Mitchell, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan football team grabbed the 38-34 win over the Lancers of Mounty Marty thanks to a couple big days from seniors on senior day at Joe Quintal Field. Jamin Arend finished the season just like he started with a +100 day on the ground, rushing for 186 and three scores. Arend also moved into 8th all-time in career rushing and top-10 in single-season rushing yards. Adam DeJong recorded his GPAC/Nation leading seventh interception of the season and senior Ethan Engen finished with a season-high 10 tackles, 1 sack and 2 blocked kicks. Tigers finish the year 2-9 (2-8 in the GPAC) with the Lancers dropping to 3-7 (2-7 in the GPAC).
Quick Stats:
Offense –
- Jamin Arend 31 rushes 186 yards 3 TD's (First in the GPAC)
- Austin Lee 13-21 177 yards 2 TD's 1 INT
- Cole Holden 5 catches 54 yards 1 TD
- Kiel Nelson 1 catch 46 yards 1 TD 128 all-purpose yards
Defense –
- Ethan Engen 10 total tackles 1.5 TFL 1 Sack 2 BLKS
- Adam DeJong 6 total tackles 1 INT (First in the GPAC)
- Max Schoenfelder 3 total tackles 0.5 Sack/TFL 1 FR
- Jacob Zamora 4 total tackles 1 PR 39 yards (to the 1-yard line)
Recap:
The Lancers received the ball to start the game and would go three and out and be forced to punt. DWU would avoid early trouble when a muffed punt recovered by MMU would be overturned due to an interference with the returner call setting up first down from the MMU 46. On the first play from scrimmage Austin Lee would look deep and connect with an open Kiel Nelson from 46 out to give the Tigers an early 7-0 lead. Lancers again would punt giving the Tigers the ball back at the DWU 41. Dakota Wesleyan would put together a long methodical 13 play, 59 yard drive that was capped off by an Arend three-yard touchdown run making it a 14-0 game with 5:57 left in the first.
The Lancers would respond with a 47-yard touchdown connection cutting the Tiger lead down to 8 after a blocked extra point from Ethan Engen. MMU would finally come up with a stop and force a Tiger punt, when the punt couldn't be handled and ultimately tackled for a loss giving the Lancers the ball at the DWU 24. Mount Marty would tie it up with a pair of completions and converted 2-point conversion at the end of the first quarter.
The Tigers on their ensuing drive would march it all the way down the field but face a fourth and two at the MMU 05. Arend would be tackled short of the line to gain, turning the ball over on downs. DWU would get the ball right back when Grayson Hanson came up with a big hit on the Lancer's receiver forcing the ball loose and being recovered by Max Schoenfelder at the MMU 36. Lee connected with Cole Holden on consecutive plays to give the Tigers a 21-14 lead with 6:03 left in the half. Lancers would find the endzone again and tie it up at 21 with 2:30 left in the second. Both squads would fail to find the endzone keeping it a 21-21 score at half.
The Tigers would receive the ball out of half and lean on the ground game with Arend and Garrett Mandolfo to march them down the field. Arend gave the Tigers back the lead when he punched it in from one yard out for his second score on the day. MMU again would answer and find the endzone but miss a crucial extra point leaving it a 28-27 DWU lead with 9:59 left in the third. On the ensuing Tiger drive they would again look to Arend marching them down the field with chunk run after chunk run on the Lancer defense. Tigers would stall out close to the endzone and call on kicker, Jaxon Patrick to convert a short yardage field goal. Patrick would convert and increase the Tiger's lead to 31-27 with 1:14 left in the third quarter.
MMU would have one of their best drives of the day on their ensuing drive going 12 plays for 74 yards and capped off with a three-yard pass and catch making it a 34-31 ballgame. DWU would go a rare three and out on their ensuing drive giving the ball back to the Lancers with 9:39 left in the game. Dakota Wesleyan defense would give up a first down but then force the Lancers into a fourth and one situation. Lancers would elect to punt but the MMU punter would hold onto the ball a little too long and allow Engen to get his hands on the ball for a deflection that would ultimately find the hands of senior Jacob Zamora who returned it all the way to the MMU 1-yard line. Arend would have no problem punching it in for his third score of the day and to give the Tigers the 38-34 lead with 4:24 left.
After a Lancer first down, Ethan McCune and Engen would combine for a monster sack on first down derailing the drive. Lancers would face a fourth and ten and throw up a 50/50 ball that would find the hands of who else but senior Adam DeJong for his GPAC leading seventh interception of the season. Arend would collect a couple first downs to put the game on ice for a 38-34 final.
Head-to-Head (Mount Marty University)
- DWU is 2-0 in two meetings against MMU
- The Tigers are outscoring the Lancers 58-37 during those two games
End of Season Summary
Dakota Wesleyan football wraps up their 2022 season with a 2-9 record (2-8 in the GPAC). The Tigers averaged 126.6 yards on the ground and 179.6 through the air. DWU defense allowed 33.9 points per contest and 393.9 yards per game. The Tigers will look to lean on some up-and-coming players for the 2023 season with 13 seniors graduating this season. Those seniors include Jamin Arend, Kiel Nelson, Adam DeJong, TJ Benton, Hunter Cordell, Jacob Zamora, Hayden Dinger, Jakob Oxos, Trey Bohlmann, Parker Grotjohn, Max Schoenfelder, Matt Schwaerzler and Sammuel Henderson.