Courtesy of Midland Athletics
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Looking to move above .500 for the first time since the opening week, Midland University was in Sioux City to face Briar Cliff University on Saturday afternoon. The Warriors had its best offensive output since the opening game of the year as they defeated the Chargers 45-30 in Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) action at Memorial Stadium.
Teryn Berry threw three touchdown passes, two to Kevin Adams Jr., while Tyson Denkert ran for over 100 yards for the second consecutive week and Carter Wagner returned an interception 47 yards for a score in the victory.
Midland took the opening kickoff and scored two plays later. On the first play from scrimmage, Berry connected with Tae Marks for a 53-yard reception to the Chargers’ 20-yard line. On the next play, Berry completed a 20-yard pass to Adams Jr. for a touchdown. Cameron Spicer‘s extra point put Midland ahead 7-0 with 14:13 remaining in the first quarter.
The Warriors scored again just two plays later—this time on defense. After a 17-yard rush by BCU’s Matthew Mason, Brock Saya’s pass was intercepted by Carter Wagner, who returned it 47 yards for the score. Spicer’s point-after kick made it 14-0, Midland, with 13:27 left in the quarter.
Briar Cliff responded on the next drive. On the third play from scrimmage, Saya completed a 76-yard touchdown pass to Kymani Fleurme. Jacob Schroeder’s extra point made the score 14-7 with 12:15 left in the first quarter.
After the flurry of early scores, the defenses settled in. Jayden Shakir carried the ball 11 yards for a first down, but Midland’s drive stalled after three plays, resulting in a punt by Zach Hodge that the Warriors downed at the Chargers’ one-yard line. BCU could only run three plays before punting. After a 54-yard kick by Christian Mendo and a one-yard return, Midland started at its own 43-yard line. The Warriors couldn’t move the chains and punted back to BCU. The Chargers gained ground on the next drive, highlighted by a 20-yard pass from Saya to Jaiden Aavery-Stowers for a first down. However, Midland’s defense forced another punt. Mendo’s 35-yard kick was returned 37 yards by Tyson Denkert to the BCU 48-yard line. Midland opened the drive with a 14-yard carry by TJ Covington, but two consecutive losses and an incomplete pass forced another punt. BCU started at its own 24-yard line. Three plays later, Midland’s defense forced another punt, taking over at its own 36-yard line. After a four-yard run by Denkert, the quarter ended with Midland leading 14-7.
At the start of the second quarter, Midland ran four more plays before punting, downing the ball at BCU’s 32-yard line. The Chargers’ offense came to life on the next drive. A 10-yard run by Saya, plus a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Midland, gave BCU the ball at the Warriors’ 42-yard line. Saya completed a pass to Cory Carignan for 16 yards, advancing to Midland’s 26-yard line. After three more plays, the drive stalled, and Schroeder kicked a 38-yard field goal to make the score 14-10 with 10:45 left in the second quarter.
Midland responded with a seven-play drive. Denkert carried the ball 16 yards to midfield, but the drive stalled at the BCU 39-yard line, forcing a punt that was fair-caught at BCU’s five-yard line. Midland’s defense forced a quick three-and-out, and Denkert returned the ensuing punt 50 yards for an apparent touchdown. However, an illegal block nullified the score, and Midland started its next drive at its own 42-yard line. The Warriors ran three plays before punting again, with BCU fair-catching the ball at its 28-yard line. BCU’s next drive was short-lived, as Midland forced another three-and-out. Denkert returned the punt for a one-yard loss, and Midland started at its 36-yard line. On the next drive, Berry completed three passes—an 18-yarder to Covington, a 10-yarder to Marks, and another 14-yarder to Covington—bringing the ball to BCU’s 17-yard line. After three short-yardage plays, Spicer kicked a 30-yard field goal, extending Midland’s lead to 17-10 with 45 seconds left in the half.
The Chargers ran two plays before time expired, and Midland took a seven-point lead into halftime.
Briar Cliff received the ball to begin the third quarter, but Midland’s defense quickly forced a turnover. After a sack of Saya by Gabriel VanWinkle, Shane Reilly recovered Saya’s fumble at BCU’s 29-yard line. Two plays later, Berry connected with Adams Jr. for a 31-yard touchdown. Spicer’s kick made it 24-10 with 12:31 left in the third quarter.
