Courtesy of Midland Athletics
FREMONT, Neb. — Midland University was back in action for the final time this season as it hosted Mount Marty University on Saturday at Heedum Field. The Warriors wrapped up the 2025 football season with a 38-14 victory over the Lancers. For the second straight week, the Midland defense forced seven turnovers, led by Zayne Wilson‘s school-record four interceptions. That effort helped secure the win and another winning season as Midland finished 6-5 overall and 6-4 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference.
Mount Marty received the opening kickoff, which Rodney Broadnax returned 15 yards to the Lancers’ 20-yard line. The Lancers opened with two strong runs: quarterback Rugby Ryken carried for 10 yards to the 30, and Kyle Hirsch followed with another 10-yard rush to the 40. Five plays later, Ryken connected with Jack Roland for 11 yards to the Midland 48. Midland’s defense responded, forcing a punt four plays later as the Warriors took over at their 22.
On Midland’s second play from scrimmage, Brodey Johnson hit Kevin Adams Jr. for 16 yards to the 38. Two plays later, the pair connected again for a 23-yard gain to the Mount Marty 37. Six plays after that, Midland’s drive stalled, and Payden Alexander missed a 43-yard field-goal attempt wide right.
The Lancers began their next drive at their 26, but on the third play of the series, a Ryken pass was intercepted by Wilson and returned 49 yards to the 1-yard line. On the next play, Tyson Denkert punched it in for a touchdown. Alexander’s extra point gave Midland a 7-0 lead with 3:33 left in the first quarter.
After a touchback, Mount Marty started at its 25. On the second play, Malachy Harts ran for 10 yards to the 42. Five plays later, the quarter ended with the Warriors ahead 7-0.
On the first play of the second quarter, Ryken was intercepted again by Wilson, giving Midland possession at its 30.
Midland quickly moved the ball as Isaiah Tucker carried for 10 yards to the 49. Two plays later, Johnson connected with Adams for a 44-yard pass to the 8. The Warriors couldn’t get into the end zone and settled for a 25-yard field goal by Alexander to go up 10-0 with 10:19 left in the half.
After a 25-yard kickoff return, the Lancers advanced to the Midland 42 before attempting a fourth-and-1 play. Carter Wagner and Dougie Silva stuffed Ryken’s run attempt, giving the Warriors possession.
On the first play, Johnson hit TJ Covington for 14 yards. Two plays later, they connected again for 32 yards to the 10. Johnson then found Tae Marks for a 10-yard touchdown. Alexander’s PAT extended the lead to 17-0 with 4:41 remaining.
Midland’s special teams struck next, recovering the ensuing kickoff at the Lancers’ 17. Four plays later, Denkert scored from 2 yards out. Alexander’s PAT pushed the lead to 24-0 with 3:35 to go.
Mount Marty moved to the Midland 48 with under two minutes left, but Ryken was intercepted again by Wilson—his third of the half—in the end zone for a touchback. One Midland play later, time expired with the Warriors leading 24-0.
Midland received the second-half kickoff and began at its 25. Two plays later, Denkert began a streak of three straight first-down carries: runs of 28, 20, and 12 yards moved the ball to the 13. Johnson then hit Tim Brown for a 13-yard touchdown. Alexander’s extra point made it 31-0 with 12:16 left in the third.
Mount Marty answered with a drive to the Midland 1-yard line, but on fourth-and-1, Jay Ballard forced a fumble in the end zone, which the Warriors recovered for a touchback.
Midland went three-and-out, giving the Lancers the ball at the Warriors’ 45. Mount Marty converted a series of first downs before Ryken found Moshe Richmond for a 30-yard touchdown. Ryken connected with Richmond again for the 2-point conversion, cutting the deficit to 31-8 with 4:45 left in the third.
Another Midland three-and-out set up Mount Marty at the Warriors’ 40, but the Midland defense again held on fourth-and-1.
The Warriors drove into Lancer territory as Denkert and Johnson combined to reach the 36 before the quarter ended with Midland leading 31-8. On fourth-and-10 early in the fourth, Johnson’s pass to Denkert came up short, giving the Lancers possession.
Mount Marty responded with a 10-play drive featuring back-to-back 14-yard passes to Hirsch and Richmond. Ryken then found Jacksen Wachholtz for 21 yards to the 6. Two plays later, Harts scored from 2 yards out. The 2-point conversion failed, making it 31-14 with 9:17 remaining.
Midland began at its 10 after the kickoff. On the second play, Denkert broke free for 53 yards to the Lancers’ 32. Four plays later, he added a 12-yard carry to the 4. Two snaps later, he capped the drive with a 2-yard touchdown. Alexander made the PAT, extending the lead to 38-14 with 3:36 left.
Two plays into Mount Marty’s next drive, Wilson intercepted Ryken for the fourth time, giving the Warriors the ball at the 48. Three Midland plays later, the clock expired, sealing the Warriors’ 38-14 win.
Midland ran 56 plays for 366 total yards, including 188 rushing yards on 36 carries. Johnson went 12-for-20 for 178 yards passing.
Mount Marty ran 70 plays for 344 yards, rushing 40 times for 153 yards and passing for 191.
Individually for Midland, Denkert carried 23 times for 187 yards and three touchdowns. Johnson threw for 178 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Adams had three catches for 83 yards, Brown caught two passes for 20 yards and a touchdown, and Marks added a 10-yard touchdown reception. Defensively, Ballard had 11 tackles and a forced fumble. Paxten Van Houten added 10 tackles. Wilson had seven tackles and four interceptions, and Silva added a tackle and a fumble recovery.
For Mount Marty (4-7, 3-7 GPAC), Ryken rushed 14 times for 56 yards and threw for 191 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions. Harts added 53 rushing yards and a touchdown. Richmond recorded 66 receiving yards and a touchdown. Damien Baldwin led the defense with eight tackles.
The Warriors’ season concluded with several highlights. Wilson’s four interceptions set a single-game school record. Johnson broke single-season school records in passing yards (2,133), completions (172), and passing touchdowns (27). Denkert, who set the career rushing record earlier this season, finishes with 3,563 yards.
