Crete, Neb. – Dakota Wesleyan football falls to Doane University 16-13 in the 'Battle of the Tigers' matchup. Doane used a kickoff return, 52-yard touchdown connection and a DWU fumble on the goaline with 30 seconds left to edge out DWU. Dakota Wesleyan dominated in every category and aspect of the game with having 417 total yards (Doane 193), 171 rush yards (Doane 84), avg yards per play 5.6 (Doane 3.8), possession time 35:03 (Doane 24:57) and 13 red zone points (Doane 0). DWU drops to 0-7 (0-6 GPAC) while Doane improves to 3-2 (3-2 GPAC). Jamin Arend also moved into 10th all-time in career rushing in DWU history.
Quick Stats:
- Jaxon Patrick 2-2 on field goals (18, 34)
Offense –
- Jamin Arend 29 rushes 133 yards 1 TD
- Kiel Nelson 5 catches 80 yards
- Austin Lee 10-18 134 yards
Defense –
- Kale Stevenson 6 total tackles 1 BrUp
- Brendan Kennedy 6 total tackles
- Ethan Engen 5 total tackles 2 TFL
- Jacob Zamora 3 total tackles 1 INT
Recap:
Going into the 'battle of the Tigers' game today the stats showed it would be a defensive battle and that is exactly what it turned out to be. Both teams would have their first two drives end in a punt keeping it scoreless with 8:09 left in the first. DWU would get on the board for an early 7-0 lead with a 10 play, 80 yard, 4:23 long drive that was capped with an Arend 11-yard touchdown run. Connor Drake would have big connections with Preston Nedved (22-yards) and Jackson Hilton (33-yards) to get DWU in the redzone.
On the ensuing drive for Doane, Adam DeJong and Victor Kniesche would combine for a tackle for a loss to stall out DU drive and force another punt at the end of the first quarter. On the next DU drive they would again be forced to punt but catch a break recovering the muffed punt return setting them up at the DWU 32. DWU Tiger defense would hold strong like they have all year and force Doane to attempt a 50-yard field goal that would miss wide left keeping it 7-0 with 10:34 in the half.
On the ensuing DWU drive Drake would connect with top receiver Nelson for 47-yards putting the DWU Tigers in the redzone. Dakota Wesleyan would fail to punch it in from the 1-yard line three times and settle for a converted 18-yard field goal from Patrick to extend their lead to 10-0 with 7:01 in the half. Doane would twice on the next drive be forced to punt, getting a second chance after the first one due to a DWU penalty on the punt resulting in a first down. After three incomplete passes they would once again punt and down DWU inside the 10 with 4:34 left in the half.
Dakota Wesleyan would move the ball down the field leaning heavy on Arend both on the ground and through the air. Time unfortunately would run out in the half, leaving the score at 10-0 at half. Doane opened the second half finally moving the ball on the DWU Tigers defense but got help on a third and seven pass interference call giving them first and ten. First and ten from the DWU 25 the DWU defense would again hold strong and force Doane to attempt another long field goal. They would convert the 45-yard field goal to close the lead to 10-3 with 11:00 left in the third quarter.
Dakota Wesleyan on their ensuing drive would be on the move again with a deadly run attack from Arend to get them down to the Doane 20. Drive would stall and force DWU to attempt a 34-yard field goal that Patrick would convert putting the DWU Tigers back up by 10. The 10-point lead wouldn't last long with DU returning the ensuing kickoff 91 yards to the house for a 13-10 advantage with 4:09 left in the third.
Dakota Wesleyan again would be driving on the Doane defense but coughed up the ball after a 21-yard completion giving DU the ball with 1:48 left in the third. Doane would take advantage with a 52-yard connection taking a 16-13 lead after a missed extra point. Like they have all game DWU would move the sticks with ease on the DU defense but get a killer false start penalty that they couldn't overcome and turn it over on downs at the Doane 29 on a fourth and four play.
DU kicker would miss a chip shot 25-yard field goal to give DWU the ball back with 6:31 in the ballgame. DWU would punt on their next drive. Zamora would come up with a clutch interception on third and six to give DWU the ball back with 3:30 left. Quarterback Austin Lee would connect with Cole Holden and Nedved to get the offense in striking distance. Doane would commit two penalties down in the redzone resulting in DWU getting the ball first and goal at the Doane 02 with 30 seconds left on the clock. On the next play a bad snap would result in a fumble that ultimately couldn't be handled and recovered by the DWU Tigers giving Doane the ball and win for a 16-13 final.
Head-to-Head (Doane University)
- DWU is 4-6 in the last 10 matchups against DU*
- The DU Tigers are outscoring the DWU Tigers 337-258 during that span
Up Next
- Dakota Wesleyan football returns home for their first and only two-game homestand of the season, first with a matchup against Briar Cliff Saturday, October 15 at 1:00 p.m.