FREMONT, Neb. -- A fourth down defensive stop followed by a 23-yard touchdown run by Joel Wiedel gave Nebraska Wesleyan a key 30-18 victory at Midland University in GPAC football action on Saturday afternoon at Heedum Field in Fremont.

Nebraska Wesleyan evens their record at 2-2 overall and picks up their first GPAC win of the year to go 1-2 in league play.  Midland falls to 0-5 and has now lost 13 consecutive games.

It was the Prairie Wolves offense that got on track to start the game as they marched down the field and scored on the opening drive.  Ben Green found fullback Braxton Thais for a 3-yard TD pass to open the game and put the Prairie Wolves up 7-0.

On Midland's first possession, NWU safety Wes Boettcher made an interception to give the Prairie Wolves prime field position on their next possession.  They took advantage of that field possession and scored another TD as Shaka Taylor got the one-yard TD run.  The PAT snap was bad making the score 13-0.

Midland got on the board in the second quarter as Brett Hurley capped an 80-yard drive with a 5-yard TD run.  NWU responded after the score and drove 78 yards to score in the final minute.  Green capped the drive with a 1-yard TD run.

NWU's defense responded once again to start the second half.  Brandon McGill intercepted a Warrior pass to put the Prairie Wolves in scoring position to begin the half.  Kramer Rath extended his made field goal streak to 11 with a 44-yard make to extend the lead to 16 points.

After the Rath field goal, the Warriors took momentum for much of the second half.  Midland got their up-tempo offense in rhythm and got back-to-back scores.  Raul Alvarez hit Hurley for a 3-yard TD pass and the 2-point conversion was good making the score 23-15.  In the fourth quarter, Midland got into the red zone but settled for a 24-yard field goal to pull within five.

After forcing NWU to punt, the Warriors took over the ball looking to rally for the win.  Midland was put in a 4th & 1 situation near midfield.  The Prairie Wolves middle of the defense stuffed the back and after the officials met to decide the spot, it revealed the NWU defense had held.

Looking to run out the clock and control possession, Joel Wiedel was the feature back.  Wiedel had two straight first downs and then put the exclamation point on his return to his hometown with a 23-yard TD run at the 3:08 mark.

NWU finished with 331 yards of total offense.  Ben Green was 13-22 for 155 yards with a TD passing and a TD rushing.  Wiedel finished with 62 rushing yards to lead the team.  Ryan Larsen had 5 catches for 81 yards to top the Prairie Wolves receivers.

Linebacker Brandon McGill led the NWU defense with 15 total tackles.  Dakota Buss had 10 stops and Kalen Vandenberg made a return with seven tackles.

Midland was limited to 309 total yards, 210 through the air and 99 on the ground.

The victory gives the Prairie Wolves momentum as they now get ready for the rivalry game against Doane College next Saturday in Abel Stadium.