MITCHELL, S.D. – Dakota Wesleyan used a blocked punt, two touchdown passes from quarterback Jed Jenson to Caleb Kilbride and a pair of fourth-quarter rushing touchdowns from Landon Iverson to defeat Doane 34-21 on Saturday in Mitchell.
Doane opened the scoring on its first possession when Cannon Crowder connected with Mark Anderson for a 28-yard touchdown with 10:01 left in the first quarter.
Dakota Wesleyan answered on its next possession. Jenson helped move the Tigers 75 yards in six plays before finding Kilbride for a 33-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 7.
The Tigers took the lead later in the quarter in dramatic fashion. Dakota Wesleyan’s Ashton Munsell blocked a Doane punt, and Mikey Hart scooped it up and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown. The play gave the Tigers a 14-7 lead with 5:46 remaining in the opening quarter.
Neither team scored in the second quarter, although both had opportunities. Doane drove inside the Dakota Wesleyan 5-yard line but turned the ball over on downs when Crowder’s fourth-down pass fell incomplete. The Tigers later drove 72 yards but missed a 45-yard field-goal attempt just before halftime.
Dakota Wesleyan extended its lead early in the second half after Crowder was sacked by Carter Skogsberg and fumbled, with Drue Davis recovering for the Tigers. Jenson then led a 70-yard drive and finished it by finding Kilbride for a 14-yard touchdown. The extra point was missed, leaving Dakota Wesleyan ahead 20-7.
Doane threatened to respond, but the Dakota Wesleyan defense forced another punt. The Tigers then put together a 10-play, 82-yard drive that carried into the fourth quarter. Iverson capped the drive with a 6-yard touchdown run, giving Dakota Wesleyan a 27-7 advantage with 12:48 remaining.
Doane answered quickly with an 18-yard touchdown pass from Crowder to Trent DePompa, cutting the deficit to 27-14.
The Tigers responded with their longest scoring drive of the game. Dakota Wesleyan marched 75 yards on 11 plays, converting several third downs before Iverson scored his second touchdown of the afternoon on a 12-yard run with 6:12 remaining. That made it 34-14.
Doane added a late touchdown when Crowder connected with Kayd Houston for 18 yards with 1:24 left, but Dakota Wesleyan recovered an onside kick attempt and ran out the clock.
Jenson completed 19 of 25 passes for 243 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Kilbride caught three passes for 60 yards and two touchdowns.
Iverson led the Tigers on the ground with 70 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. Dakota Wesleyan finished with 375 total yards, including 243 passing yards and 132 rushing yards.
The Dakota Wesleyan defense also forced four turnovers, including two interceptions in the fourth quarter. Mikey Hart and Rayshawn Johnson each recorded an interception late in the game.
The victory gives Dakota Wesleyan a 1-1 record as they will be at Waldorf next Saturday, Sept. 12 at 6 pm.