FREMONT – Playing a complete game in all facets of the game for the second straight week, Midland University blanked Hastings College 43-0 to retain possession of the Watchorn-McLaughlin Trophy. The Warriors win on homecoming is their second in as many weeks and the fifth in the series with the Broncos.
“Great effort by players and great game plan by our coaches. We executed the majority of the game like we wanted,” said head coach Jeff Jamrog after the victory. “We got a little sloppy in the second half but there are going to be a lot of good things to point out in film session. I’m really proud of our guys today. Anytime you get a shutout, that’s big time. Hats off to our defense. I thought our offense did good things as well.”
Senior running back Keenan Smith got things going early, taking his second carry of the game 70 yards for the Warriors’ first score. He would finish the day with 101 yards on 14 carries with the one score.
Junior quarterback River Walker followed up his six-touchdown performance last with four more scores on Saturday. He hit senior Darrin Gentry, and juniors Quentin Ternus and Kenneth Carr for touchdowns through the air. Walker completed 20 of 28 throws for 321 yards with a long of 46. He also ran the ball 14 times with one run finding pay dirt in the first quarter.
Gentry’s catch was the play of the game among all the highlights. He was able to reach out his hand and tip the ball up to himself before tight roping the sideline for a 46-yard touchdown catch.
Midland took a 29-0 lead into halftime, dominating the first 30 minutes. At the intermission, they had allowed just 152 yards while compiling 358 themselves. Midland held a 17:32 to 12:37 edge in time of possession.
On the day the Broncos would eventually get over 300 yards of total offense. Midland would end the game with 484 yards on 73 total plays from scrimmage. Hastings ran a total of 81 plays on the afternoon.
Defensively, Midland was able to put points on the scoreboard for the second straight week. Junior Courtney Chandler intercepted a Broncos pass in the third quarter for a pick-six. He would add three solo tackles on the day.
Senior Zach Acamo led the Warriors with 9 total tackles and also had a fumble recovery. Senior Connor Smith and junior Crash Woodle each added 5 stops.
In the special teams’ phase of the game, junior Dalton Tremayne had four punt returns for 63 yards and added a kickoff return of 23 yards. He was named GPAC Special Teams Player-of-the-Week for his play at Briar Cliff.
The Warriors also were able to get a hand on a Hastings punt. After a bobbled snap near the end of the third quarter, sophomore Dylan Kor got a hand on the late punt to help set up the Warriors’ final touchdown of the game.
“The last couple weeks we’ve been playing the type of football we’re capable of,” added Coach Jamrog postgame. “It was really great to play well at home. It was refreshing to come out and play the way we did.”
The Warriors (2-2) will be on the road next week as they travel to Mitchell, South Dakota for a matchup with Dakota Wesleyan (1-3). The Tigers had their game scheduled against Concordia postponed this week due to an outbreak of COVID. Kickoff inside Joe Quintal Field is set for 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 17.
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