Courtesy of Midland Athletics
FREMONT, Neb. – Last season, Midland University and Dakota Wesleyan University played to a one-point contest in Mitchell, South Dakota, with the home team securing the victory. On Saturday at Heedum Field, the Warriors turned the tables in the rivalry, with a 21-20 victory over the Tigers. Midland withstood a 33-yard field goal attempt that sailed wide right off for the win. Midland snaps a three-game losing streak with the victory, while Dakota Wesleyan remains winless this year.
Both teams’ defenses were strong in the first half. Midland held DWU to a three-and-out on the Tigers’ opening drive. A 44-yard Samuel Welch punt gave Midland the ball at its own 37-yard line. The Warriors seemed poised to score on their opening drive, advancing the ball down to the Tiger 1-yard line in a ten-play march. However, on 4th and goal, a Tyson Denkert rush resulted in a two-yard loss on a tackle by Jaiden Walton, giving DWU possession. On the next drive, Midland forced another three-and-out, and a 48-yard punt by Welch gave the Warriors the ball at their own 41-yard line. Midland ran just four plays before Zach Hodge punted, pinning DWU at their own two-yard line. The Tigers moved the ball to the DWU 24-yard line, ending the first quarter in a scoreless tie.
Dakota Wesleyan ran seven more plays to start the second quarter, but the Midland defense forced another punt from Welch, setting up Midland at their own seven-yard line. The Warriors picked up a first down, but the drive stalled after six plays, forcing Midland to punt again. DWU took over at the Midland 49-yard line and capitalized on the short field. After a seven-play drive, DWU’s Jaxon Patrick kicked a 39-yard field goal, putting the Tigers ahead 3-0 with 3:31 remaining in the half.
Midland responded with its longest drive of the first half, covering 75 yards in fourteen plays. The drive culminated in an 8-yard touchdown pass from Teryn Berry to Kevin Adams, Jr., with Cameron Spicer‘s extra point giving Midland a 7-3 lead with ten seconds left in the half. DWU took a knee on the next play, and both teams went to the locker room with Midland leading 7-3.
The Warriors received the ball to start the second half, but the Tigers held them to a three-and-out. After Hodge’s punt, the Tigers began their drive at their own 19-yard line. DWU managed one first down before their drive stalled. A Samuel Welch punt gave Midland possession at the Warriors’ 35-yard line. A penalty and loss of yardage pushed Midland back, forcing another punt. A 28-yard return by Landon Ruesink set up the Tigers at the Midland 45-yard line. DWU then trimmed the Midland lead to one after a 10-play, 56-yard drive. Jaxon Patrick’s 20-yard field goal made it 7-6 with 2:59 left in the third quarter.
Midland’s next drive was short-lived. On the second play, Teryn Berry‘s pass was intercepted by DWU’s Mikey Hart at the Tigers’ 40-yard line. Midland’s defense responded by forcing another three-and-out. A 19-yard punt gave Midland the ball at their own 35-yard line as the third quarter ended with the Warriors leading 7-6.
MU’s offense came to life in the fourth quarter with a six-play, 65-yard drive. Berry connected with Tae Marks for a 35-yard touchdown pass. After Spicer’s extra point, Midland extended its lead to 14-6 with 12:08 left in the game.
DWU responded with a march of their own. After seven plays, it appeared Midland had intercepted a pass, but a penalty extended DWU’s drive. Two plays later, Koby Kayser rushed 28 yards for a touchdown. The Tigers’ two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving Midland ahead 14-12 with 9:04 remaining.
On the next drive, Midland managed just one yard on three plays and had to punt. DWU took over at their own 43-yard line with 8:02 to play. Four plays later, Tiger quarterback Carter Robinson ran 23 yards for a touchdown. Robinson then completed a two-point conversion pass to Cole Holden, giving DWU its first lead of the game, 20-14, with 5:40 to play.
Midland answered when it needed to. The Warriors executed a five-play, 63-yard drive, capped by a 12-yard touchdown run by Tyson Denkert. Spicer’s extra point put Midland back on top, 21-20, with 3:13 remaining.
DWU mounted one final drive, positioning themselves for a potential game-winning field goal. After ten plays, they reached the Midland 16-yard line. With no timeouts left and the clock winding down, Jaxon Patrick attempted a 33-yard field goal, but the kick sailed wide right. Midland took over, kneeled to run out the clock, and secured the 21-20 victory.
Midland ran the ball 32 times for 140 yards. Through the air, the Warriors completed 11-of-25 passes for 165 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Overall, they ran 57 plays for 305 yards of total offense.
Dakota Wesleyan rushed 37 times for 173 yards and completed 13-of-23 passes for 144 yards, totaling 317 yards of offense over 60 plays.
Individually for Midland, Tyson Denkert rushed 26 times for 138 yards and a touchdown. Teryn Berry completed 11-of-25 passes for 165 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Tae Marks caught four passes for 68 yards and a touchdown, while Kevin Adams, Jr. had one reception for an 8-yard score. On defense, Jay Ballard recorded six tackles, 1.5 sacks, and three tackles for loss.
For Dakota Wesleyan, Koby Kayser rushed 16 times for 91 yards and a touchdown. Carter Robinson had 11 carries for 51 yards and a touchdown while completing 13-of-23 passes for 144 yards. Nolan Dvorak led the Tigers with three receptions for 63 yards. Defensively, Joseph VanOverschelde had nine tackles, including one for loss, while Mikey Hart had three tackles and an interception.
Midland coach Jeff Jamrog reflected on the win: “We did some good things, but at times, it just wasn’t who we are. Give Dakota Wesleyan credit. Coming off their bye week, I knew they would play well. We were fortunate they missed the kick at the end. I thought about icing them but decided not to call a timeout. I think that threw off the snap and the timing of the kick, and he just pushed it right.”
Looking ahead, Jamrog commented on their next game at Waldorf: “We haven’t really focused on them yet. Our [graduate assistants] have done a little scouting, but this week we’ll concentrate on improving ourselves and build up to face them.”
Midland (2-3, 1-3 GPAC) will travel to Forest City, Iowa to face Waldorf (0-5, 0-4 GPAC) next weekend. Kickoff at Bolstoff Field is set for 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 5.
