Box Score

Nebraska Wesleyan fell behind 17-0 early in the first half and never could recover as Dakota Wesleyan defeated the Prairie Wolves for just the fourth time in series history as the Tigers got a 31-17 victory on Saturday (Nov. 2) at Joe Quintal Field in Mitchell, S.D.

The loss drops NWU to 4-4 overall and 4-3 in the GPAC and drops them from second to a tie for fifth in the league standings with two games remaining.

Dakota Wesleyan scored on their first possession of the game marching 80 yards on the tough NWU defense as Fran Barnaud scored on a 21-yard run on 4th down.  Later in the first quarter, the Tigers blocked a Kelby Vandenberg punt and Trevor Schroeder returned it 13 yards for a touchdown.

Special teams cost the Prairie Wolves again to start the second quarter as they fumbled a punt return setting up the Tigers with the ball on the 25 yard line.  Dakota Wesleyan settled for a 27-yard field goal by Dan Porter to go up 17-0.

Right before halftime the Prairie Wolves finally got on the board as Aaron Lorraine connected on a 32-yard field goal to make the score 17-3 and give NWU momentum in the game.

The NWU defense continued the momentum to start the second half as they forced an immediate 3 & out on the Tigers first possession.  However, the punt return unit had a costly mistake again as the punt bounced off a NWU player and was recovered by the Tigers at the NWU 32 yard line.  Four plays later, Arthur Brown ran in a 5-yard TD to make the score 24-3.

Nebraska Wesleyan mounted their best offensive drive later in the quarter when they got a big 42-yard pass play from Tyler Francis to Ryan Larsen.  A key completion to Larsen on 4th & 4 put NWU on the 1-yard line and Francis completed the drive with a 1-yard QB sneak.

Two plays after making the game a two-possession game, the Tigers got a 75-yard TD run by Barnaud to essentially seal the game.

NWU added a late touchdown in the fourth quarter as Francis hit Connor Zumpfe for a 5-yard TD pass making the final score 31-17.

DWU running back Fran Barnaud proved why he is the NAIA's leading rusher as he had a huge game.  Barnaud rushed for 254 yards on 27 carries with two touchdowns becoming the first back to go over 100 yards against the NWU defense in 22 games.

Nebraska Wesleyan finished with 310 yards of total offense, compared to 433 for the Tigers.  The Prairie Wolves had 104 yards on the ground and 206 through the air.

Francis was 20-39 for 206 yards with a TD and no interceptions.  Larsen led the way with three catches for 65 yards, while Zumpfe caught three for 42 yards with a TD.   Dustin Bryant had 90 yards on 17 carries to pace the Prairie Wolves on the ground.