LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska Wesleyan jumped out to an early 14-0 lead in the 1^st quarter of the IIAC Opening football game against Coe College on Saturday, but the reigning conference champions rallied back to outscore the Prairie Wolves 28-3 and go on and earn a 35-25 victory on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 16) at Abel Stadium.
 
With their victory, the Kohawks have now won 14 straight regular season games as they improve to 3-0 on the year.  They were receiving votes in the top 25 poll. NWU falls to 0-3 overall, starting the season with three straight losses for the first time since 2010.
 
NWU came out firing in all phases of the game.  The Prairie Wolves offense took the opening drive of the game and marched 75 yards in 14 plays capped by a 7-yard TD pass from Jonathan Curti to Bradley Pelkey giving NWU an early 7-0 lead.  The NWU defense forced a quick three and out to get the ball right back into the hands of Curti and the Prairie Wolves offense. 
 
This time NWU went 83 yards in six plays, taking less than one minute off the clock.  Curti was 5-5 on the drive and found James Skerjanec on a 15-yard TD pass.  The big play of the drive was a 29-yard run by Shaka Taylor.
 
Coe responded by scoring two touchdowns in the second quarter to tie the game at 14-14.  The Kohawks took advantage of two Prairie Wolves lost fumbles that helped setup the touchdowns.
 
Right before halftime, Jackson Hinze connected on a 43-yard field goal to give the Prairie Wolves a 17-14 lead at intermission. It was Hinze's first ever field goal attempt.
 
The Kohawks combination of Quentin White to Demetrius Harper was the big story of the 3^rd quarter.  To start the half White hit Harper on a 6-yard TD pass, then two possessions later they hooked up on a 28-yard TD pass to put Coe ahead 28-17.
 
NWU made one last push in the 4^th quarter as they tried to mount a rally.  Shaka Taylor caught a 14-yard TD pass from Curti to cap a 72-yard touchdown drive.  Skerjanec then converted the 2-point conversion making it 28-25.
 
With 5:25 remaining in the game, Coe was faced with a 4^th & 1 situation at the NWU 43-yard line.  The Kohawks tried to draw NWU offside, but called timeout.  After the timeout Coe sent the offense back on the field and running back Tyler Draile ran four yards for the first down.  On the next play, Coe sealed the win as White found a wide open Tyler Schamel over the middle for a 39-yard TD pass.
 
Nebraska Wesleyan tried to put some points on the board with under two minutes late, but an interception ended the game.
 
Coe finished with 473 total yards, compared to 387 for the Prairie Wolves.  The Kohawks, one of the top running teams in the IIAC, actually passed for 319 yards.  Backup quarterback Quentin White got the start and went 22-35 for 319 yards with four touchdowns.  Draile was the workhorse at running back carrying the ball 33 times for 101 yards with a TD.  Harper was the top receiver making eight catches for 159 yards with two touchdowns.
 
Shaka Taylor came back after missing a week due to injury and was impressive out of the backfield.  Taylor ran 22 times for 128 yards and caught a team-high six passes for 67 yards with a TD.  Skerjanec and Pelkey both had four catches with a touchdown.
 
Curti finished the game 23-50 for 256 yards with three touchdowns and one interception.
 
Three Nebraska Wesleyan players had double figure tackle totals led by Dakota Buss with 15.  Jacob VanLiew had 14 stops and Travis Newgard 10.