MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University football team hosted No. 5 Northwestern College in a Great Plains Athletic Conference matchup and dropped the game, 41-13 Saturday night at Joe Quintal Field.
On the opening possession of the game, the Red Raiders (4-0, 3-0 GPAC) punched the ball in on a four-yard touchdown rush to take an early 7-0 lead. The Tigers (1-3, 0-2 GPAC) drove to the Northwestern 34 yard line and stalled after a failed fourth-down conversion.
However, one play later, Tyler Wagner (Webster, S.D.) forced a fumble that was recovered by Alan Murtic (Phoenix, Ariz.) to set DWU up in Northwestern territory. The Tigers were unable to move the ball after three plays, but Tate Gale (Irene, S.D.) nailed a 32-yard field goal that put DWU on the scoreboard as the Tigers trailed, 7-3.
Northwestern drove the length of the field and tallied a touchdown on their next three drives. Neither team was able to add another score in the first half as the Red Raiders led DWU at halftime, 28-3.
Northwestern added another touchdown in the beginning minutes of the third quarter and notched a field goal to take a 38-3 lead. With 2:37 to play in the third quarter, Gale notched another field goal to make the score 38-6.
Spencer Neugebauer (Mitchell, S.D.) added the lone touchdown for the Tigers with 1:23 left to play with a two-yard touchdown run to finish the game.
Shaye Slaughter (Harrisburg, S.D.) finished the game 10-of-32 passing for 161 yards, while Luke Loudenburg (Canova, S.D.) rushed for 61 yards on 23 attempts. Neugebauer tallied 18 rushing yards, 17 receiving yards and a rushing touchdown. Eathen Gaulke (Kimball, S.D.) led the defense with nine tackles and two tackles for loss, as Tyrel Haley (Winner, S.D.) tallied nine tackles.
The Tigers continue GPAC play as they take on Briar Cliff University at 1 p.m. on Sept. 29 in Sioux City, Iowa.
