Dakota Wesleyan pulls away for 41-17 win over Concordia

Dakota Wesleyan picked up a 41-17 GPAC football win over Concordia University on Saturday in Mitchell.  The Tigers used a big second quarter to help propel them to the victory and move to 2-0 overall and 1-0 in GPAC play.  Concordia dropped to 0-2 overall and 0-1 in GPAC play. 

Concordia got off to a solid start in the opening quarter.  The Bulldogs forced a DWU punt and followed with an 11-play drive to take an early lead.  Quarterback Cohl Tufford (Richardson, Texas) connected with Colten Quinabo (Wailuku, Hawaii) on a 39-yard pitch and catch to put the Bulldogs into field goal range.  Kenny Zoeller (Spring, Texas) hit from 35-yards out, and Concordia took a 3-0 lead into the second quarter. 

A 25-yard field goal by Dakota Wesleyan’s Leif Evers tied the score at 3-3 just seconds into the second period.  The Bulldogs then fumbled on the kickoff return.  DWU’s Arthur Brown scooped up the loose ball and returned it 11 yards for the score and a 10-3 Dakota Wesleyan lead. 

Another Bulldog turnover proved costly, as Dakota Wesleyan quickly took a 17-3 lead.  Tufford fumbled, and Jeff Maassen recovered the loose ball for the Tigers at the Bulldog 11-yard line.  On the second play of the drive, Josh Endres scampered 11 yards for a score to put the host Tigers on top by two touchdowns. 

Later in the second quarter, Concordia took advantage of a Dakota Wesleyan miscue to get back into the game.  Concordia recovered a fumble deep in Tiger territory, and Ryan Adams (El Dorado Hills, Calif.) scored from 16-yards out to cut the Tiger lead to seven at 17-10. 

Dakota Wesleyan rebuilt their lead late in the first half.  The Tigers marched 75 yards in eight plays, and an 18-yard touchdown strike from quarterback Jon Bane to Euedel Clayton put DWU up by the score of 24-10.  Following a Concordia missed field goal attempt, DWU moved 41 yards in the closing minute of the half.  With one second remaining, Evers hit a 45-yard field goal to increase the Tiger lead to 27-10 heading into halftime. 

After a scoreless third, the Tigers poured it on early in the fourth quarter.  Endres scored again, this time from five yards out, to make the score 34-10.  Bane then connected with Anthony Muilenburg on a 37-yard touchdown reception to increase the advantage to 41-10.  Concordia added a late score in the final minutes of the game.  Tufford found Quinabo on a 14-yard touchdown reception for the final score of 41-17.   

Dakota Wesleyan totaled 23 first downs compared to 14 for Concordia.  The Tigers held a 393-239 advantage in total yards.  DWU had 297 yards through the air and 96 yards on the ground.  Concordia netted 142 rushing yards but just 97 yards through the air. 

Bane was 20-of-33 on the day for 266 yards and two scores.  His favorite target was Clayton, who finished with seven catches for 107 yards and a touchdown.  Muilenburg also had seven catches for 98 yards and a touchdown, while Endres carried the ball 27 times for 78 yards and two touchdowns. 

Tufford was 10-of-23 through the air for 97 yards and a score.  He added 40 yards on the ground.  Adams finished with 61 rushing yards and a score, while Quinabo finished with 78 receiving yards and a score in the loss.  Langston Jones (Loveland, Colo.) finished with 9.5 tackles, and Jerrod Fleming (Houston, Texas) added 7.5 stops to lead the Bulldogs defensively. 

Concordia returns home to host Hastings College on September 17.  Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Fan Appreciation Night at Bulldog Stadium.