DECORAH, Iowa – Trailing by seven points late in the 4
th quarter, Nebraska Wesleyan drove 73 yards for a touchdown with 3:17 remaining in the game, but the extra point attempt failed giving Luther College a 35-34 victory over the Prairie Wolves on Saturday (Nov. 9) in American Rivers Conference football action at Carlson Stadium in Decorah, Iowa.
Luther snaps their 12-game losing streak and picks up their first win of the season, while NWU falls for the sixth straight time this year to drop to 3-6 overall and 1-6 in league play.
Even after the missed PAT attempt the Prairie Wolves still had a chance. NWU's defense stepped up and forced a quick three and out to get the ball back. The Prairie Wolves took over at their own 45-yard line with 2:12 remaining. A big sack forced 3
rd & 21, then
Jonathan Curti hit
Derrick Curtis for an 8-yard gain setting up 4
th & 13. On 4
th down, Curti stepped up in the pocket and threw over the middle to
Isaac Dannehl who made an attempt that was initially ruled a catch, then overruled by the umpire to end the drive.
Nebraska Wesleyan led 21-14 at halftime scoring two touchdowns in the final 1:31 of the half to take the lead. Curti found Tate Schmadere for a 2-yard TD pass for the first score of the game early in the 1
st quarter. After Luther scored two touchdowns to take the 14-7, the Prairie Wolves responded.
Curti hit
Logan Hughes for an 8-yard TD to cap an 85 yard drive with 1:31 left in the half. NWU then quickly forced a three and out to get the ball back with 47 seconds left. A big 38-yard pass to Dannehl put the Prairie Wolves in the end zone. Curtis capped the drive with a 7-yard catch for his 12
th of the year with only 0:02 left in the half.
In the second half, Luther tied the game at 21-21 on a 20-yard touchdown pass with 8:16 left in the 3
rd quarter. They took the lead later in the quarter on a huge play. Facing 2
nd & 20 at their own 10-yard line, Michael Lorento hit Andre Atkins for a 90-yard TD, the second longest play in Norse history. That gave Luther their first 2
nd half lead all season.
The lead didn't last long as
Monte Robinson Jr., took the ensuing kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown making it 28-28 headed to the 4
th quarter.
A long 12-play, 75-yard drive by the Norse was capped by a 2-yard run from quarterback Parker Kizer who found the end zone with 11:34 left in the game.
Needing a touchdown to tie, the Prairie Wolves marched 73 yards in the 4
th quarter and Curti hit tight end
Logan Hughes for his second TD of the game on a 2-yard pass. Kicker
Michael Vandenberg, who was perfect on PAT in conference games this season, missed the game-tying attempt that would prove to be the difference in the game.
Luther ended the game with 460 yards of total offense, rushing for 223 and passing for 237 yards. The Norse came into the game, last in the league in passing averaging just 113.9 yards a game.
NWU had 353 yards of total offense, 345 of that coming through the air. The Prairie Wolves were limited to eight yards rushing on 18 attempts.
Curti had another big game completing 26-43 passes for 345 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions. He now has equaled his school record of 30 touchdown passes this season. His favorite target once again was
Derrick Curtis who made 10 grabs for 141 yards and a touchdown, his 12
th of the year.
Isaac Dannehl caught three passes for 94 yards.
Kaden Dawe led a group of four Prairie Wolves players who had double digit tackle totals. Dawe made a career-high 19 tackles, while
Jacob Garnas and
Dakota Prorok each made 12 tackles.
NWU closes out the 2019 season next Saturday hosting Dubuque.
