LINCOLN, Neb. – Rain couldn't dampen the record setting performance by the Nebraska Wesleyan football team in the season opener on Saturday as the Prairie Wolves rolled to a 49-35 victory over Westminster College at Abel Stadium.
 
It was the tandem of Jonathan Curti and Derrick Curtis that stole the show for the Prairie Wolves offense, while the NWU special teams came up big with two blocked punts. 
 
Curti became the NWU career record holder for passing yards (6,080) and Curtis set a single game school record with five TD receptions when the combo connected for their final TD in the 4^th quarter.
 
NWU led 42-14 in the 4^th quarter then the Blue Jays scored three late touchdowns to make the final score look closer than the game actually was.
 
Curtis opened the game with a 51-yard TD reception from Curti on the first score of the game in the 1^st quarter.  Curti placed the ball perfect on a fade pattern and Curtis ran away from the defense with 9:32 left in the opening frame.  On Westminster's next possession, NWU forced a punt and the Blue Jays snap went over the punters head.  He picked the ball up and attempted to punt, but Carter Smith blocked the attempt and Nic Braaten smothered the ball in the end zone for a Prairie Wolves touchdown.
 
Westminster cracked the scoreboard right before halftime on a 27-yard TD pass from Wyatt Ellis to Travion Mosby.  Instead of running out the clock, NWU attempted to add a score right before the break.  Curti threw a swing pass to fullback Tate Schmaderer who bulldozed through one tackle then sprinted down the sideline for a 52-yard TD reception making it 21-7 at halftime.
 
In the opening drive of the 3^rd quarter, NWU forced Westminster to punt again and the Prairie Wolves got another big block by Tanner Lamoree setting up the offense at the 4-yard line.  On the first offensive play, Curti hit Curtis on a 4-yard back shoulder TD grab.  That same combo connected on an 8-yard TD reception on the Prairie Wolves next offensive possession making it 35-7.
 
Right before the end of the 3^rd quarter, Blue Jay QB Ellis found Alec Fleetwood for a 53-yard touchdown grab.  NWU responded again on their possession when Curti and Curtis connected for a 33-yard TD that was the record setter.
 
Westminster finished with 473 total yards of offense, compared to 365 for the Prairie Wolves but the key stat was the point total on the scoreboard.  NWU took advantage of several short fields thanks to their special teams play and the Blue Jays piled up over 200 yards in the 4^th quarter.
 
Jonathan Curti was 18-31 for 329 yards with six touchdowns in the opening victory.  He needed 303 yards to surpass Tyler Francis as the Prairie Wolves all-time career leader in passing yards and he accomplished that in his 21^st start.  His six TD passes were a career high and one short of the school record.
 
Derrick Curtis finished with six catches for 144 yards with a record five TD receptions.  The previous school record was four by Tim Beebe in 1986 and Connor Zumpfe in 2014. 
 
The Blue Jays finished with 162 yards rushing and 259 passing.  Kalyn Davis ran for 142 yards with Ellis passing for 259 with four TDs.
 
Kaden Dawe led the Prairie Wolves defense with 12 total tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery.
 
The Prairie Wolves are back at home next Saturday when they host Illinois College at Abel Stadium.