DUBUQUE, Iowa – Nebraska Wesleyan looked poised for an upset as they closed within five points early in the 4^th quarter, but 18^th-ranked University of Dubuque scored two touchdowns late in the game to hold off the Prairie Wolves for a 42-23 victory in IIAC football action on Saturday (Oct. 8) at Chalmers Field.
 
Ben Green found Ryan Schneider for a 38-yard touchdown pass on a 4^th down play to make the score 28-23 with 10:38 remaining as Nebraska Wesleyan had the unbeaten and reigning IIAC champions on their heels. 
 
Dubuque's high-powered offense responded with a long drive when they got the ball back.  The Spartans marched into the red zone and scored an apparent touchdown.  A holding call brought the ball back to the 19-yard line for 1^st and goal.  On 3^rd & goal from 10, the Prairie Wolves needed a stop to keep it a one possession game.  Conor Feckley found Najee Toomer for a TD to get the Spartans back up by double digits.
 
NWU attempted to answer, but an interception gave the ball back to the Spartans.  Feckley found Toomer again for a 9-yard TD to seal the victory.
 
Turnovers were a big problem for the Prairie Wolves as quarterback Ben Green threw four interceptions in the game and Dubuque took advantage of those miscues.
 
The 18^th-ranked Spartans jumped ahead 13-0 early in the 2^nd quarter.  NWU got on the board as the PAT attempt snap was mishandled and Preston Franzen picked up the loose ball and ran the ball back for 2 points.  The Spartans added another first half touchdown as Feckley found Emmanuel Jenkins from 7 yards out to make the score 20-2.
 
Nebraska Wesleyan mounted a late first half drive and capped it with a 8-yard TD pass from Green to Joel Wiedel.  The 2-point conversion pass to Caleb Conway was good making the score 20-10 at halftime.
 
In the second half, the Spartans got back up by 18 points with a 4-yard TD run by Dwayne Allen making the score 28-10.  The Prairie Wolves would score two straight TDs to cut the lead down to five points.  Green scored on a 3-yard QB sneak, then hit Schneider on the big 4^th down conversion early in the fourth making the score 28-23.
 
Conor Feckley had a huge game to lead the Spartan offense.  He threw three touchdowns and ran for another with 295 yards of total offense.  Feckley was 25-39 for 268 yards with three touchdowns.  Maurece Herrion ran for 109 yards with a TD.
 
Joel Wiedel led the NWU offense with 59 rushing yards on 15 carries, while catching six passes for 69 yards and a TD.  Green finished 22-37 for 230 yards with two TDs, but did have the four interceptions.  Tight end Caleb Conway also caught six passes and a 2-point conversion.
 
Riley Shoemaker had 14 total tackles to lead the Prairie Wolves defense.
 
Nebraska Wesleyan returns home next Saturday to face Central College at Abel Stadium.