SIOUX CITY, Iowa — Dakota Wesleyan Football went on the road to Iowa to take on the Briar Cliff Chargers in a GPAC contest.
Each team started the game having to punt, but Briar Cliff’s field position would allow them to set the Tigers up on their own one-yard line. The downed punt led to a Charger safety to score the first points of the game and take a 2-0 lead. The defense kept the pressure on the BCU defense early, led by veteran linebackers Joe VanOverschelde and Grayson Hanson, combining for 18 tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss, and a sack. Trevor Sladky also recorded an interception on the day.
Briar Cliff would tack on a field goal to extend the lead to 5-0, and after a short DWU possession, would land a 21-yard passing touchdown and miss the extra point to go up 11-0 at the end of the first quarter.
DWU’s offense picked up in the second half, with Jed Jenson getting the Tigers down the field and converting passes to Cole Holden and Maxwell Raab, but an interception would stop their momentum before the half. Holden totaled 147 yards receiving on the day, with Raab contributing 43 yards on five catches. The Chargers would hold the 11-0 lead at the break.
The second half started similarly to the first, with both teams trading punts early, but the Tigers finally found the endzone on a 31-yard pass from Jenson to Caleb Kilbride halfway through the third quarter to bring the score to 11-7.
Both teams struggled to convert on late downs, with the Tigers going three of 12 on third down (25%) and the Chargers going three of 14 (21%), and both teams only converting once each on multiple fourth-down attempts. Even so, the Chargers got just enough yardage to kick in a field goal to start the fourth quarter and bring the score to 14-7 after a stand at the four-yard line from the Tigers.
A fumble on the opening play of the following drive for DWU would set Briar Cliff in the red zone, and even after a penalty, the Chargers converted on a 33-yard passing touchdown to extend the lead to 21-7 with 12:50 left to play.
An interception and two following turnovers on downs from the Tigers would keep the score at 21-7 through the end of the game. Jenson would end up going 23-37 for 284 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions. The Chargers held the ball for almost three-fourths of the game, and five turnovers in favor of BCU would ultimately play a big role in the final result.
DWU Football will be back in action on Saturday, October 4th, against the Doane Tigers.