BCU’s next drive went backward, losing eight yards in three plays. Mendo’s punt was returned 24 yards by Denkert to BCU’s 32-yard line. On the next play, Berry found Anthony McPhee for a 32-yard touchdown pass. Spicer’s extra point made it 31-10 with 9:59 left in the quarter.
The Chargers answered with a 64-yard touchdown pass from Saya to Carignan on their next drive. Schroeder’s point-after made it 31-17 with 8:53 left in the quarter.
Midland mounted an 11-play drive on its next possession, highlighted by a 13-yard completion from Berry to Marks, but the Warriors turned the ball over on downs at the Chargers’ 26-yard line. BCU capitalized on the next drive. Saya completed a 43-yard pass to Carignan and then hit Fleurme with a 24-yard touchdown pass. Schroeder’s extra point made it 31-24 with 2:14 left in the third quarter.
On the next drive, Berry connected with Covington on a 13-yard pass, but after three more plays, the quarter ended with Midland leading 31-24.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Midland fumbled, and Kyler Petersen recovered the ball for BCU at its 42-yard line. The Chargers marched into Midland territory with an 11-yard run by Saya and a 13-yard pass to Ezra Heiner at Midland’s 32-yard line. However, Midland’s defense stood firm, forcing a 46-yard field goal attempt, which Schroeder missed short. The Warriors took over at their own 29-yard line. On the next drive, Denkert opened with a 29-yard carry to BCU’s 42-yard line. Three plays later, Berry’s pass was intercepted by Kael Forsyth at the goal line, but a pass interference penalty gave Midland the ball at the Chargers’ 12-yard line. The Warriors capitalized six plays later when O’Marion Bartlett scored on a one-yard run. Spicer’s extra point extended the lead to 38-24 with 6:16 remaining.
BCU’s next drive stalled after losing six yards, and Midland took over at BCU’s 24-yard line following an incomplete fourth-down pass. The Warriors leaned on the ground game, with Denkert carrying the ball six times, the last for an 11-yard touchdown. Spicer’s extra point made it 45-24 with 1:46 left.
BCU started its final drive at Midland’s 48-yard line after a short kick and fair catch. On fourth-and-three, Saya connected with Fleurme for a 12-yard completion and then hit Fleurme again for a 29-yard touchdown. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty backed up the extra point attempt, and Schroeder’s kick was blocked and recovered by Midland. The Warriors led 45-30 with 32 seconds remaining.
Midland recovered the ensuing onside kick, and after a kneel-down, the Warriors secured a 45-30 victory.
Midland rushed 40 times for 175 yards and completed 18-of-30 passes for 231 yards, totaling 406 yards of offense. Briar Cliff rushed 29 times for 64 yards and completed 13-of-28 passes for 321 yards, totaling 385 yards of offense.
Individually, Midland’s Teryn Berry completed 17-of-29 passes for 225 yards and three touchdowns. Tyson Denkert carried the ball 29 times for 161 yards and a touchdown. O’Marion Bartlett had four carries for six yards and a touchdown. Tae Marks caught three passes for 76 yards, while Kevin Adams Jr. had three receptions for 57 yards and two touchdowns. Anthony McPhee caught one pass for a 32-yard score. On defense, Carsen Crouch and Gabriel VanWinkle each had six tackles, with VanWinkle recording three sacks and forcing a fumble. Carter Wagner added an interception return for a touchdown, while Shane Reilly recovered a fumble.
For Briar Cliff, Brock Saya completed 13-of-28 passes for 321 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception. Matthew Mason rushed 16 times for 42 yards. Kymani Fleurme caught four passes for 141 yards and three touchdowns, and Cory Carignan had three receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, Kael Forsyth led the Chargers with 13 tackles, while Carlos Lopez had seven tackles and a sack. Kyler Petersen recovered a fumble.
Midland (4-3, 3-3 GPAC) returns to Heedum Field next Saturday for Homecoming, where it will host Hastings (2-5, 2-4 GPAC) in the annual battle for the Watchorn/McLaughlin Trophy. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. on October 19 in Fremont, Neb.
