FREMONT, Neb. – After being tied at halftime, the Dakota Wesleyan University football team scored just six points in the second half as they fell to Midland University, 52-27 in a Great Plains Athletic Conference matchup Saturday in Fremont, Neb.
After DWU was stopped on its' opening possession, Midland drove 79 yards in 16 plays to score and take a 7-0 lead. The Tigers (1-7, 0-6 GPAC) responded on their next possession as Zachary Lester (Fairbanks, Alaska) connected with Spencer Neugebauer (Mitchell, S.D.) for a 59-yard touchdown pass to even the score.
Two plays later Cody Reichelt (Mitchell, S.D.) intercepted a Midland pass and returned it 38 yards. It took DWU one play to hold its' first lead of the game as Lester punched the ball into the end zone from six yards out.
On the first drive of the second quarter, Reichelt recorded his second interception of the game as he snagged the Warrior (3-4, 2-3 GPAC) pass to hand the ball back to DWU.
A few possessions later, Midland scored on a four-yard touchdown pass, but the PAT was no good as the Tigers held a 14-13 lead. With 4:32 left in the first half, the Warriors regained the lead after a 27-yard touchdown throw. The two-point conversion was good as Midland held a 21-14 advantage.
On the ensuing kickoff, Daniel Libolt (Chambers, Neb.) returned the ball 46 yards to the Midland 39 yard line. Four plays later, Lester recorded his second rushing touchdown of the game to tie the game at 21 as the teams headed to the locker rooms.
Coming out of halftime, the Warriors tacked on 14 points as they held a 35-21 lead heading to the fourth stanza. Midland tallied a field goal, an interception and a touchdown to begin the final period with a 45-21 lead after a minute and a half of play.
With 4:46 left to play in the game, Zach Gors (Tea, S.D.) tallied the Tigers' third interception of the game as he returned it for a touchdown. However, it was too late as DWU dropped its' final road contest of the season.
Lester finished the game 13-for-26 passing for 229 yards and three total touchdowns. Neugebauer led the receivers with six catches for 105 yards and a score. Reichelt paced the defense as he recorded two interceptions and 14 total tackles. Gors also led the defense with an interception for a touchdown, 14 total tackles and a sack.
DWU returns home to play No. 1 Morningside College at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Joe Quintal Field in Mitchell.