LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska Wesleyan rallied from a 17-point deficit to defeat Loras, 69-48, Saturday afternoon at Abel Stadium. The Prairie Wolves earned their first win under head coach Jacob Donohoe, improving to 1-6 overall and 1-3 in American Rivers Conference play. The Duhawks fell to 2-5 overall and 0-4 in conference play.
Jalen Pickens hauled in a 97-yard touchdown reception from Keaton Erdmann, the longest touchdown pass in Nebraska Wesleyan program history. Ian Gebhardt accounted for three touchdowns, returning a punt 85 yards for a score, catching a five-yard touchdown pass and throwing a 35-yard touchdown pass to Joey McLaughlin. Erdmann accounted for five touchdowns, throwing three touchdown passes and rushing for two scores, while Hezekiah Johnson rushed for two touchdowns. The Prairie Wolves intercepted five passes, including two by Owen Long, who returned one interception for a touchdown. Nebraska Wesleyan scored 28 points off turnovers.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Loras opened the game with 17 points, scoring twice through the air and adding a 21-yard field goal to take a 17-0 lead. Erdmann scored on a four-yard run to get Nebraska Wesleyan on the board in the second quarter before Gebhardt returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown. Erdmann then connected with Gebhardt for a five-yard score to give the Prairie Wolves a 21-17 lead. Loras regained the lead on a three-yard touchdown run, but Johnson scored from 11 yards out with 1:17 remaining in the half to put Nebraska Wesleyan ahead 28-24 at the break.
Nebraska Wesleyan extended its lead in the third quarter. Erdmann found McLaughlin for a nine-yard touchdown, and Long returned an interception for a touchdown to make it 42-24. Erdmann then hit Pickens for the record-setting 97-yard touchdown, giving the Prairie Wolves a 49-24 advantage. Loras answered with a five-yard touchdown reception and a one-yard rushing score to cut the lead to 49-38.
Loras opened the fourth quarter with a 35-yard field goal to make it 49-41. Johnson scored on a 14-yard run, and Gebhardt threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to McLaughlin to push the lead to 63-41. Loras added a three-yard rushing touchdown before Erdmann capped the scoring with a 15-yard touchdown run with 1:54 remaining.
Nebraska Wesleyan finished with 454 yards of total offense, including 336 passing yards and 118 rushing yards. Loras totaled 589 yards but threw five interceptions.
GAME NOTES
- Nebraska Wesleyan scored 69 points, including 28 in the second quarter and 21 in the third.
- Pickens finished with five receptions for 160 yards, including the 97-yard touchdown.
- McLaughlin caught three passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns.
- Gebhardt recorded 178 all-purpose yards, including his punt return touchdown.
- Johnson led the Prairie Wolves with 68 rushing yards on 16 carries.
- Long led Nebraska Wesleyan with 14 total tackles and two interceptions. Caleb Warmsley added 12 tackles and an interception, while Hadley Hudson recorded 11 tackles.
- The Prairie Wolves recorded five sacks.
UP NEXT
Nebraska Wesleyan travels to Coe next Saturday for a 1 p.m. kickoff in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
