchdowns. Luke Loudenburg (Canova, S.D.) finished with 11 rushes for 24 yards, while Gaige Marshall (North Platte, Neb.) tallied 14 yards on five carries. Hobbs led the receivers as he finished with four catches for 117 yards and a score, while Adams tallied 85 yards on three catches for two touchdowns.
Defensively, Charlie LaRoche (Lower Brule, S.D.) recorded 10 total tackles, and a pass breakup, while Trey DeCrook (Sioux Falls, S.D.) added eight tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup. Tyler Wagner (Webster, S.D.) notched nine tackles to lead the linebackers.
About the Series
Last season, DWU defeated Northwestern at Joe Quintal Field thanks to a huge second quarter. The Tigers never trailed in the game as they scored 21 points during the second period en-route to a 44-27 victory. DWU is 4-13 in the all-time football series played. The Tigers have defeated the Red Raiders each of the past two seasons.
About the Coaches
Ross Cimpl leads the Tigers in his sixth season with a career record of 42-19. The Wagner, S.D., native has led DWU to five-straight winning seasons.
The Red Raiders are led by Matt McCarty in his second season. McCarty was named the head coach in December of 2015. He previously served as Northwestern College's assistant head coach from 2012-2015.
About the Northwestern Red Raiders
The Red Raiders are currently ranked No. 17 in the NAIA and boast a 5-1 record overall and a 3-1 GPAC record. Their offense is led by dual-threat freshman quarterback, Trevor Kooima. He ranks fifth in the NAIA in total offense with 2,080 total yards and eighth in total offensive yards per game with 346.7 yards per game. Jacob Kalogonis leads the team on the ground with 679 rushing yards, good for 11th in the nation. Kalogonis averages 113 rushing yards per game and has scored nine touchdowns on the season.
Defensively, Sean Powell leads the way with 47 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss and a sack on the season. He has also forced a fumble and notched an interception this season.