HASTINGS, NE – The Dakota Wesleyan football team got off to a fast start at Hastings Saturday afternoon and led from start to finish as QB Carter Robinson accounted for 4 total touchdowns to lead the Tigers to their first win of the season 31-10 over the Broncos in GPAC play.
The Tigers offense set the tone of the game early as they drove 68 yards in 9 plays on their opening drive and capped it off with an 8-yard touchdown pass from Robinson to Gavin DeBeer with 9:18 to go in the first quarter. Hastings got on the board five minutes later as they answered with a 6-play drive, ending in a 39-yard field goal by Xander Salyers.
Dakota Wesleyan kept the offensive momentum going in the second quarter as Robinson found the endzone on a 25-yard run to top off an impressive 90 yard drive in 9 plays to put the Tigers up 14-3 with 7:29 left before halftime. After a punt by the Broncos, Dakota Wesleyan drove down the field and struck again in just 4 plays, covering 80 yards as Robinson found Cole Holden for a 36-yard touchdown pass with :41 left in the half to give the Tigers a 21-3 advantage at the break.
The Tigers offense started fast again in the second half as Robinson connected with Preston Nedved on a 60-yard touchdown pass on a quick, 80-yard drive in just two plays to extend the Dakota Wesleyan lead to 28-3 just over a minute into the third quarter. The Tigers maintained that lead going into the fourth quarter as both offenses stalled the rest of the third quarter.
Hastings would eventually find the endzone for the first time on the afternoon to open up the fourth quarter as they drove 74 yards in 6 plays and Broncos’ QB Carson Kudlacek threw a 67-yard touchdown pass to Ethan Wilborn to make the score 28-10 in favor of the Tigers with 14:11 left in the game. That would be the last time Hastings would get on the scoreboard, while Dakota Wesleyan added a Patrick 17-yard field goal down the stretch as they picked up their first win of the season 31-10.
Dakota Wesleyan produced their best offensive performance of the season as they outgained Hastings in total yardage 487-328 on the afternoon and won the turnover battle 4-2. QB Carter Robinson led the Tigers with 312 yards passing and 3 touchdowns, while rushing for 66 yards and 1 touchdown.
Looking Ahead-
Dakota Wesleyan improved to 1-4 on the season and will host Doane College next Saturday for their homecoming game at Joe Quintal Field in more GPAC play.