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Dakota Wesleyan spoils DSU’s football home opener
September 3, 2011
MADISON, S.D. – Dakota Wesleyan came in the Trojan Field and scored 26 straight points in the first twenty-one minutes and two seconds of the ball game to defeat Dakota State 56-20 on Saturday night.
Dakota State suffered their second straight defeat to open the 2011 season. It was the season opener for the Tigers, who received votes to the NAIA National Preseason Football Coaches’ poll.
Dakota Wesleyan used six-plays for 56 yards in 2:07 for their first score of the game. Jonathan Bane connected to Nate Ovenden for a five-yard touchdown pass. The Tigers’ two-point PAT attempt failed.
After DSU’s turnover with 4:12 left in the first quarter on Trojans’ eight-yard line, Francois Barnaud recorded a four-yard touchdown to extend Tigers’ lead to 12-0. Lie Evans’ PAT kick was good to make it 13-0 in favor of DWU.
The Tigers made it 20-0 in the early second quarter when Dustin Bergmeier intercepted DSU quarterback Brandon Large’s pass and returned a 34-yard interception for a touchdown. Evans added a successful PAT kick.
Bane threw another touchdown pass to Anthony Muilenburg for three yards to expand their lead to 26-0 with 8:51 left in the second quarter.
Dakota State scored their first points of the game with less than five minutes before halftime. Josh Licht intercepted Bane’s pass and recorded a 22-yard return for touchdown. The PAT kick by Dennis Lechner was no good as the Trojans cut their deficit to 26-6.
The Tigers outscored the Trojans 20-8 in the second quarter. DWU led 33-8 at halftime.
Lechner kicked a 25-yard field goal in the third quarter as DSU cut DWU’s lead to 33-11.
Dakota Wesleyan scored the next 20 points to expand their lead to 53-11.
The Trojans’ defense recorded their second safety of the game in the fourth quarter to make it 53-13 with 11:01 left.
Evans added a 37-yard field goal with 5:32 left in regulation to give DWU a 56-13 lead.
Large threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Robert Oritz with for the final score of the game. Lechner added a PAT kick to make it 56-20 DWU.
Jeb Olsen rushed 25 times for 147 yards for DSU. Large was 12-for-23 with 118 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Stacey Berg had two receptions for 60 yards. Wes Dauz added four catches for 27 yards.
For DWU, Bane was 25-for-36 with 308 passing yards. He had four touchdown passes and recorded two interceptions. Josh Endres rushed 20 times for 97 yards with two touchdowns. Muilenburg had seven catches for 131 yards with three touchdowns. Nate Ovenden added five catches for 52 yards and a touchdown.
Craig Hertz had 13 tackles for DSU’s defense. Joe Monize added 12 tackles. Bryce Logan and Keith Knudsen each had 11 tackles for DSU’s defense. Dana Felderman recorded an interception and returned for 49 yards. Licht added an interception for 22 return yards and recorded a quarterback sack for a loss of five yards.
Jeff Maassen had nine tackles for the Tigers. Jesse Holz added eight tackles. Bergmeier had an interception return for 34 yards. Aaron Rolen had two quarterback sacks for a loss of 17 yards.
DWU had 30 first-downs compared to DSU’s 12 in the game. The Tigers outgained the Trojans in total yards 493-235.
Dakota Wesleyan had 362 passing yards compared to DSU’s 118.
A total of ten turnovers were committed in the game – seven by DSU and three from the Tigers. DWU scored 33 points off from DSU’s turnovers.
The Trojans had six fumbles in the game and lost four times. DWU fumbled four times and did not record a fumble lost.
It was the 66th meeting between DWU and Dakota State where the Tigers own a 35-30-1 series record.
Dakota State will stay home next Saturday as they host Doane College in their first-ever meeting for both schools. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. at Trojan Field.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
