Dordt scored touchdowns on six of its first seven possessions and cruised to a 49-3 victory over Briar Cliff on Saturday afternoon at Open Space Park. The Defenders extended their winning streak to four games and improved to 5-2 overall and 5-1 in Great Plains Athletic Conference play.
Box Score (PDF)
Dordt established control early, scoring twice in the first quarter to take a 14-0 lead.
Noah Strickfaden connected with
Kaden Harken on a 30-yard touchdown pass with 8:10 remaining in the opening quarter, and Strickfaden found
Rhett Williams for a 17-yard score with 1:24 left in the period.
The Defenders continued to pull away in the second quarter. Harken broke free for a 34-yard touchdown run just 36 seconds into the quarter, and Strickfaden added an electrifying 83-yard touchdown run with 8:48 remaining in the half. Dordt carried a 28-0 advantage into halftime.
The momentum continued after the break. Dordt forced a fumble on Briar Cliff's opening possession of the second half, with
Isaac Kacmarynski recovering the ball at the Chargers' 40-yard line. The Defenders turned the takeaway into another touchdown, as Strickfaden connected with
Nick Giesen for a two-yard score to make it 35-0.
Dordt added another touchdown late in the third quarter after recovering a fumble at the Briar Cliff five-yard line.
Ryder Eastin scored on the next play, extending the lead to 42-0.
Briar Cliff got on the scoreboard with a 36-yard field goal by Sveinung Torring early in the fourth quarter. Dordt answered with an 11-play, 80-yard drive that consumed 6:31. Eastin capped the march with a 16-yard touchdown pass to
Jake Van Donge with 2:21 remaining to account for the final margin.
Dordt finished with 457 yards of total offense, averaging 8.2 yards per play, while limiting Briar Cliff to 278 yards and 3.6 yards per play. The Defenders were particularly effective on the ground, piling up 315 rushing yards on 33 attempts for an average of 9.5 yards per carry.
Strickfaden led the offensive effort, completing 9 of 15 passes for 108 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. He also rushed for 91 yards and a touchdown on just five carries. Harken contributed 65 receiving yards and a touchdown on four catches, along with 43 rushing yards and a touchdown. Williams added three receptions for 32 yards and a score.
Eastin accounted for two touchdowns, rushing for 36 yards and a score while throwing for 34 yards and a touchdown. Van Donge's 16-yard touchdown reception provided the final points.
Defensively, Dordt recorded three sacks for 18 yards in losses and seven tackles for loss. The Defenders also forced two fumbles, recovered both, and intercepted one pass. Kacmarynski led the team with seven tackles and recovered a fumble, while
Zach Quiring added seven tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a pass breakup.
Coleson Quiring recorded four tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a tackle for loss.
TJ Worthy added three tackles and an interception.
Dordt also controlled the key situations, converting 6 of 10 third downs and both of its fourth-down attempts. Briar Cliff converted 7 of 19 third downs and 2 of 3 fourth downs. The Defenders committed one penalty for 15 yards, compared with four penalties for 40 yards by the Chargers.
The victory moves Dordt to 5-1 in GPAC play as the Defenders continue their push through the conference schedule.
Dordt individual leaders
Offense
- Passing: Noah Strickfaden — 9-of-15, 108 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT.
- Rushing: Noah Strickfaden — 5 carries, 91 yards, 1 TD.
- Receiving: Kaden Harken — 4 receptions, 65 yards, 1 TD.
- All-purpose contribution: Keenan Valverde — 57 rushing yards on two carries, including a 53-yard run.
- Additional scoring: Kaden Harken (rushing TD), Rhett Williams (receiving TD), Nick Giesen (receiving TD), Ryder Eastin (rushing TD and passing TD), Jake Van Donge (receiving TD).
- Kicking: Stephen Leinen — 7-of-7 extra points.
Defense
Team statistical comparison
|
Dordt |
Briar Cliff |
| First Downs |
25 |
20 |
| Total Offense |
457 |
278 |
| Rushing Yards |
315 |
117 |
| Rushing Atttempts |
33 |
42 |
| Passing Yards |
142 |
161 |
| 3rd Down Conversions |
6-10 |
7-19 |
| 4th Down Conversions |
2-2 |
2-3 |
| Penalties-Yards |
1-15 |
4-40 |
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