Dordt used a balanced offensive attack and a strong defensive effort to defeat previously unbeaten and no. 16 rated Midland 42-17 on Saturday at Heedum Field.
Box Score (PDF)
The Defenders scored touchdowns on their first two possessions and never trailed, building a 28-17 halftime lead before pulling away in the second half. The win moves Dordt to 2-2 overall and 2-1 in Great Plains Athletic Conference play.
Dordt scored on its opening possession when
Noah Strickfaden connected with
Kaden Harken for a two-yard touchdown with 9:25 remaining in the first quarter. The Defenders added another touchdown late in the quarter when Strickfaden found Harken for a 34-yard score, giving Dordt a 14-0 lead.
Midland answered with a touchdown early in the second quarter, but Dordt responded with a 10-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 12-yard touchdown run from
Zane Farney. The Warriors scored on a 40-yard touchdown pass and added a 38-yard field goal to make it 21-17, but Dordt closed the half with another 75-yard touchdown drive. Strickfaden found
Nick Giesen for a three-yard touchdown with 16 seconds remaining in the half, giving the Defenders a two-score advantage at 28-17.
Dordt opened the second half with another scoring drive, going 75 yards in nine plays before Farney scored on a two-yard run to make it 35-17. The Defenders' defense kept Midland off the scoreboard throughout the second half, stopping the Warriors on fourth down twice.
Dordt put the game away in the fourth quarter. The Defenders drove 57 yards in 11 plays, with Strickfaden finding Harken for a 15-yard touchdown with 6:40 remaining to make the final 42-17.
The Numbers
Dordt finished with 476 yards of total offense, including 218 rushing yards and 258 passing yards. Midland had 404 total yards, with 362 passing yards and just 42 rushing yards.
The Defenders also converted 8-of-12 third downs while holding Midland to 3-of-10.
Dordt had the edge in time of possession, 31:42 to 28:18. The Defenders were penalized seven times for 49 yards, while Midland had three penalties for 23 yards.
Strickfaden completed 16-of-19 passes for 258 yards and four touchdowns without an interception. Harken was his top target with eight receptions for 113 yards and three touchdowns.
Eliot Beal added two receptions for 71 yards, including a 42-yard catch.
Dordt's rushing attack was led by
Thomas Fritz Jr., who carried 18 times for 132 yards, including a 50-yard run. Farney added 78 yards on 17 carries and scored two touchdowns. As a team, Dordt averaged 5.2 yards per rushing attempt.
Isaac Kacmarynski led the Dordt defense with 13 tackles, including eight assisted tackles.
David Bowman had seven tackles, while
TJ Worthy,
Coleson Quiring,
Nathan Feldmann and
Thomas Walder each finished with five tackles.
Joe Johnson recorded one sack, while Worthy and
Brody Peissig each had half a sack. Dordt's defense recorded seven pass breakups, led by
Ethan Mills with two. Worthy,
Coleson Quiring,
Nathan Feldmann,
Joe Johnson and
Zach Quiring each had one pass breakup.
Dordt's defense limited Midland to 42 rushing yards on 17 attempts and held the Warriors to 3-of-10 on third-down conversions. The Defenders finished with 15 tackles for loss and two sacks.
Stephen Leinen was 6-for-6 on extra-point attempts, while
Connor Stephens averaged 41 yards on three punts.
Dordt will host Doane on Saturday, October 10 in its next GPAC action.
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