LINCOLN, Neb – Nebraska Wesleyan scored 17 unanswered points to start the second half and held off a late McPherson College rally as the Prairie Wolves defeated the Bulldogs 34-29 to open the 2016 football season.
 
The two teams were tied at 17-17 at halftime, but NWU got two third quarter touchdowns and a 4^th quarter field goal to go ahead 34-17.  McPherson made a late push with two fourth quarter touchdowns, but the Prairie Wolves were able to convert first downs and run out the clock to seal the victory in the first meeting between the two teams in football.
 
It was the Nebraska Wesleyan rushing attack that was on display for the Prairie Wolves offense.  Senior RB Joel Wiedel was the workhorse the entire game and put up career numbers.  Wiedel finished with 34 carries for 183 yards and two touchdowns.  The 34 carries were the most for a NWU back since 2004 and the 183 rush yards is the highest total since 2009.
 
McPherson started the game on a very solid note as they took the opening drive all the way down the field for a touchdown to gain confidence and take a 7-0 lead.  NWU was stuffed on their opening possession but caught a break when the Bulldogs punt returner fumbled the ball inside the 5-yard line and the Prairie Wolves pounced on the ball.  One play later, Wiedel got the first score of the day on a 4-yard TD run.
 
On the next NWU possession they scored once again as Kramer Rath made a 33-yard field goal to put the Prairie Wolves up 10-7.  McPherson tied the game as the 2^nd quarter started with a 34-yard field goal.  They also took advantage of a fumbled punt to score.
 
Each team added touchdowns in the 2^nd quarter.  Sophomore Sawyer Kean scored for NWU on a 1-yard TD plunge and Bulldog running back Tyrone Campbell got his second TD of the first half on a 1-yard run.
 
A very impressive drive started the second half for the Prairie Wolves as they marched 64 yards in nine plays capped with a 1-yard Wiedel TD run.  Wiedel accounted for all but five yards on the scoring drive.  McPherson fumbled on the second play of their drive to setup the Prairie Wolves in prime field position.
 
NWU quarterback Ben Green found senior receiver Ryan Schneider on a 21-yard touchdown pass to put the Prairie Wolves ahead 31-17.  McPherson started a big drive of their own, but once they got inside the 10-yard line quarterback Ed Crouch fumbled the ball on a 4^th-down run and Preston Franzen recovered the ball.  That setup the final scoring drive of the Prairie Wolves as NWU got inside the 2-yard line but was stopped on three straight plays.  Rath did make a 20-yard field goal to double the score at 34-17.
 
The Bulldogs didn't quit as they promptly marched down the field on a 75-yard drive with Zach Melius scoring on a 9-yard run.  After a quick three and out, McPherson got another quick score on a 16-yard pass from Crouch to Goodmiller to cut the lead to 34-29 as the PAT failed. 
 
NWU got the ball back with 3:08 remaining and converted two first downs to run out the clock.
 


The Prairie Wolves had 355 yards of total offense with 213 on the ground and 142 through the air.  Wiedel had a huge day with his 183 rush yards.  Adding to that he caught two passes for 21 yards and had 94 return yards including a 52-yard kick return.
 
Ben Green was 13-22 passing for 142 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions.  Trevor McKeown was the top receiver with three catches for 25 yards.
 
Preston Franzen was impressive from his linebacker spot in his first career start.  Franzen had 11 total tackles (9 solo) with two TFLs and a fumble recovery.
 
McPherson outgained NWU with 409 total yards, 199 on the ground and 210 through the air.